Organize How You Spend Your Time

Are there so many things that you love to do, want to do, or have to do that you dont know where to start first? If you are like me, your inclination is to do what is easiest or most fun. But then a nagging feeling lurks around me about the chores that need my attention, and it undermines the pleasure of the task at hand.

Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life

consists in the elimination of non-essentials. ~Lin Yu Tang

At one time, I would do all the grunt work first so that I could get it out of the way to enjoy the things I liked without that guilty feeling. I would fill my to do list with all of the projects hanging over my head and impeding my mental freedom to pursue my goals, dreams, and deepest desires. But a funny thing happened on the way to clearing my to do list. It kept reproducing.

Id get everything checked off, only to see ten more items appear at the bottom of the list. It was never-ending, and I became endlessly frustrated that I was trapped by mindnumbing tasks, events or work I didnt like. Eventually, I was able to step off this treadmill, but only after I reached middle age and felt I was going to suffocate and die if I didnt. When you come to the realization that half of your life is over, youre lucky if a voice in your head shouts, Theres got to be more to life than this! Do something! And there is more, whether you are fifteen or fifty. Yes, there are chores and tasks that have to be done, unless you want to risk squalor, eviction, divorce, or arrest. There are other chores and tasks that are time-sucking albatrosses of your own creation. For example, I live in a lovely, big suburban home. We have a big yard. When we bought the house, I was beside myself with joy and excitement. But I didnt realize how much work it took to

maintain a big house with a big yard. I became a slave to the house. So how do you find the freedom to do more of the things you enjoy doing, and less of the things you dont, without going broke or losing the respect of those you care about? To start, there are four concepts you must embrace: 1. You cant do everything right now. You will have to make choices and let go of some things. 2. Some people may not like your choices and you have to accept that discomfort knowing that it will likely pass in time. 3. You will have to shift your perceptions about what you value and what really brings you happiness, and proactively create your work and activities around that. 4. There may be some things you cant change right now, but you can work toward changing them.

If you can embrace these realities, you are ready to begin clearing the mental paralysis so you can prioritize and accomplish more of the things that bring you sustained joy and meaning in your life. Heres a quick guide to getting started. Action # 1

Get four sheets of paper. At the top of the first page write, Things I Do Now That

I Enjoy.

At the top of the second page write, Things I Wish I

Could Be Doing.

At the top of the third page write, Things I Do Daily

That I Dont Enjoy.

At the top of the last page write, Things I Still Need to

Do That I Dont Enjoy.

Under each heading, write a list of all actions related to

1) work, 2) home, 3) family, 4) finance, 5) recreation, 6) fitness, 7) education, 8) spiritual life,

And any other category of your life that requires your time and attention. Using your best estimate, assign an amount of time it takes to pursue or complete these actions. For work, you can assign the total amount of time you spend on the job.

Action # 2

Look at the page titled, Things I Still Need to Do That I

Dont Enjoy. Are there any items on that page that if left
undone would not adversely affect your life (beyond the discomfort of disappointing someone else)? If so, cross them off the list for now.

Are there any items on this same list that could be delayed for one month or more with the same parameters as above? If so, cross these off your list.

Looking at the items you crossed off the list, are there any people you need to advise that you will not be doing these things? If so, before you lose your courage, make those calls right now.

List all of the actions that you absolutely must do yourself.

Action # 3

Now take a look at the page, Things I Do Daily That I

Dont Enjoy. Look at the most time-consuming item. Write

down 5-10 possible ways that you could spend less time on that item. Could you delegate, streamline, or completely eliminate any part of this item? Do this exercise with the next three most time-consuming items.

From this list you just created, write down any actions or calls you need to make to implement the ideas. If possible, handle those right now.

Of the remaining daily actions that you dont enjoy, are there any tasks that you can eliminate or delegate without a serious negative impact on your life?

Of the actions you absolutely must handle yourself, is there a more efficient way of doing these that will take less time or seem less intrusive? Write down your ideas.

List all of the actions that you absolutely must do yourself.

Action #4

Look at the list titled Things I Do Now That I Enjoy. Prioritize this list with the most important activities at the top.

Now do this exercise with the Things I Wish I Could Be

Doing.

Pulling from both lists, prioritize the top 6-8 activities that you do now or wish you were doing and write them down in order. This is where you would like to be spending the majority of your time.

Be aware that you may not be able to do all of the things you enjoy. The goal is to spend more time doing things you enjoy rather than activities you dont.

Action #5

Look at the final list of actions you dont like but absolutely must do yourself. Calculate how much time those activities take on a daily and weekly basis.

Now do this calculation for the list of 6-8 activities that you enjoy.

By eliminating, postponing, or delegating some of the activities you dont like, have you found more time for activities you do enjoy?

By prioritizing the activities you enjoy, do you feel a better sense of direction about how to spend your time?

Using these lists, create a weekly schedule for yourself, leaving 1-2 hours a day of cushion for unexpected events. Remember to build in time for sleep, grooming, and eating.

This guide will be a start for examining and organizing how you spend your time. Of course there may be bigger questions related to your career, your relationships, or how to fulfill a bigger goal or dream that cant be addressed so quickly. If so, use the guide to carve out time to address these issues. Make life creation one of your daily activities.