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Balancing Time

By Cyndi Seidler

Reprinted from LifeSMART Solutions
November 2000

We do have choices. There isn't some other entity or force that is controlling our lives and putting us in the condition we're in. No, we do it. We're the ones in control, or not in control of our life. It's just that some of us have made choices that have caused us to feel out of control.

In creating one's ideal lifestyle, a person needs to structure their life so that they have time to do those things that have purpose. The plan is not about managing time to achieve our goals and pursue our passions. It's about managing ourselves.

The idea that we can manage time is an intangible and elusive one. Time is an interesting consideration which lends itself to measure the rate things move forward. Since it is measured that are only 24 hours in a day, this can be a dilemma for those who are faced with a zillion things to do in those 24 hours. I'm convinced we're forced to suffer from an ailment I call: Time Deficit Disorder. But let's not get discouraged. The key is making time what we want to make it.

When we get into a rut, it's because we didn't manage ourselves properly. In focusing less on the tangible and more on the fulfillment of things you value, you'll achieve a sense of balance. To get a sense of balance, change priorities. There's no need to make drastic sacrifices. But, to change priorities, you'll need to change yourself and the way you operate.

Life is more fulfilling when you're doing those things that bring you joy. By determining purposeful priorities, you can accomplish tasks toward known goals with pleasure. Priorities should then encompass: family relations; personal enrichment; health; pursuing passions; working toward long-range goals.

The "trick" to accomplishing anything is to use time to manage your activities. Structure your day, your week, and your life with balance. Make room to focus on your lifelong passions, and start to really pursue them. Time-balancing is an adjustable motivation that isn't a "one size fits all". It needs to be customized for you. Since every person is different, there's no one rule to getting things done. Stress only enters in when either priorities are not established on your activities, or when you don't keep agreements you've made with yourself.

You can see how you spend your time by drawing up a diagram of a circle and dividing it into segments of

1)

Time we devote to work

2)

Time we devote to family

3)

Time we devote to personal leisure activities and friends

4)

Time we devote to our health

5)

Time we devote toward our passions and long-term goals. Most likely, work makes up a wider portion of that circle

In creating your ideal lifestyle, make one choice at a time. There may be some lifestyle trade-offs. Maybe not. Keep these things in mind when recreating the structure of your life for more balance:

  • Focus on doing more activities that are in sync with your purpose.
  • Plan and prioritize. Set weekly priorities (goal-setting) and work with an agenda in blocks of time.
  • Separate what's really important to you in life. Those are your priorities. Do less what you don't like (delegate it) and do more what you do like.
  • Schedule your priorities. Say "no" to things that don't align with your purpose.
  • When planning your schedule, refer to those activities that get you from where you are now to where you want to be.
  • Adapt what you're doing to fit in more with your purpose.
  • Match time and resources to the priorities you've chosen.
  • Create a time plan with a master list and daily list. Limit the number of items to accomplish in one day.
  • Don't make work the center of your universe. Step off the "work speedway" temporarily to regain sense of balance.
  • Separate business responsibilities from personal responsibilities.
  • Make time for yourself. Do those things that comfort you (a bath, a walk, reading).

Try this for one week: List out all your activities and prioritize them. Create an agenda for yourself that includes those activities which are important to you. Fit this in during a certain time of the day or week, and stick to it.

Copyright © 2000 Cyndi Seidler.  All Rights Reserved.

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