The Secret to Time Management
Don’t do what you sincerely don’t want to do. – Ernest Hemingway
Putting aside the fundamental truth that time just is and cannot be managed (only you and your priorities can be managed), this is the essence of effective self- and priority-management.
The simple fact is: you’re too busy, or overwhelmed, because 1) you’ve said “Yes” too much; 2) you don’t know know what you (really) want; 3) you want to be and 4) you don’t know how to manage yourself effectively.
Let’s take them in order:
#1 – If you have have too much to do it’s because you taken too much on. Everyone has the same amount of time; smart people learn to say “No” to things that aren’t truly a priority. Of course, they do it in a nice and respectful way, but they have clear and strong boundaries.
#2 – If you don’t know what you want, you’ll likely do all sorts of things; some you to do, many you don’t. When you get clear about what you want you can easily make decisions about what to do and what not to do.
#3 – You’re in charge of you. Whatever you have is a result of what you’ve done and haven’t done. If you’re (too) busy it’s because – someone, someway – you want to be.
#4 – Most people who are overwhelmed don’t have good habits. Their systems-of-life either suck or are hidden to them. So much of what we do is habit. Therefore, if our life is crap it’s largely because our habits are crap.