Where do we find moments in our day or week to grow intentionally?
I was reviewing my planner the other day, and it occurred to me, much of it was bare and showed no evidence of what I have been working on or what goals and tasks I have yet to meet. I know I’m busy but if someone were to look at my planner, they would think I do nothing all day. Funny joke, my kids tease me about playing math games all day. They clearly don’t know me because I dislike math and would rather read. Planning our day has been a struggle for some. I find myself organized for the most part, but I do fall short of giving time to goals or projects. I’ll find time here or there to get what I need done. The goals that I say I’m excited about don’t get quality work time. For example, I’m working towards becoming a professional coach. I have clear goals that will help me fulfill this dream, however I haven’t put enough time into working on it. If I am at all serious about this path it should appear in my schedule each day. I can sit here and tell all of you the excuse I am busy, but I know I haven’t capitalized on my time. I have failed to be intentional. Let us explore where I and maybe you could do better.
We all have the same amount of time, 24 hours. Yes, we are busy, and we have families and jobs too. With all that, we still want to ensure we are present in those moments. Our families should be the most important part of our lives. The area I hope we look more closely at is the time we waste. Yes, I’m talking about Facebook, Twitter, or other social media sites. These things are not bad but can be huge time wasters. If you like watching crazy cat videos on YouTube, that’s ok but don’t allow it to waste your time. If these videos or other things are important, then allow time for them at specific times in the day. Don’t allow them to fill the moments throughout your day. Excessive use of social media isn’t healthy, however if what you consume on your socials is helping you fulfill goals that’s a different story. Intentional growth and improvement within your social platforms should be acceptable.
Maximizing our time is the secret to utilizing our days to their full potential. The concept of zero-based scheduling has been around for some time. The idea is to fill your schedule with everything that is important. Set meeting times first and fill in the other important events that should include family-time, meals, exercise, and time for goal achievement. Whatever you give value should be scheduled. Take my situation as an example. The on-line site and resources I use for coach training should appear in my daily schedule. The things I want to grow in should also be scheduled. Opponents to zero-based scheduling will argue that it never gives you time to relax. I find this to be untrue because if relaxation time is needed you can always schedule that too. Zero-based scheduling will maximize your day to the fullest and it can ensure you are intentionally working towards goals and finishing projects.
Staying disciplined with our time can be very difficult. There are so many things that could distract us. At our house the television is always on. It can be easy to fall prey to a great movie on Netflix or a football game this fall. We lack discipline at times because our want for growth isn’t always a fire within us. Wanting to make ourselves better is hard work and it takes an awesome amount of energy to stay focused on what is good for us.
Small opportunities can provide you excellent growth potential. Now I know I mentioned that social media could waste your time. There are things on social media that can fill you with value. Articles related to some of your goals can be found on socials. YouTube has great motivational things, or you could engage in some TED talks. I love pod casts or audio books while I travel. A valuable step I have taken recently to avoid the afternoon slump is listening to motivational Podcasts or coaching calls. These build me up when I need it most. The point here is, fill your schedule with what is best for you even if its only 15 or 30 minutes. There is value in those short moments throughout your day if you use it.
What are some things that you’re currently engaged in that waste time?
What planning strategies help you maximize your time to achieve goals?
What habits could you track that could make you more efficient throughout your day?
What personal growth practices do you hope to add to your schedule?
Everyone is on a level playing field when it comes to time. People choose to master their days with scheduling and proper planning. We must plan our days to fit our needs. I hope you choose to fill your daily schedules with the things that allow you to grow and be happy. Thanks for looking in on this week’s post. Please share you scheduling ideas and have a great week.
Steven C. Bucks- Leading Conversations
