I'm Finally Making Peace With It.
This Is How You Can, Too.
Even though I try to structure most of my days, they’re not all the same…
When things play out just right, my day looks like;
Rooster call at 3:30am, Morning routine from 4:30 am to 6:30 am. Do me time for an hour. Make sure my kids are up and ready to go (for times I’m at home) All before 7 am.
Work comes next. My work can take many different forms depending on the day but each day has a purpose and theme. For example, Mondays are focused on asset management and Wednesdays are days were I target personal projects or offsite meetings.
Then I’ll finish my day with a client dinner or a family meal, together time, and wrap up the night.
All that said and even though I do my best to bring structure to my day, I’ve found that being in flow with the theme of the day is important and having tools at my finger tips to manage my time helps my efficiency and output.
Everyone has a busy schedule, and more importantly, we are all constrained by the same perimeter: Time.
We have to make peace with the fact that we can't change the minutes and hours of a day, but we do have one thing within our control.
We have the opportunity to control the efficiency of our time.
The Less time you spend doing tasks means you have more time to stash in the 'time bank.'
Okay, so being more efficient will save time and reduce frustration, but now you're probably saying, "Come on G, get on with it. How do I do that?"
These are the five tools I use to help me be more mindful of my time usage…
Google Calendar
If something isn't on my calendar, it ain't happenin'. My calendar is where I organize my days and optimize my time. Seeing where you spend your time is a way to view efficiency AND increase it. Treat it as a roadmap of your day.
Audible
Personal and professional growth is an essential part of my day. And we've all heard (1000 times) the best way to do that is to… read a book!
However, fitting in a reading session isn't always in the cards on my busy days. So I have found audible to be the most powerful tool to get my reading in. Throw on a book during my exercise, drive, or downtime, and I can zoom through a book while going through my day.
Empower
One of the biggest time thieves is creating a clear financial picture. In today's world, one can have all their money spread out in so many places it feels like a job to check on every account status. Want to let go of some financial frustration? Use Empower to track all of your assets in one convenient place.
Calendly
I'd hate to know how much time I've wasted trying to "find a time" to schedule meetings. Calendly allows both parties to confirm the time and check if the purpose of a meeting is worth it. It brings so much value to both parties and saves everyone a headache.
Slowdive
Sometimes you need a breather, your neurons get tied up, and your mind gets scrambled, but sometimes you don't have time to do so. Slowdive helps me turn a 20-minute break into a powerful mindset reset. And yes, don't be alarmed if you see a tall Indian in the CityPlat office lying on a couch with his eyes closed and hands crossed. That's my me time. 😌
Remember, these tools are what I use, and I think you should give them a try. But everyone has different lives, and some might not work for YOU. However, this message still applies.
Instead of being frustrated that you don't have enough time, find some tools that will help make up for it.
-G aka Tallier of Time
