astrideastmanTop 4 Time Thieves and How to Get it Back
Are you looking for more time in your day? Do you always feel like you just never have enough time? For years I felt the same way. Then I learned to recognize these top 4 time thieves and discovered how to take back my own time!
1 – Procrastination
What happens to you when you read that word?
For me, I feel guilt, shame, self disappointment and it all centres in my gut. When I procrastinate, I feel like crap. No other word can describe it more accurately.
We’ve all struggled with procrastination at some point in our lives and for many we struggle with it over and over again. Guess what? You are normal! It is so much easier for our brain to tell us to push off those non-urgent things for another day, right?!
But here’s the thing – when we procrastinate, it’s not just about putting off the “thing”. When we procrastinate, we also puts off being the person who we want to be come. Do you enjoy the sound of the label you give yourself as a “procrastinator”? Does it bring you feelings of joy and happiness? Or does it bring on those same feelings that I feel – guilt, shame, disappointment?
The great thing is that we get to CHOOSE to not procrastinate! We can challenge ourselves to do things with FOCUS. And guess what happens when we do things with FOCUS? We get things done faster! And when we get things done faster, we have more time to do fun things!! Now doesn’t that sound better than worrying about getting all those things done that we have pushed off time and time again??
2 & 3 – Worry & Indecision
Reframing your thoughts about time is so important because they will determine the results that you get in your life.
If the results that you are getting right now include: not getting things done, always feeling stressed, feeling overwhelm and saying that you never feel like there’s enough time – then realize, those results are coming from YOU . Those thoughts are causing you to have the results you have RIGHT NOW.
Most of us live in worry, indecision, multitasking, people pleasing, overwhelm, confusion. I have “suffered” from all of these things for YEARS.
So let’s chat about WORRY and INDECISION – when you have a project to tackle, how many of you start to worry and don’t make decisions about the tasks? All that worry and indecision take up so much mental space! When that mental space is full of worry and indecision, you don’t leave any room to FOCUS. You push off that project to the last minute and plow through to get it done. At least you know you can finish the project, but you have just wasted hours, days, maybe even weeks of wasted mental space. Sound familiar?
How about this thought instead:
I know how to figure this project out. I know what steps to take to get it done.
Even if at that exact moment you don’t know the fine details of the steps you need to take, do you know what your brain will do if you tell it you know what to do? Your brain will actually start to come up with IDEAS on how you can figure it out. Your brain will start on being productive one step at a time – which really, is all you can do – just one step at a time forward.
Interested in reading more about how to changing your thoughts first to then change your actions? Be sure to read my other article Change Your Thoughts, Not Your Actions.
4 – Multitasking
I used to pride myself as the Queen of Multitasking. I feel as a mother and a wife, multitasking has been ingrained into us as a necessary evil.
Of course I can hold the baby to breast feed while you stand at the oven cooking dinner for the rest of the family.
Of course I can bake those cookies for tomorrow’s bake sale (that I just found out about) and help you with that school project that is due tomorrow.
So it stands to reason that once you “master” mom multitasking mode, it creeps into EVERY other aspect of your life. And let’s face it, you don’t have to be a mom, parent, wife, etc. know that the idea of being able to multitask brings you praise from those that just can’t do it.
But here is the real truth about multitasking. Multitasking will have you do 10 things, half way, maybe not even finishing them AND cause you stress and worry. All those 10 things likely won’t get done WELL.
When we commit to ONE thing, we are more likely to first, get it done and second, do it well. The best part about tackling one thing at a time? When it’s done, it’s DONE! No going back and forth between the other 9 projects. One of the best things to getting more focused and productive is to DITCH THE MULTITASKING and tackle one project at a time.
Recognizing these top 4 time thieves is your first time in kicking these bad habits to the curb AND gaining time back in your day!
