"24 hours in a day is not enough time."
Says most people who are trying their best to juggle 10 balls at one time.
Which in 2024, I feel is most of our population.
We plan, create systems, and put processes in place, yet it still feels like it’s never enough.
And as a dad to a now one-year-old son, I know this feeling all too well.
For much of his first year of existence I have been feeling less than stellar about my approach to time management and what I have been able to get done everyday.
Something I am always keen on however, is leaning into the ways I am feeling uncomfortable, rather than running away from them. And in many of the cases, reading a book that pokes at my insecurities and weaknesses, often becomes my saving grace.
Enter Rory Vaden and "Procrastinate on Purpose."
I first heard of Rory a few weeks ago during his episode "Procrastination is RUINING You... Here's How to Stop NOW" on the Think Media Podcast.
He immediately stood out to me, and within a few minutes, I had already ordered my prime delivery of his book.
---> Fast forward to receiving and reading the book.
The main takeaway for me that I know can help others as well...
Realizing that time management is a myth.
We cannot "manage time" we can only manage ourselves.
Reality: we all have the same 24 hours in a day, and that’s never going to change.
We cannot buy more, trade it, give some away, or MANAGE IT.
Instead, we must maximize each moment of the 24 hours we have.
To do this, we need to take a step back and understand...
what we want
why we want it
how we’re going to go about achieving it
How does someone go about doing this?
Here is my strategy:
Break this down into three key areas: managing my physical health, and mental health, and spiritual health.
Focusing on these areas, I believe, will lead me to living a great life.
Physical Health: Reducing Friction
Self-management starts with physical health.
The key concept to learn here is to reduce friction, aka make it as easy as possible to exercise daily.
Bodyweight exercises are a great start, but preferred, build a small home gym with basic equipment like dumbbells or kettlebells. Exercise is therapy for me so I built a robust gym in my garage to allow myself to get after it whenever I want to.
Nutrition is the next step. What you eat every day significantly impacts your health. Reducing friction in nutrition means making healthy foods readily available. We use Whole Foods Prime Delivery, Instacart, Costco Delivery, and Thrive Market to ensure our pantry and refrigerator are stocked with nutrient-dense foods. Supplements like creatine, electrolytes, and daily vitamins have also played a crucial role in maintaining my optimal health.
Rest & recovery are equally important. I have a sauna and a polar monkey for sports recovery, but the most crucial aspect is quality sleep. Tools like the WHOOP band, Oura Ring, and Coros watch help track sleep quality. Also, simple practices like eating dinner early (3-5 hours prior to bed) and avoiding screens before bed can significantly improve sleep.
Mental Health: Control My Controllables
Managing my "monkey mind" has become a vital practice for me.
Each morning, I can be pulled in a million directions if I allow it to happen.
And I find that on days where I don't get my internal voice and mind under control, I tend to really struggle and be all over the place.
This is where my daily meditation and mindfulness practice in front of my mitoredlight help manage my thoughts and reduce stress.
I have found that while I cannot control my first thought, if I give myself the space to be mindful, I can control my response and my actions in the world. And the ability to do this stems from a consistent practice that I must complete.
Spiritual Health: Reflection
Understanding why I am here, and who I am meant to become, is a crucial aspect for spiritual self-management.
The truth is that when I grant myself the proper time to reflect, I always come to this conclusion...
My mission in life: empowering people to be healthy in mind, body, and spirit, and creating abundance and wealth for those around me.
So when something or someone DOES NOT ALIGN with this, I must say no to it/them.
For the spiritual side of my being I have found that journaling/writing out my thoughts helps me understand myself better and allows me to lead my life in a more empathetic way.
Conclusion:
Reframe time management in the power of self-management
The goal is not to manage time, but to manage myself, and hold myself accountable to what I must do to make the best use of my time here on earth.
By optimizing my physical, spiritual, and mental health, everything else in life will fall into place.
I have the same 24 hours in a day just like everyone else, but how I show up in those hours makes all the difference.
I must focus on self-management, reduce friction, and use tools and techniques to live optimally and THRIVEONLIFE.
Comentarios