How can we find time to do the things we enjoy in life, as well as the things we know we should do?

Most of us have too much on our plate, our schedule is FULL.  We feel stressed about it, and we wish we could just work a little harder to catch up.  When we do put in the extra time to catch up, it always seems something else gets left behind, and we feel we have accomplished nothing.

Most experts agree that we all need time management skills to get us through our day, so the most important things in our lives don't get overlooked. The experts also agree that the Most Important Things are our family, taking care of ourselves, taking part in enjoyable hobbies, and just enjoying life.  AND

Not letting LIFE pass us by.

We can not manage time.  We can only manage ourselves.  So we need self-discipline, and a system.  I have found the following from a few different sources that have really helped me.

Some of the Time Management Gurus say that by performing the following you can add 2 hours to your day by being more efficient.

Here are some of the better ideas I have used.

Make a list of all the things you have to do.  Do this the day before at the end of the day, or first thing in the morning.

Go through the list and place a letter next to the task.  Use the following guidelines.

The ABCDE formula.

A tasks are have to do's. 

There is a high return on your investment of time.  These are time sensitive.  You have a deadline.  There is also a high consequence if it doesn't get done. If only one thing can get done today... This Is The One!

B tasks are should do's.

There is a medium to high return on you time, however these are not necessarily  time sensitive.  Such as an up coming project due, or a term paper.  Do realize these soon become A tasks as the deadline approaches.

C tasks are nice to do's.

C tasks have a LOW return on your time.  C tasks at work are generally time wasters.  Such as getting lots of unimportant minor things done!  Long unnecessary phone calls or meetings, answering unimportant emails, redundant spreadsheets and paperwork.  There are no consequences if these tasks don't get done.  You should minimize these best you can.  The unfortunate thing is, studies show this is where we spend (waste) most of our time.

D tasks are tasks you delegate.

It doesn't belong to you, it is not your lane, or you have someone who can handle that particular task as well as you could.  Hand it off and free up your time.

E tasks are tasks you should Eliminate.

Long coffee breaks, long lunches with friends.  Checking Face Book numerous times during the work day.  Showing up late and leaving early at work.

Once you make your list and you have categorized the items, see if you have more than one A task.  If you do, place them in order of importance.  So you will have an A-1 task an A-2 task and so on.

Rule number one is make a list of your tasks and prioritize them as stated above.

Rule number two is single handle each task until it is complete. 

The rule is never work on a lower value task until the higher value task is complete.

If you have an A task you should not be working on a B task.

The idea of focused effort will save enormous amounts of time and energy.  When you stop and restart a task, it takes an estimated 3-5 minutes just to get back to where you left of from.  Experts say it takes 5 time longer to finish a task by trying to multitask.

Some ideas to help you stay on your A-1 task. 

If you are working on your A-1 task and something pops up, look it over and make a decision.  Do I have to do this ASAP? Will this take longer than 2 minutes to do?  If the consequences are low and it may take longer than 2 minutes to do, add it to your list and handle it later.  If the consequences are high, your priority's have now changed and handle it now.  Then get back to your A-1 task.  If the task will take less than 2 minute to do the experts say to go ahead and do it, but get right back to your A-1 task.  Also only allow the 2 minute rule to happen twice.  Other wise you will never get back to your A-1 task.

Why worry about time management?  So you can do all the things you love to do and not be stressed about unfinished tasks.

This simple format can increase productivity 25% the first time you put it to use.

Re Cap

• Make a list of all your tasks you need to do.

• Prioritize your tasks

• Single handle the highest priority tasks with laser like focus.

• Go enjoy the rest of your day!

Now you have time to do an awesome workout!

Get out of your Comfort Zone!

Reach your Potential!!

How long do you plan to live and be healthy?-Jim Marx

Most people never think of making a goal to live to a certain age and to be healthy until they die.

So, How Long Will You Live?

Make a decision that you're going to live to be 80 or 90.

Make a decision that you're going to dance at your grandchildren's wedding.

What is your long-term vision of your health when you reach 80 or 90?

Have you decided how long you intend to live, and how healthy you want to be?

None of us are going to live forever, so make the decision now of how long you want to live, and how healthy you will be when you get there!

How long will you live?

Let's say you decide to live and be as healthy and you can be until you are 87.

Once you make your decision that you will live to be 87 you now have a goal, a focus.

Write it down!

Now you can design a plan to get there.

Each and every day you can decide if your daily habits are bringing you closer or further away from your goal of living to 87 and being healthy.

Now make the decision to stop doing things you know are not healthy, and will not help you reach your goal of 87.

Within a very short time you can change your health dramatically by stopping doing things you know are unhealthy.

It can be that easy!

Next start adding a few healthy things to your daily routine.

You must think of yourself as a healthy person not a person wanting to be healthy.

As within... so without...

What this means is everything starts from within us. What you believe or think about most of the time you will become.

You are now a healthy person and you are doing things to get even healthier!

Start thinking of your health now, do not wait until you become sick or injured to make it a priority.

What does health and fitness mean to you?

Does it mean beauty, discipline, happiness, energy? 

Picture yourself in your perfect health 10, 20, 30 years from now!

• How do you want to look and feel?
• What do you want to be able to do!?
• Vow to live a happy healthy life!

Write it down.

I will live to be ___________ (fill in the blank) and be happy and healthy!

I will eliminate ___________ because it is unhealthy and does not move me toward my goal.

I will add_________________ because it is healthy and moves me closer to my goal.

I am a Happy Healthy Person Now!

As one of my closest friends says:

Move Well! 

Eat Well!! 

Live Well!!!

Get out of your comfort zone

And

Live Your Life Your Way!