There are a few things about me that are evident off the bat with a quick glance of my posts; I practice yoga regularly, I advocate mindfulness and share incessantly about time management.
I often debate with myself on what I should or should not post more or less of and each time the answer comes back the same; “to thine self be true”. For me that truth is to continue to preach, teach, live and advocate what has and continues to positively impact my life and help me succeed, mindful time management.
Time management isn’t about finding more time—it’s about making the most of the time we have. The key lies in understanding priorities and learning how to focus on tasks that align with our goals. As Julie Morgenstern eloquently put it,
Time management is the ultimate in self-improvement, because it is the foundation that will enable you to achieve your goals in every aspect of your life.
Those of us working towards success typically find ourselves juggling multiple tasks, wearing many hats, and constantly striving to make the most of our limited hours. Here’s the thing, we can do anything but we cannot do everything; there are only 24 hours in a day and we are not promised tomorrow. There are a plethora of sources dishing out lists of things to do to be a success and quite often it comes across as, do it this way otherwise you won’t ever succeed!
Often times the advice feels as it is all or nothing, lacking directives on how to assimilate with what you already have going on without the end result being a pyrrhic victory or completing giving up your way of being. After experiencing several pyrrhic victories, burnout, and ill-health I went searching for ways to achieve my goals without abandoning me and winning without the negative consequences. What I found was that a key component to unlocking success lies in mindful time management.
The Starting Point
Clarity: Get clear
As the saying goes, clarity is power, it is the foundation for success. The thing about clarity is that it is not synonymous with having all the answers or knowing precisely what the outcome will look like. Getting clear is a process in and of itself; a process that doesn’t necessarily require you to abandon your way of doing things, or being to achieve success. Instead, getting clear involves being clear on who you are, what is working and what’s not. Clarity requires adapting a growth mindset, having a beginner’s mind, asking quality questions and getting to know you more intimately by spending time with yourself (meditating, journaling, engaging in your creativity). From a place of clarity the next step is planning.
Embrace the Power of Planning
Mindfulness is all about being intentional and present, planning with clarity gives you that! Successful people swear by effective planning, thus it is wise to invest time creating a detailed schedule or to-do list for your day, week, or month (or like me your year). Brian Tracy purports that for every minute spent planning you save yourself 10 minutes in execution; this helps you prepare and show up ready, present for the task at hand. Everyone thinks their way of planning is the right way, of course they do if it works for them! However, there is no wrong or right way, the key is finding what works for you for where you are now that will get you to where you want to be.
Not only should you plan but also embrace tools such as digital calendars, project management apps, and good old-fashioned planners, they are your planning allies. Stick to your plan as closely as possible to minimize distractions and stay on track.
The Art of Task Prioritization
Without priorities, everything will appear to be urgent and important, often leading to overwhelm, reduced productivity and even burnout. The good news is that effective prioritization ensures that you’re always working on tasks that align with your key goals; this is mindfulness in action! Start by asking yourself quality questions like: “What must I achieve today that will contribute most significantly to my long-term goals?” When you do this and focus your energy on high-impact tasks and delegate or defer less important ones you are engaging in time mastery.
Techniques: a game-changer
With a foundation in place (clarity, planning and prioritization) you can use the techniques to catapult you. There are many techniques that can be utilized, the following I consider fundamentals which can and should be used no matter where you are.
Time Blocking: This is to create structure. Allocating specific blocks of time for different tasks or types of work creates predictability, helps you manage your time, tasks, projects more efficiently and helps eliminate decision-fatigue.
The 4D Method: This is a powerful tool for prioritizing tasks based on urgency, importance and available resources. It helps you focus on what really matters. The 4D’s are delete, delegate, differ and do. By assigning items on your to-do list to one of the four you are able to allocate and focus better on the things that will yield the greatest benefits to you.
Eliminate Distractions: Distractions are a part of everyday life but by identifying and eliminating distractions (within your control) you become more present and focused. Eliminating distractions might be turning off notifications, creating a dedicated workspace, or using website blockers to limit access to time-wasting sites during focused work time blocks. Remember, focused work leads to efficient results.
Outsource and Delegate: DIY is great but we get more done faster and better when working with others who are operating in their areas of genius. Use the law of comparative advantage to outsource tasks, essentially delegating, which in turn frees up your time for strategic decision-making and growth.
Regular Reflection and Adaptation: Different stages, phases and seasons require different things. What works now will not necessarily be effective or produce results in the future. Success is an ever-evolving journey and requires periodic reflecting on your time management strategies and techniques. Again by questioning, asking what’s working well? What needs improvement? coupled with a willingness to adapt and refine your approach allows for time mastery and ultimately success.
Conclusion
Time management and mindfulness are your allies on the path to success. By getting clear, embracing planning, prioritizing purposefully and using effective techniques you can unlock your full potential and achieve your goals.
Remember, it takes longer to build a skyscraper than a chicken coop so lasting success will take time to create. Embracing mindfulness is not just a strategy for business success; it’s a pathway to personal growth and fulfillment and with mindful time management you’re well on your way to building the empire you envision.
Until next time, whatever you do, make a difference in your own way!
Namaste,
Ayana O
Subscribe and get monthly blogs, tips, insights, inspiration and much more directly in your inbox.
Schedule a complimentary Solutions Call with me today, and discover what mindful time management tools and techniques will work to transform your life and business.
“At the core of everything I do is helping to close the gap between current state and desired state, integrating mindfulness for success”.
