Finding it hard to prioritise? Feeling overwhelmed? If you don’t have much time, is it because you genuinely have too much to do or that you aren’t organising the time you have to best advantage?
Choosing how to use your time
The key is choice: how you choose to use your time. Getting organised is much more about a mindset. You want to find more time rather than focusing on the fact that you don’t have enough. Once you realise that it’s about choice, you can elevate your thinking to decision mode.
Here’s game to play:
You are given an extra hour every day (lucky you — the first 25 hour day).
What are you going to do with it? Read the choices below and say the first answer that comes to mind.
- Stay in bed or go to work?
- Cook a meal or take some exercise?
- Watch TV or read a book?
- Make love or make the beds?
- Try something new or look at old photographs?
- Volunteer or get an early night
- Call two friends or write to one?
- Surf the Net or clean your shoes?
There are no right or wrong answers, but if you’ve answered honestly, you’ll begin to see what you prioritise and give your time to in your busy life. It may throw up a few challenge areas too. This is a brilliant game to play with your partner, family or a group of friends. To extend it, ask ‘Why?’ after each answer.
A time challenge
If you made a decision right now to find three hours a week for the next 12 weeks to get organised, could you do it?
If the answer is yes, then my next challenge to you is to find a way to make it happen.
If it’s ‘no’, then take a long hard look in the mirror and ask yourself why. Keep on asking ‘why’ until you get to the truth about what you’re hanging on to. It’s holding you back.
