Two of My Ninja Time Management Tips
Who has time anyway, right? I promise to keep this short. I’ve been hearing people talk about time management a lot lately and I’ve been asked multiple times to give away my “secrets” to how I manage time. There’s a lot to be said about time management and most things come with practice but here are two things that stand the test of time (like what I did there?) and in my opinion are a must if you want to be a time management ninja!
Watch your language!
Your words have a HUGE impact on how you act. The words that you use shape your beliefs and whether or not you believe it, the words that you speak become your reality and shape your world. If you’re constantly walking around and talking about how busy you are and how you don’t have time for anything, THAT will become your reality. You will almost never hear me use the word “busy,” which’s giving away my power of choice.
Remember that being 'busy' is a choice and at any point, you have the power to choose not to be busy.
Start by becoming aware of your language. Be present and notice the words you’re using. A lot of the time, you don’t have to do much about it, just bringing awareness to it is enough to stop the behavior.
Set the timer!
There’s always more to be done and more time to be spent on tasks. You will always have to-do lists, which is how it should be because what would you do if you have nothing to do? Those tasks can always be done better, they can always use more attention and detail, and they can always take an infinite amount of time to complete. The task will always expand to fit the time you set aside for it. So, set a timer for the task and stop when the timer goes off. Know that done is better than perfect and move on.
Remember, you have the exact time in a day as everyone else on this planet. Those people you look up to, admire and want to be like, your mentors and coaches, they have the exact same hours as you. Take comfort in knowing that when it comes to time, we’re all equal!
Putting it into action:
How can you put this into action and start appreciating the miracle that you are? Here are some questions to explore and tasks to complete…
Next time you sit down to do a task, silence your phone and put it in another room. Set the timer for 20 minutes and just focus on what you’re doing. After the timer goes off, stop. See how much you accomplished?!
Be conscious of the words that you, and those around you, are using. Pay attention to how others answer when you ask, “How are you?” Do they often answer by saying “busy?” Count how many times you hear that word in one day. You will be surprised!
xo,
Zee
