It's Time to Have More Time!

Ever wished you had more time?  You’re not alone, me too.  I have found a few tips along the way that have helped me manage time more effectively.  Let’s get started.

Like with anything you want different for yourself you have to ask yourself a few questions.

How much do you really want to change what you do that wastes your time?  Desire is the key to success or failure.  The stronger the desire the better the odds!  The want-to must be yours and come from within.  What would your life be like when the change occurs?  Write out your answer; picture how your life would be better.  How will you benefit?  Who else would benefit?  What do you think this habit has cost you?  Many of our choices about managing time have been expensive, whether that is being late on paying a bill or late in responding to an important email or phone call.

Some of our time wasting habits are relatively easy to change; others extremely difficult.  Like any other self-improvement choices, a change in how you manage your time will have a direct impact on other parts of your life.  Sometimes a habit is a bear to change because it is interconnected.  A single behavior becomes a cue for another behavior, which in turn may cue another behavior...you get the picture.  You've developed habit sequences that form well-exercised patterns of behavior.

How long will it take to replace a poor time management habit with a better time mastery habit?  Some three days, some several weeks.  If you choose to consistently practice the new behavior for three weeks it will become your predominant response pattern.  Keep it up and soon you will have kicked the old habit and replaced it with a rewarding new one.

Here's the first of five fast track tips on eliminating self-defeating habits.

1.  Identify the habit you want to change.  Examine it carefully.  The more you know about what you do, when you do it and why you do it the easier it will be to identify the habits that are creating the problem.   Start a “wish list” that only pertains to you.  Wishing others were different is a real time wasting habit.  Your wish list is a daily review of what you find frustrating or disappointing about how your time was spent each day.  Get busy on answering the questions listed in today’s blog.  Start your “wish list” and look for my next blog on how to eliminate self-defeating habits.

Still learning,

Honey