Optimize = to make the best or most effective use of (a situation, opportunity, or resource).
I LOVE this WORD!
How can we optimize our time throughout the day?
Remember when I asked about those things you do everyday that are the most important and then those that are of lesser importance?
Here’s the thing. We have laundry and dishes, we have other chores and groceries to buy. There are items on the checklist that may feel like a time suck or are not that important in the grand scheme of things, but full disclosure…I do like to wear clean clothes and smell a clean bathroom.
This final piece of the 3 part series of things that are stopping us or slowing us down from having the life of our dreams, is truly about intentionality. Being intentional with our time.
As I wrote in the original blog post, we all have the same 24 hours in a day that everyone has. We all have the opportunity to spend time on what matters most to us, or who matters most to us, as well as we have the opportunity to waste time on the not so important things.
In my last posts, I put out a call to action. This one will be no different. Starting today, how can you be more intentional with your time? Think about something that you truly want to do. Maybe you want to learn to play the guitar, or learn a new language. Maybe you will finally get those old photos out of storage and make a scrapbook. Maybe you want to study for the GRE or LSAT. Maybe you want to start saving for that dream vacation. Maybe this will be the time you will prioritize your workouts.
Whatever it is, in order to make that dream a reality you must fit the new thing into your already busy schedule. You must optimize your time to create space for the new thing. You must prioritize yourself and your goal because, frankly, no one else will.
Creating space can be thought of in a couple of different ways. Actually creating physical space – make a place in your home that is for your knitting, or your yoga. Make this space sacred. This is “Mom’s space” where she goes to work on her hobby, or where she meditates. You can also create virtual space in your calendar or schedule.
Last post I asked you to do a time study on 1 day in your life. (Don’t worry if you didn’t do it yet, try it now). Spend a day tracking how much time you spend on all the things. Where is there space? Where could you fit something new in, like going to dance lessons, or joining a book club?
The other way to look at this is Time Blocking. I am not a genius at this, but definitely learning the practice to optimize my time when I can work on my blog & business. I block certain days/times where I work on my business. I did this when I was going through schooling and my Health Coach certification program. I blocked time to listen to the recorded sessions and do the skills labs with my partner.
It worked great!
When we want to prioritize something in our life, but it is not part of the norm or the routine we have to work with what we have (24 hours) and understand the time and energy needed to make that thing a priority.
I know what you’re thinking...Yes, YOU.
- I can’t possibly fit another thing in.
- I am exhausted.
- I am running on caffeine and fumes most days.
How can I tell my spouse, my kids, my partner, my parents, my roommates, my friends, my coworkers…that I want to go back to school to be a nurse? That I want to run a ½ marathon? That I want to start a podcast? That I want to study abroad?
I believe in my soul that you can do it! In the words of my 3rd grade teacher, Mrs. Bush, “I believe you can do anything you put your mind to. If you want to fly, you will fly.”
Optimize your time and energy. Create a plan. Go for your Dream!
XO
Jen
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