The Challenge of Time Management

“There is simply no time!”

Not a long time ago. And it seems like there's less time every day. I suffer the same problem as you. I need more time. I want more time. There's too much to do and not enough time for it.

Time management is a big challenge. Some professionals guarantee that they can manage all their daily tasks. There's nothing you can do to buy more time. Then give up.

Instead of focusing on how much time you have or need to have, start focusing on what your priorities are.

The problem is never a lack of time; the problem is ill-defined priorities. When you have established the most important thing in the world for you to do, then time is no longer an issue. This is agility in practice.

Visiting one of our offices, when I look at a messy workstation, the employee using it, like most people, would say that they need to organize their space, but that they haven't had the time because they are so busy. Yes, I understand, but the statement is wrong. He didn't organize his workspace because it wasn't a priority for him. If it was a priority, he would have found time to organize it. Our priorities are almost always done because we find and make time for them. On the other hand, everything that is not so important to us, we let slip away.

This idea applies to all areas of your life. Imagine if you received a manual of professional success, containing clear principles that, when implemented, would guarantee you more success, money and happiness in your life, would you prioritize reading this manual? If you are distracted, I help you, the answer is yes. You would finish reading and studying this manual within the shortest possible time. Simply because there is nothing more important for you to do. That imaginary manual has become a priority for you. You've set priorities for success, happiness, and prosperity, and now you're doing something to make those things happen.

Funny how, even as a busy person, you managed to find time to read the manual. Other people say they want more success, happiness and prosperity and will never find time to read the same manual, or any other book. And their excuse will be that they just didn't have time. Why? It is likely that success, happiness and prosperity are not among their priorities. Watching reality shows or series were priorities for these people. They found time to watch TV, but they didn't find time to read a book.

Are you too busy to plan the next step in your career? To play with your children? Read a book? To call your mother? To go to the movies or dinner with your wife? What if a friend called you inviting you to a barbecue or a good beer? Would you be too busy for that too? I'm sure you would find the time. You would create the time, because that invitation would have become a priority for you.

Set priorities. You have things in your life that need to get done, things that you really want to see accomplished, but you just haven't been able to find the time to do them. Now face the fact that these things will never get done until they become a priority for you. Find out what's really important to you. In other words, set priorities.

Do you need to lose weight? So your priorities are to do things that make you healthier, like establishing a proper diet and exercising regularly. Nothing will stand in your way. There will be plenty of time for you to get healthy because you've made it a priority. Is your problem spending more time with your family? Make that a priority, and you'll have the time you need.

Do you have many responsibilities in your personal and professional life? Welcome to adult life. There is no way around this. We all have responsibilities to do. The secret is figuring out how to do them and still having time to do what you love to do, right?

Please stop saying there isn't enough time. Long time. Time to take care of the things you don't like, but that need to be done. Also, it's not the things you don't like that prevent you from having time to do what you like. It's all the things you keep pushing around in your life because you don't have clearly defined priorities.

There's plenty of time to do what's really important to you. Yes, time is short and as we age it seems to get shorter. But there will never be enough time to do everything there is to do. However, there's plenty of time to do the things you really want to do. If you want it bad enough, you'll find the time you need!