It’s not about having more time; it’s about making the most of the time you have...

Have you ever heard yourself say, "If I only had more time, I would…”?

While this can feel true, it’s a common misconception that many of us fall into. We think that if we just had a few extra hours in the day, we could finally get everything done. I’ll be the bad cop here and say, that is not entirely true and that type of thinking only leads to more stress and frustration because it offers a false sense of hope and doesn’t address the real issue.

The reality is, that the issue isn’t the amount of time we have but how we use it. Even if we had more time, we might still find ourselves overwhelmed and unproductive because we haven’t learned to manage the time we already have effectively. It’s like the big purse theory - the bigger the purse, the more stuff you will put in it. So having more time, if not properly managed, will only result in filling that empty space with more things that sabotage our productivity.

And truth be told, most people struggle with awareness of how they spend their time. I used to struggle with this myth myself. My days would be jam-packed, and I would be very busy, but at the end of the day, I would still feel like I got nothing accomplished and was still playing catch up. I’d find myself moving items from today’s to-do list to the next, wondering “What exactly did I do today?” and why do I feel like I am still so behind.

Can you relate? If so, here are some things that I did that may help you:

Conduct a Time Audit

For the next three days, document every activity, from getting dressed to scrolling on social media. Track how long each task takes. This exercise forces you to be honest about how you’re spending your time and creates awareness. You might even find that just tracking your time leads to better time management behavior. Click here to download my Time Audit template that you can use.

Realistic Task Estimation

Once you conduct your Time Audit, spend some time assessing how long it actually takes you to complete certain tasks. Then start to schedule that time into your calendar. For example, after doing a time audit, I learned it took me one hour to tackle my emails each day. Adjust your estimations of how long tasks will take. Start small and observe how long your usual tasks actually require. This helps in planning more accurately and reducing procrastination.

Identifying Time Wasters

Another helpful strategy is to reduce or eliminate activities that don’t add value to your goals. The Time Audit showed me that I spent a lot of time mindlessly scrolling on social media, researching new content ideas, and even attending some meetings that I didn’t need to be a part of. Freeing up time for more important tasks can reduce the feeling of being overwhelmed.

By implementing these strategies, you can begin to reclaim your time and find balance in your life. It’s not about having more time; it’s about making the most of the time you have. You have the power to change your narrative.

Stay tuned for the next part of this series, where we’ll dive into Priority Management and how to distinguish what truly matters in your life.