I Don't Have Time ...

This is a statement I often hear.

Others that are similar include "There aren't enough hours in a day" and "I'm time poor".

People no longer have time to attend their children's concert or watch them play sport.

They no longer have time to meet socially or get the important work completed.

They have to work longer hours as there is not enough hours in a day to get the jobs done.

‘A lack of time' is the common reason given for why something is not done or not done on time.

Are you time deficient?
Are you always running late?
Do you have too much to do and no time to do it?

If you are, you are not alone. It appears more and more people are cramming so much into their day that they are running out of time.

Why, as time progresses, do we appear to have less time?

Is it technology's fault?

We now have Personal Digital Assistants (PDA's), mobile (cell) phones, computers (emails and surfing the web) and other electronic devices that have us "on call" 24/7.

With the introduction of all these gadgets, there is more to do. More emails to answer, more jokes to read, more people to contact and more things to look at on the net.

Work never stops. Instead of working their eight hour day and then going home and relaxing with their family, they are now on call 24/7.

The problem soon becomes, your brain will push you to do what you think is urgent or pleasurable over what's not.

Pleasure can include surfing the net, phoning (texting) people and playing electronic games.

Urgent is simply having to answer a mobile (cell) phone every time it rings. You are now contactable everywhere you go at any time.

To add all this to your day, something has to give. You will need to find more time, do less of something or try and cram the whole lot into the time you have. Result: major stress.

Many suggest the number one cause of stress today is a lack of time. It can cause anxiety, depression, tension, arguments and even divorce.

When you have two or more tasks to perform, your brain weighs up which will give you the most pleasure. Do I go for a walk or surf the net? For most, surfing the net is more pleasurable so they will do this and then say they don't feel motivated to go for a walk.

Not getting the things done that should be done leads to you feeling more stressed so, to counteract this, you go for the things that give you pleasure.

A Solution

What is important in your life?

Is it spending time with family, exercise, study or work?

At work, what is important?

Make a list and rate them from the most important to the least important.

Put specific times to each of these to ensure they are a part of your day and they are completed. For example, work 9 to 5. Walk with family 5:30pm to 6:30pm.

Put aside a specified time (like an hour) to return phone calls, read emails, surf the net, texting and other things that create pleasure for you.

Turn your mobile (cell) phone off after-hours or let it go through to message bank or monitor who is calling.

Give yourself a break.

In summary, do what's important first and then fit the 'urgent'/pleasurable things in.

Many are letting the 'urgent'/pleasurable things override the important things.

Work Smarter

It is imperative to have a good work/life balance.

If you are looking to find time, you may well be disappointed. There is only 24 hours in a day, 7 days in week and 52 weeks in a year. No matter what you think or do, this is it. It is important to work with what you have.

Maybe you have to delegate - whether it be at work or at home.

I consult with many parents - especially single Mums - who believe it is their role to do everything for their children. What does this teach them?

Bosses who do everything because staff wouldn't do it as well. What do the staff learn from this?

Importantly ...

Make Time For You

This should be your Number One priority.

Happy you means happy family, happy work, happy life.

Learn to say "No" to the things that are going to drain you of energy and time.

If you had 3 months to live, what would you be doing in the next 3 months?

Would you spend all day on the computer/phone or would you be spending it with your loved ones, going on a holiday and having some fun?

With 3 months to live, would you be short of time?

Live life like you have a finite time to live - because the reality is, your days are numbered!

As one clever book title by Richard Carlson says "Don't Sweat The Small Stuff ... And It's All Small Stuff".