Too much to do and not enough time?

Do you feel completely overwhelmed with too much to do and not enough time to do it all?

You’re not alone!

One of the most common frustrations I hear from clients is their inability to manage time. Not because they’re inefficient or scatter-brained but because they have so much to do, they just can’t get it all done.

I have a quick check-up for you to determine how well you’re managing your time:

1. Are you in denial about your limitations?

We’re all superheros in our own right, but we can’t expand time. Are you being honest about what all can be done? Or do you assume you can be everything to everyone if you just try hard enough?

The first step to managing your time is getting honest about how much you can do while maintaining your sanity and enjoying life. If you need a wake-up call, let this be it. Don’t wait for a heart attack, stroke, or worse.

And don’t kid yourself about the seriousness of this issue. It can literally be life or death.

2. Are you a yes man?

When was the last time you said no?

If you say yes to everyone and everything, what’s really going on? Are you trying to be liked by everyone? Are you worried about losing clients, jobs, or friends if you say no?

If so, time management isn’t your problem… it’s just masking the real fear of not being good enough.

Start learning to say no. The more you do it, the easier it gets!

3. Are you focusing on priorities or caving to pressure?

Do you waste all of your energy on so-called emergencies?

If so, your to-do list likely stays the same or gets longer each and every day. You wake up early and stay up late trying to get things done. But you can’t keep up. You feel completely and utterly exhausted all the time with no end in sight.

If you’re constantly putting out fires as opposed to addressing your priorities, the chart below will help you regain control of your life.

 

As you can see, each quadrant has a letter assigned. A and B matters most and should get the majority of your attention. Try to delegate or release C. Seek to minimize or at least manage D. These issues generally work themselves out or can be avoided with advance planning.

Not only will this guide offer a check-up for your time management health, it can help you decide how best to respond (or delegate) each time something new pops up. It will also let you know when it’s okay to say no with confidence.

If there are other realities in your life such as an unreasonable boss, client, spouse, etc, this certainly won’t fix those problems. That said, someone else’s demands doesn’t account for 100% of your time management problems. So even if you feel as if you have no control over your time, give this guide a try to see if you can begin to lighten the load without making major life changes.

Have a fabulous week!

Heather