What change are you going to make in how you spend your precious real estate - not your home but your time? What activities do you need to give up altogether? Which ones should you optimize or maximize? Let's look at what, why and how to make the needed change!
I have always been really guarded about how I use my time because we have only 24 hrs in one day. Not one minute, not one second more.There are so many needs and wants that have to be fitted into that 24 hours. How do you fit in 36 hours worth of activities into a 24 hour day? Having a good time management strategy is the answer.
“Something has to give, something has to change, and it's not going to be the number of hours in a day. The change is going to have to be made by you!”
Why do I need to change?
As many of us have found out, it is either you make a change on your own terms or circumstances will force a change on you and it's never pretty when you do something because you have to. It's so much better (not necessarily easier) when you make changes because you want to. There comes a time when it becomes impossible to maintain the status quo. At that point, something has to give, something has to change, and in this case, it's not going to be the number of hours in a day. The change is going to have to be made by you!
What do I need to change?
For me, I used to watch a lot of television but I have managed to get it down to a healthy level, for me that is. So that brings me to social media use. My guess is that almost everyone is struggling with deciding how much social media time is too much. I have always been selective about what I consume from social media.
At the beginning of the year, as part of my self care commitment I had to take stock of how I spend my time. As a result, I have become even more intentional in deciding what I spend my time on. It has been a very rewarding exercise because it has enabled me to refocus my time and energy on things that build me up, inspire me and empower me to be the best I can be in every area of my life. Social media is meant to enhance and enrich our lives, and if it's no longer serving that purpose then it's time to do something about it. If yours is not social media, what change do you need to make?
How do I make a change?
Here's the first thing you can do. Keep a journal of "A day in your life". Be honest, be true to yourself so you don't sabotage yourself before you get started. Next take a few minutes to "audit" your journal to see where you could make a change that will help you strike the right balance and optimize your 24 hours to work for you and not against you.
To get started, here are 6 questions you can ask yourself. Answering these questions truthfully will be key to effecting the right changes that will make the desired impact.
Does this activity fall in line with my values?
Does it build me up?
Will it be a drag on me?
Does it make me happy?
Is there a lesson to learn?
Am I proud to share with someone else that I participated in this activity?
Decision time
Take a few minutes to digest these and provide answers.
For me the goal is to zero in on the things that really matter to me, enhance my quality of life and afford me the opportunity to contribute towards the progress of the larger society. With 24 hours in one day, one can only do so much without burning out.
Do yourself a favor, commit to prioritizing self care (physical, emotional and spiritual). Keep things as simple as possible. Life is not as complicated as we try to make it.