Your life is busy. You’ve got work, friends, family, and the million and one other things that fill your days. That’s why it may seem hard to find time for everything on your to-do list.
So, what’s the solution?
Let’s start off by stating what the solution isn’t. It isn’t getting up at 3 a.m. (spoiler: that’s a great way to burn out).
Instead, the key is understanding what activities are important vs. unimportant. Once you group common tasks into either category, you’ll have a clearer idea of how to spend your time so you can stop doing things you hate.
Notice how we said “spend” your time. Your time is a currency, so make sure you’re investing it where it matters.
Basically, if you don’t enjoy doing something or think it doesn’t contribute anything meaningful to your life, stop doing it!
You don’t have to do everything
There’s a reason the phrase “schedule management” appears on so many resumes. It’s a highly sought-after skill. It makes you look like you have your life together, and it lets others know you can handle anything.
But what if there was no such thing as schedule management?
What if, instead of feeling like we need to manage our schedules, we changed our perspective on what it means to be busy?
The truth is, we’ll never have time for everything—and that’s okay.
There are certain things in life (like work and school) where being busy is part of the job description.
Other things (like hobbies) are just something we choose to do outside of our professional obligations because they bring us joy. And still others (like errands) can be delegated or outsourced entirely.
The key here is to realize which things fall into which category—and have the courage not to do them all!
For example, sign up for grocery delivery, and opt for automatic payments on reoccurring bills. These are just a few hacks that can end up saving you a lot of time.
You don’t have to help everyone
If someone asks you for advice and you’re too busy or don’t feel like it, tell them. Be honest. They may think less of you in the moment, but they’ll find someone else who’s willing to help them out soon enough.
And in the long run? They’ll appreciate your candor more than if you’d made an empty promise only to forget about it later. And who knows how many people end up getting caught in that web!
You’ve got better things to do with your time. Don’t over-extend yourself unnecessarily.
You don’t have to do things that don’t excite you
This is the heart of the matter. If you don’t prioritize your life, someone else will.
We’re not saying you should be excited 100 percent of the time about what you’re working on.
But if the things you do on a daily basis don’t excite or interest or intrigue you, then why are you doing them?
That’s something to think about. Ultimately, the things you do every day end up being your life. And why have a boring life?
To manage your schedule more effectively and spend more time on what you value most, let go of things that don’t bring you joy.
Focus on what matters to you, and get rid of the rest. For example, if you hate folding laundry, maybe cut down on the number of clothes in your wardrobe.
Chances are, you don’t need to wash and fold five loads of laundry every week. And for the time you do spend on manual tasks, try putting on some music or an audiobook to make that time more interesting!
Final thoughts
The next time you have trouble managing your schedule, try doing fewer things. And stop doing things you hate. It’s as simple as that.
Don’t feel guilty about saying no to people or projects that don’t align with your values. And don’t feel like you have to do everything for everyone. It’s okay if not every event or commitment makes it onto your calendar. Really.
Be aware of time traps, like social media, and zero in on what’s truly important.
You’re allowed to prioritize what matters most to you, and it doesn’t mean everyone will resent you. We all need to breathe and take some time for ourselves every once in a while.
You might be surprised how much more relaxed and focused you’ll be knowing that there are fewer things coming up in the future!
