Making Time for The Things You Want to Do by Putting it in Your Schedule
I mentioned last week that there are only 24 hours in every day. You know this, but do you feel like there is never enough time in the day to get around to doing the things you actually want to do? If you’re ready to change that, keep reading.
Your solution can be as simple as putting the things you want to do on the calendar or in your planner.
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Here’s the thing… yes, we are busy and we have a lot to do each day. But we also tend to waste a lot of time on things that aren’t all that meaningful to us. We end up spending five minutes here and there on social media or playing around on our phones. At night, we sit down and end up watching two to three hours of Netflix (guilty!). All of this is time that we could have used for something we actually wanted to do. Instead, we got distracted and those precious minutes slipped away from us without notice.
You Can Make Time for The Things You Want To Do!
If you want to stop wasting time on unimportant things, the solution is to become more aware of our time and to schedule the things that are important. This includes things we have to do like going to work, cooking dinner, and taking the kids to dance class. More importantly though, it should also include blocks of time to do what we really want to do. Let’s say your goal is to improve your health and get in better shape. You’d love to head out for a walk every day and take a yoga class twice a week. You know it would help you reduce your stress and sleep better. But who has that kind of time to devote to exercise? You do! You just have to become aware of it.
Figure out what’s important to you and what you really want to do. Don’t be afraid to be selfish. Taking care of yourself and your own needs makes you a better parent, spouse, friend, and coworker. (If you didn’t read the post about figuring this out, head over there and then come right back.)
Figure out what you want to do, then put it on the calendar. Schedule or block out time to read in the morning, go for a walk after dinner, or hit the gym on your lunch break. Set aside time to get back into practicing yoga or to rediscover a favorite hobby.
This Might Be Hard at First
Yes, it will feel strange at first, especially if you aren’t used to using a schedule. It will probably be even tougher if you are using a schedule but haven’t been adding in your happy things until now. You will be tempted to do something “important” instead during those blocks of time. Don’t give into the temptation. Use the time you’ve scheduled to actually do and enjoy the things you really want to do. After a week or two, you’ll be able to do so without feeling guilty about spending time on what you want instead of what you “should” be doing. Trust me, there will be plenty of time for everything else and the things that are important and urgent will get done during the remainder of your day.
Using a schedule this way helps you focus your time and it gives you more control over how you spent it. You’ll be less likely to waste it on tasks and activities you don’t really care much about. And that’s a very good thing.
Filling out a planner makes me feel responsible and accomplished. Treat yourself to a fabulous new planner to track all of your happy things in. I recommend the Erin Condren Monthly planner. Try the daily planner too if you want to really have room to schedule things!
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