Time management is not just about getting things done, but also about aligning your actions with your values. When you manage your time to match your values, you are more likely to feel satisfied, motivated, and fulfilled. But how can you do that? Here are some tips to help you.
The first step is to identify what matters most to you in life. What are your core beliefs, principles, and goals? What makes you happy, inspired, and fulfilled? You can use different tools, such as value cards, quizzes, or journaling, to help you discover your values. Once you have a clear list of your values, rank them in order of importance and relevance to your current situation.
Time management is very crucial when you are planning to achieve a goal. There are many tasks that surround your goal like your day to day activities, some unplanned tasks, etc and you have to find time for each one of them and hence time management becomes crucial here. Before managing the time, we need to understand our priorities. How to know who you are? - start observing yourself... List down what made you happy today or what made you sad. This how you can prioritise tasks emotionally. - start understanding things outside your emotions... Things that holds more importance than your emotions. - And then you can list down the tasks and rank them. This is how you can rank the tasks aligned to your values.
One thing that helped me is to take time to do my "Values list". This is not an answer you have in 5 minutes. It takes deep reflection. I remember setting aside some time every day for four weeks to really think and wonder, and ponder about values, revisiting my list again and again until I had My 3 Core Values. The ones I want to rule my life
In my experience how do I identify my values? I first need to realign myself with my core objective to address my targetted objective. Having clear goals is vital as time management lies squarely on my deliverables.
A value is more than just a word; it's a driving force behind our actions, often operating beneath our conscious awareness. Every behavior we engage in, whether mundane or monumental, is ultimately driven by our values. These values, often rooted in our subconscious, guide our decisions and shape our lives in profound ways.
The next step is to align your activities with your values. This means that you prioritize the tasks and projects that support your values and eliminate or delegate the ones that don't. For example, if one of your values is health, you might want to schedule regular exercise, healthy meals, and sleep in your calendar. If one of your values is learning, you might want to allocate time for reading, taking courses, or mentoring others. You can use a matrix, such as the Eisenhower matrix, to help you categorize your activities based on their urgency and importance.
By reflecting, choosing, and acting in alignment with our sacred values, we can awaken to their transformative power and live authentically from a place of deep inner wisdom.
In my experience, living my values (which means aligning my activities with my values) is what brings me more happiness. It makes me feel true to myself
The third step is to review and adjust your schedule regularly. This means that you monitor your progress, evaluate your results, and reflect on your feelings. Are you spending enough time on the activities that match your values? Are you achieving your desired outcomes? Are you feeling satisfied, motivated, and fulfilled? If not, what can you change or improve? You can use different tools, such as a time log, a feedback loop, or a journal, to help you review and adjust your schedule.
I review and adjust quarterly, to allow for enough time to see what's working, but not long enough to sit with something that doesn't work for me. My non-negotiable family time changes quarterly based on holidays, spring break, sports schedules, and summer break. As a business owner and parent, I am grateful for this flexibility. As a strategist and coach, I encourage my clients to do the same!
A rethinking of your daily non-negotiables with your new values in place is essential for good decision making. Our values are the s ound board to check and balance decisions to keep us on the new track to who we are becoming .
The fourth step is to communicate your values to others. This means that you express your preferences, boundaries, and expectations clearly and respectfully. When you communicate your values, you are more likely to gain support, respect, and cooperation from others. You are also more likely to avoid conflicts, misunderstandings, and distractions. You can use different tools, such as a value statement, a vision board, or a personal brand, to help you communicate your values.
Sharing your values, personally and in group or team values keeps accountability and checks and balances in place. This adds a lot to shared visioning and group success.
The fifth step is to balance your values. This means that you recognize that your values may change over time, depending on your circumstances, goals, and needs. You also acknowledge that your values may conflict or compete with each other, requiring trade-offs and compromises. For example, you may value both family and career, but sometimes you have to choose between them. When you balance your values, you are more likely to make informed and intentional decisions that reflect your true priorities. You can use different tools, such as a value wheel, a value ladder, or a value conflict resolution, to help you balance your values.
The sixth step is to celebrate your values. This means that you appreciate and reward yourself for living according to your values. When you celebrate your values, you are more likely to reinforce your positive habits, boost your self-esteem, and enjoy your life. You can use different tools, such as a gratitude list, a success story, or a reward system, to help you celebrate your values.
Time is indefinite. Access to which all have equality. Maximization of one's own time is critical as this defines the output of an individual. Time optimization is paramount in surmounting tasks and having achievements.