- Focus your priorities to create time. Hone in on what your true priorities are in each field of your life – professional, personal, family etc. Be very disciplined to cut them down to the core. Narrow your expectations but go as deep as possible within each.
- Make a daily diary of where your current time goes. Form a percentage split e.g. 40% at or getting to work, 40% with family, 20% personal, “me” time. Then create your “ideal” weekly time split and write down your steps to take to move ruthlessly towards it.
- Practise saying “no”. “No” really is a skill that can be learnt like any other. It helps to role-play in front of the mirror, giving a firm but friendly “no” to requests outside your core priorities.
- Pick one personal hobby which you have had in mind for years e.g. learn French or play a musical instrument. Rather than rely on re-motivating yourself each day, set a schedule that involves someone else (e.g. a private tutor) and which makes it less easy to discard.
- “Pretend” you have all the time in the world, even when busy. Inside you may have a thousand thoughts racing through your mind, however, take care to cultivate a sense of serenity and to make everything look effortless. Smile as you carry out your tasks. By “acting out” this serenity you’ll actually create it in real life – a self-fulfilling prophecy. Try it for a day and see.
- Great planning “creates” time. At the end of each day, start mentally preparing the next. Stay a step ahead of your tasks with a ruthless planning system to accomplish more in less time. Leave work on time having completed everything you set out to do.
- Keep time “in reserve” for unforeseen events. Sometimes the unexpected “steals” time from us, however, there is no point in worrying about it. You may need to take time out to look after a loved one or new baby, or to manage an emergency project at work. Remember that life is a marathon and you’ll be able to recoup quality time later.
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