3 Ways to Prime Time for Smarter Success

"Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect." - Alan Cohen

Almost everyone I know feels some form of overwhelm as it is. We're managing tight schedules and conflicting needs from work and home. All while managing our growing inboxes, pulled away by our favorite forms of entertainment, and all other sorts of time consumers.

That forty-hour workweek quickly stretches to fifty or multiplies to eighty hours a week if we're not paying close attention.

All of this, if left unattended, will drain us, prevent us from achieving our goals; and cost us more than we can imagine.

Here’s three actionable ways to help make smarter choices so that you can prime your environment for success.

1 - Give it some rest.

We're silly: the very things that help us maximize time are the first things we compromise when we try to get more done or save some time—like rest, physical health, and mental health.

Experts say we need about eight hours a night. But the national average is less than seven. And the real average is probably lower.

If you're anything like me, eight hours just isn't happening. The good news is that sleep minutes, like calories, aren’t just about the quantity... it's about the quality.

For example, if someone is sleeping for 8 hours, but their sleep is inefficient because of things like exposure to light, caffeine close to bedtime, or interruptions, this can result in negative outcomes. Think: grumpiness, slower reaction, poor decision making. Not good.

One thing to stay sensitive of is your body's natural rhythms. I, for example, am like a bear: I wake up early and prefer to start my rest early. My wife, in contrast, is a night owl.

If your body naturally shifts into low gear in the early afternoon, why push it. Take a nap, go for a walk, or sit down and listen to music that calms you. I've experimented with all in different seasons and can conclude that you need to listen to your body and feed it what it needs.

2 - Fuel the fire.

Most of us compromise our health in order to get more done. This includes eating junk, getting less sleep, and other habits that compromise our mental, emotional, and physical health.

Because of the hours we work, most of us don’t get the sleep we need. To save time in the kitchen, we eat for convenience, not nutrition— or even joy. We don’t get enough exercise. And our rest and relaxation often looks like collapsing exhausted in front of the television or mindlessly clicking away time online.

One of the main reasons for fatigue is overwork. Overwork can include professional, family, and social obligations. Try to streamline your list of "must-do" activities. Set your priorities in terms of the most important tasks. Pair down those that are less important.

Also, if you're anything like me, carbs may slow you down. Did you know that eating foods with a low glycemic index — whose sugars are absorbed slowly — may help you avoid the lag in energy that typically occurs after eating quickly absorbed sugars or refined starches.

Lastly, I love coffee! Caffeine can help increase alertness, so having a cup of coffee can help sharpen your mind. But to get the energizing effects of caffeine, you have to use it judiciously. It can cause insomnia, especially when consumed in large amounts or after 2 p.m.

Pay close attention to what fuels you and what drains you.

3 - Good vibes only.

Based on the facts, you're probably feeling a little overwhelmed. You may also be feeling uneasy about where you are and what it's going to take to get to where you want to be.

And that's okay. That's normal.

Now we know that our excessive work doesn't always pay off. It's time for a change.

The overwhelm and stress compounds like the interest does on bad debt. Don't fall trap to that spiral of negativity. Instead, try producing and attracting good vibes.

Decide to be upbeat. Even in difficult circumstances, we can choose to have a good attitude. It will have a direct impact on your energy.

Remove the negativity. This includes negative people, too. Environment will make or break your efforts so don't be hesitant to control it by removing (or walking away from) the negativity.

This includes what you listen to, what you watch, where you work, who you interact with; all of those things. Be aware of what you consume and what you surround yourself with. Remember "garbage in, garbage out".

Productivity requires quality.

5 key strategies to overcome overwhelm.

We’ve started exploring?how to trim 10 hours off your workweek. Why? Because time matters to us (and the people around us, that matter most).

As of today, we’ve covered:

• Protect:?You can't grow without it, and you can't afford to lose it. It’s important to take permission and protect it.
• Prime:?Health is a key factor in maximizing it. Which is why we need to make wise choices and prime your environment for success.

Up next:

• Plan:?If you don't have a plan for your time, someone else is ready to plan it for you. Learn to plan in order to get ahead.
• Process: Avoid the time wasters and time drainers. I learned to adopt systems and processes to maximize time.
• Pass:?You can't commit to everything without compromise. Make sure to pass on what doesn't matter, most.

That's a wrap!

If you enjoyed this, I would appreciate if you considered reading or sharing one of the previous articles:

• Protect Time to Get Ahead of the 80%?
• How to Trim 10 Hours Off Your Workweek
• Ten Habits to Break Out of the 9-5 Mindset

Rooting for ya!

??

Edwin Almonte