A Kick Ass Time Management System
I recently came across this quote, which seemed to be from an unknown source, but really resonated with me:
"Time is a non-refundable resource."
As I've now moved past the 50-year old mark in my life, I feel this truth in a more palpable way.
The urgency to make the most out of the time I have.
I heard this tends to happen once we hit the 50 mark, and that’s definitely been the case for me.
I’ve been diving deeper into my own relationship to time, and noticing how easy it can be for me to get distracted and thrown off track.
I’m also aware that the new home that I just purchased is a 4 in numerology terms, which means that it's a very practical place that supports ambition and attaining life goals.
So I've decided to leverage the energy of the house, and get more serious about my time!
I'm no newbie to time management systems, there are tons of systems out there to sort through, but none that I feel hit the spot.
So I took the best of them, and created my own version.
The thing about time is that, simply put, we don’t know how much of it we have left.
We don’t know when in our life we'll hit that death mark, which no one can avoid.
One of the things that I really began to connect with is that time management has much to do with managing the mind.
I talk a lot about this when it comes to money — gaining mental mastery with money — and time is very similar.
Time, just like money, requires mastery because it’s a resource.
Mastering our mind with time has to do with how our mind organizes things in relationship to the time that we have.
For example, my mind can become very scattered and disorganized when I’m taking in tons of information.
Have you noticed how extremely easy it is to get distracted in this day and age? Jump on the phone, and the next thing you know you've been on Insta... half an hour gone!
That's why choosing to master the mind with time can be a very powerful orientation. It can give us a structure to focus ourselves.
So I came up with my own time management system, which helps me organize my thoughts — how I think about my day, and how I go about taking care of things that are really important to me.
Are you curious about what I came up with?
This is time management, Priestess of Finance style.
✨⏳ Step 1: Use Google Keep to Stay on Track.
The first tool in the system is Google Keep.
Google Keep can be a task list, but I’m using it to organize the different kinds of actions and goals I want to accomplish for the month.
The cool thing about Google Keep is that you’ve got checkboxes and colors, and you can even add pictures and themes. This makes it feel creative and interesting to look at, so I'm more inclined to jump in there at the start of my day.
My Google Keep Categories are: 1. working on my biz, 2. working in my business, 3. my personal life, 4. my virtual G.O.D. box, 5. my daily practices, and the last one is just a 6. brain dump of all of the little miscellaneous tasks that are rolling around in my mind.
So that’s Step 1.
If you haven't tried it yet, I encourage you to get Google Keep up and running, organize it, beautify it, and set yourself up for success!
✨⏳ Step 2: Have a Daily Master To-Do List.
The next tool in the system is a daily master list.
I review Google Keep, and take the most important things out for the day. That becomes my master list for the day.
Then, I highlight the top two highest priority actions, one income-generating action, and one that is helping others in some way.
For example, writing this newsletter was my commitment today to help others.
While my master list includes a handful of smaller action items, it's most important that I accomplish one or two objectives that are the highest priority for me.
Once those highest priority items are accomplished, I can start focusing on some of the smaller objectives on the master list, and mark them off Google Keep as I go.
Here's one key point to remember:
The optimal way to organize our time is to think about who we want to be as a person, and ensure the choices we're making with our time align with that vision of ourselves.
If you want to be a person that lives a life of prosperity for example, then you need to align your time with that which creates prosperity.
✨⏳ Step 3: Set a Timer.
When you want to be successful at focusing on and accomplishing a task, it's hugely helpful to set a timer!
Personally, I know that if I don't set a timer, I might get a message on my phone, and next thing I know I'm distracted by the weather, the news, or a slew of other phone distractions.
When I have a timer in place, I know that I have one task (or a group of tasks) that I'll be focusing on exclusively for the next 40 minutes and it keeps me on track.
✨⏳ Step 4: Take Nourishing Breaks.
Breaks are essential to productivity!
Once my timer goes off, I take a 15-20 minute break to recharge and nourish myself.
My break may include meditation, visualization, stretching, or grabbing some water — something that's going to be nourishing and supportive, and help to focus my mind.
So that’s it!
To manage your time successfully and train your mind through structure, I recommend:
Using Google Keep to Stay on Track.
Having a Daily Master To-Do List w/Objectives.
Set a Timer.
Take Nourishing Breaks.
Now, I'd love to hear from you!
Do you have a time management system that you truly love and want to share some tips or insights about?
And if you'd like to implement my system, I'd love to hear what happens for you!
Ps: Ready to systemize your time and your finances? Book your complimentary discovery session today to learn about what Financial Coaching can do for your financial growth.