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What would you say is the most common pressure leaders feel? I would LOVE to hear your first response to that question in the comments below.  I’m sure the responses are as broad as the question.

We can certainly debate this from each of our own opinions. As a woman who helps women leaders be the best they can be, I can tell you what I hear most often – TIME.

 

3 Common Statements about TIME

1. “There isn’t enough time in the day!”
2. “Time just gets away from me.”
3. “I’m just not good at managing my time.”

Many other statements are made about time as well, but they all boil down to the same truth. Time is our most valuable non-renewable asset. This explains why so many people struggle with time-related anxiety.

Time is our most valuable non-renewable asset. Click To Tweet

When we don’t accomplish what we had planned or what we feel we should within a day, anxiety often ensues. When our anxiety kicks in, it comes out in all sorts of emotions that impact our health, relationships, motivation, behaviors and more.

And, we create a snowball effect, because when the next day arrives, we believe we have to make up for what didn’t get done the day before, on top of what was planned for this current day.  A recipe for anxiety!

 

The Reality of Time

There will never be more than 24 hours in a day. Typically, those hours break down into:
◦ 6-8 for optimal sleep
◦ 30 min – 1 for exercise
◦ 30 min – 1 personal care
◦ 2-3 for eating/meal times
◦ 1-2 for commuting/other driving
◦ 2-3 family/friends/hobbies/entertainment
◦ 1 self-development/learning
◦ 8-12 work/project hours

This is an average and not all days will be the same. Bottom line is, the hours you have in a day for the priorities in your life are finite. So, choosing to spend your time wisely is not only important, it’s critical to your over well-being.

More reality…  YOU and you alone hold the solution to how you choose to spend your time. Not what you wanted to hear?

Check out the MAP below to help you get real about where you are currently and to incorporate proven ways to make changes.

 

The MAP to Time Related Wisdom

1. MINDSET

You can reprogram yourself to look at time from a different perspective. Rather than viewing time as something against you because you feel there isn’t enough of it. Recognize it for the gift it is.

And, rather than continuing to put things off to another day, be realistic.  Stop taking time for granted. Don’t assume you can “do it tomorrow.”

Don’t live in the mindset of denial that your time is driven by your job, family, or anything else except how you allow it to be used.

Seasons of life change. If you have young children who require (by your choice to have children) your time for many things, recognize that your children won’t always be young. It’s a season. And/or, you may choose to utilize the services of a nanny in order to make time for other things you want to spend your time doing.

Questions for Authentic Awareness:
Q1 – How would you describe your mindset about time?
Q2 – Do you believe you have a choice in where you spend your time? Why or why not?
Q3 – When you think about spending your time wisely, does this cause anxiety? If so, why or why not?

Application Tips for Transformation:
A1 – Get real in your thinking. Do not allow your mind to subvert the truth that time is a gift and you have choices in how you utilize it.
A2 – Pray. Ask God to help you understand the reality that you have a choice in how you spend your time.  Ask Him how you should use your time.
A3 – Use reflection time to consider how you used your time and what you could have done differently.  And, express gratitude (recognize the victories) when you use your time well.

 

2. ACTION

Take action, because tomorrow is not guaranteed.  Okay, so you’ve said this before and the tomorrow’s have kept coming. But what happens when those tomorrows turn into years?

Exercise is a great example for this point. You’ve been planning to exercise consistently, for years now. Your health is suffering and the doctor says you don’t have a choice. But, now you have 35 extra pounds on and your joints hurt every time you do anything physical.

Time provides you the opportunity to choose:
◆ getting actual work done
◆ making another person feel great by spending a few minutes with them or sending them a hand-written note
◆ reaching out to an old friend to chat by phone
◆ start that “consistent” exercise routine

There are lots of techniques to using time effectively.  Don’t be fooled.  There are no magic tips to effective “time management.”  You don’t manage time.  You manage the actions you take with the time you have.

You don't manage time. You manage the actions you take with the time you have. Click To Tweet

 

Questions for Authentic Awareness:
Q1 – Do you feel that you are good at taking action when it comes to how you spend your time? Explain.
Q2 – What is your number one concern about devoting time to something new?
Q3 – How could you mitigate the concern(s) you noted?

Application Tips for Transformation:
A1 – Imagine yourself doing the things you talk about and then begin by doing one of them within the next 3 days.
A2 – Use an accountability partner until your action(s) become a habit.
A3 – Discuss any concerns about the action(s) you want to take within the next week.  Or, at least schedule an appointment to discuss them.

Taking action is where it’s at!  Nothing changes if nothing changes.

 

3. PRIORITIZE

It seems that most people don’t like the truth that they have a choice in where they spend their time. Like it or not, it is the truth.

I use to say I didn’t have a choice because I had to work every day. It wasn’t that working took away my choice of where to spend my time. The issue was the way I saw my work as something I had to do, rather than something I get to do.

Just like my parenting example in #1 above. Parenting is a gift in and of itself. When we see that, just like going to work, for the gifts they are, we will see that we’ve chosen those things as priorities for the season of life we are in.

This begs the question, “why do you do what you do?” You’re why drives what you view as your priorities. And, your why is driven by your core values. This is a whole other article topic!

For now, know your priorities and make sure you are treating them as priorities. That means, scheduling them. Scheduling your priorities to your calendar is important for multiple reasons:

1. You are less likely to fall into the “out of sight, out of mind” trap.
2. You are more likely to honor what you place on your calendar.
3. You reprogram your mind quicker through consistent reinforcement.
4. You can use a shared calendar so those close to you are on board with your priorities.
5. You have greater motivation to stay committed and take action.

Questions for Authentic Awareness:
Q1 – What priority has not gotten your time and attention? Why?
Q2 – Are you well aware of your core values and do you honor them as priorities?  Why or why not?
Q3 – Do you understand the connection between your core values/priorities and the choices you make when it comes to utilizing your time? Explain

Application Tips for Transformation:
A1:  Begin today, reflect on what you truly consider your priorities (alignment with your core values).
A2:  Schedule at least 2 actions that support spending time on your top 2 priorities.
A3:  Put your top 2 core values somewhere that you can see them daily.

 

TIME to THRIVE

You will never fulfill the impact you are created and designed for until you are at peace with how you utilize God’s gift of time.

John Maxwell states, “Life gets confusing and conflicting. We have to decide what matters most or we become victims of the loudest or latest demands. Paul, whose focused life made him a literal world-changer, discovered the key to a prioritized life and shared that key in Philippians 3:12-14 (MSG) (The Leadership Bible, Week 36, Leadership Principle: PRIORITIES) ~

“I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.”

 

If you need help in this area, don’t delay. Time is one of those areas that we can heap a ton of guilt on ourselves about.  Don’t let that happen!  Watch for my upcoming Mastermind: Foundations for a THRIVING Life. Coming soon!

To speak with Coach Deb about her services, click here to email her.

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Debbie Luxton

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