I’ve got no time for that.
Have you ever caught yourself saying that?
Is it really the truth?
Everyone has the same 24 hours in a day.
Do you wonder why some people crush it, and maybe you don’t? This was a question I often had!
What are they doing that I am not!
If you want to discover the secrets of those who seem to make the time, you are in the right place.
I believe there are three parts to this…
- What I am doing with my time.
- How I can use my time more efficiently.
- My mindset around time.
How does the saying go…
If you want something done, give it to a busy person!
How can that work?
Busy, successful people know a few things about time management!
What Am I Spending My Time On?
Do you know what you are spending your time on?
If you don’t, this is a great place to start. And it’s really simple. For a day or even better, a week, make a note of all the things you are doing and how long it is taking you.
From what I have seen, busy, successful people have a few rules around what they spend their time on.
- They know what they will spend their time doing.
- They know what they will NOT spend their time on.
- They know what the best use of their time is.
- They are not afraid to say ‘NO’.
- They will delegate tasks to others.
- They constantly review and refine what they are doing with their time.
Let’s say I have looked at what I am doing each day and each week and realise there are some things I can choose not to do. And that won’t make up enough time for adding in some new things.
What else can I do if I want to start something new? Change direction, get some new skills, start a new business or project? What can I do now?
How I can use my time more efficiently.
Once again, busy, successful people are using the concept of NET.
This is one of my favourite discoveries. Thanks to Mr Tony Robbins for introducing me to this!
So what is NET? Quite simply, it is No Extra Time.
It’s super simple…
Suppose I have to travel to work, dropping the kids off at school or after school activities. This is a necessity that I really cannot get out of, and maybe I don’t want to delegate it to someone else.
I am doing this, and I really can’t get out of it. So, what else could I do?
- I could listen to a podcast.
- I could listen to a language training program to improve my language skills or fluency.
- I could listen to personal or self-development courses.
- I could listen to an audiobook.
These are some of my favourite ways of using my NET – I was going to spend it anyway, but now I can do something more…
So, I generally have a rule. If I have family in the car, I use that time to connect with them and ask them questions.
On the return journey or whenever I find myself in my car alone, I use one of those suggestions above.
One of my ABSOLUTE favourite NETs is supercharged – it’s walking my dog.
I love to listen to podcasts when I am walking my dog. I don’t have to be fully engaged in the podcast, unlike a book or a training program.
Whilst I am walking my dog, I am exercising – getting my steps in.
AND I am outside in nature, so I am looking at the flowers, trees and the sky and seeing the birds and other wildlife – so I feel connected.
And I am seeing and greeting people as I walk.
No Extra Time? Doing things without spending more time… How creative could you be with your NET? What will you do?
The Winning Mindset of Busy, Successful People
Mindset is the final piece of the puzzle when it comes to fitting in more in your already seemingly ‘full’ and ‘busy’ life.
Busy, successful people consistently work on their mindset. In particular, they are very clear about:
- What they want to achieve and why.
- Their hierarchy of priorities.
- Their identity with time.
When you are clear about what you ultimately want and why it is much easier to know what you will do and what you will not do. Which ties back to the rules I shared at the beginning.
Being clear about the hierarchy of your priorities means that when you are faced with an either-or choice over how to spend your time, that decision is much easier to make. And a bonus, not agonising over a decision on how to spend your time saves time!
And finally, having a clear identity with time, is based not only on those rules and priorities but also on the beliefs we have around time.
Some simple examples of beliefs that could lead you to say ‘I’ve got no time to do that.’ could be:
- If I have such a busy schedule, I will be exhausted.
- Scheduling everything takes away spontaneity and creativity.
What if, instead, your time beliefs were:
I have such a rich and exciting week planned that energises me.
I have enough time for my family and passions and all that is important to me.
What are you going to do?
So, when you next catch yourself saying, “I’ve got no time for that”, what are you going to do?
Are you going to laugh a little, as you realise that’s not true! It’s a lie you have been telling yourself.
It isn’t a lie that busy, successful people tell themselves.
What do you think they say to themselves? What question do you think they ask themselves when a demand is made on their schedule?
I’d hazard a guess that they might ask some questions like…
- Do I really need to do this?
- Could someone else do it?
- Will this move me closer to what I really want?
- Is this my highest priority right now for that time slot?
- If I do this, will it enhance my already rich and exciting week?
- Will I still have enough time for my highest priorities?
In the end, we all have the same amount of time. We all have 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.
How are you going to spend your time? Will you invest it wisely in the things that are most important to you? Or will you let others steal your time from you?
It’s your choice.
LIVE, LOVE and THRIVE