If there is one thing that most of us take for granted that we absolutely can never replace, it's time. If I knew then what I know now, I would've been far more responsible with a lot of my days, weeks, and months than I actually was 20 years ago. While I can’t go back and change that, the good news is there are certain practices that I've introduced in my life that have helped me reclaim my precious time and live in a more fulfilling way. In celebration of a new month ahead I’ve pulled together five helpful ways for you to reclaim your extremely valuable time.
Figure Out What is a Complete Waste of Your Time
Let’s be honest here, where are you spending TOO much of your time? Are you scrolling on social media by the hour? Binge-watching seasons on end? Look out for these and notice how much time they are actually taking and take an inventory of how you feel doing these things to figure out what time you can shift and put them to better use.
Delegate
Are there things on your to-do list that other people can (or should) be doing? It’s important to look at what you’re taking on and what you should actually be taking on. Where are there areas where you have the resources for help and why aren’t you using them?
Get Outside
Many of us are stuck behind computers and inside for the majority of the day. So it’s important for us to get outside and move around - even if it’s just for 15 minutes. Take your Conference call on a walk around the block, park further away from your destination so you can enjoy a little more movement, or read a couple of emails in the sun. These small little doses can re-energize you throughout the day.
Set Boundaries
Are you saying yes too much? Boundaries are limits in both your personal and professional life and it’s important to let people know what you’re willing and not willing to do. Practicing saying NO for things you don’t have the capacity to do is the purest form of self-care you can do and the most powerful way to reclaim your time.
Clear Your Energy and Your Mind
Make sure you are doing some practice to keep your mind and energy clear. A few of my favorite ways to do that are alternate nostril breathing and vipassana meditation. Once you put in practice energy clearing activities your perspective on time will be different. It makes a huge difference when your insides are not so cluttered!
To sum this up and add some bonus information: I’ve found that I need to be tender and flexible for when life is topsy turvy. I always write out my To-Do list the night before and I am always on it!
When clients come to me, we re-evaluate where they are and where they want to go. If it’s to sleep better or not wake up in the middle of the night, I’ll look at their full lifestyle: movement, schedule, diet, practice… and I’ll create a personalized self-care system that aligns with them and the lifestyle and leader they want to be.
When a heart-centered businesswoman learns to reevaluate her time, she reclaims her health, her power, and her dreams. When this happens, she feels calmer, grounded, and successful in all aspects of her life. - So are you ready?