We all have goals and ambitions, some bigger then others. In the begging stages it may be overwhelming, how in the world do you find the time to accomplish them? Where do you start?
One of the most common excuses I hear when it comes to self development, or a lack of success in people’s lives is “I don’t have the time” or “I’m just too busy”. If this hits close to home your top priority should be learning to optimize your time, and develop time management habits.
What are your goals/ambitions/desires? Write down a list of 20 on a piece of paper, seeing your own handwriting has a powerful effect on your mind. Once you have them in front of you, pick the top 5 that are the most important to you. We all have the same 24 hours in a day, don’t overwhelm yourself trying to get to everything at the same time. Focus on achieving your top 5 first, then move onto the rest.
Begin by understanding what time management really is, it’s the process of organizing and planning how much time you spend on specific activities. It may seem simple enough, and you may have an answer as soon as you read that. I challenge you to do a seven day audit, to truly understand and asses how much time you spend daily/weekly on certain activities. You’d be surprised how much time we waste whether its commuting, watching Netflix, or simply spacing out on social media. Optimize that time by listening to a podcast, or watching a video which will educate you, and move you further along in your journey.
Plan your day the night before, or in the morning. Failing to prepare is preparing to fail. Go over your daily objectives and categorize them on the basis of urgent vs important. Everything you have to accomplish within your day is important, not everything has the same deadline. Finish your urgent most time consuming tasks first, then move down the list. You’ll be surprised how much more you get done when you create a crystal clear plan, and execute it.
Do your ambitions match your actions? It may take sacrifice, whether its waking up earlier or staying up later. If your goals are important enough, you’ll find a way. Create a clear path towards your goals, remember it’s all in your hands.