Organize How You Spend Your Time101

8/4/2019 Organize How You Spend Your Time101

1/9

Organize How You Spend Your Time

Are there so many things that you love to do, want to do, or

have to do that you dont know where to start first? If you

are like me, your inclination is to do what is easiest or most

fun. But then a nagging feeling lurks around me about the

chores that need my attention, and it undermines the pleasure

of the task at hand.Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the

noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life

consists in the elimination of non-essentials. ~Lin Yu Tang

At one time, I would do all the grunt work first so that I could

get it out of the way to enjoy the things I liked without that

guilty feeling. I would fill my to do list with all of the

projects hanging over my head and impeding my mental

freedom to pursue my goals, dreams, and deepest desires.

But a funny thing happened on the way to clearing my to

do list. It kept reproducing.


2/9

Id get everything checked off, only to see ten more items

appear at the bottom of the list. It was never-ending, and I

became endlessly frustrated that I was trapped by mind-

numbing tasks, events or work I didnt like.

Eventually, I was able to step off this treadmill, but only

after I reached middle age and felt I was going to suffocate

and die if I didnt. When you come to the realization that half

of your life is over, youre lucky if a voice in your head shouts,

Theres got to be more to life than this! Do something! And

there is more, whether you are fifteen or fifty.

Yes, there are chores and tasks that haveto be done,

unless you want to risk squalor, eviction, divorce, or

arrest.

There are other chores and tasks that are time-sucking

albatrosses of your own creation. For example, I live in a

lovely, big suburban home. We have a big yard. When we

bought the house, I was beside myself with joy and

excitement. But I didnt realize how much work it took to


3/9

maintain a big house with a big yard. I became a slave to the

house.

So how do you find the freedom to do more of the things you

enjoy doing, and less of the things you dont, without going

broke or losing the respect of those you care about?

To start, there are four concepts you must embrace:

1. You cant do everything right now. You will have to make

choices and let go of some things.

2. Some people may not like your choices and you have to

accept that discomfort knowing that it will likely pass in

time.

3. You will have to shift your perceptions about what you

value and what really brings you happiness, and proactively

create your work and activities around that.

4. There may be some things you cant change right now,

but you can work toward changing them.


4/9

If you can embrace these realities, you are ready to begin

clearing the mental paralysis so you can prioritize and

accomplish more of the things that bring you sustained joy

and meaning in your life.

Heres a quick guide to getting started.

Action # 1

Get four sheets of paper.

At the top of the first page write, Things I Do Now That

I Enjoy.

At the top of the second page write, Things I Wish I

Could Be Doing.

At the top of the third page write, Things I Do Daily

That I Dont Enjoy.

At the top of the last page write, Things I Still Need to

Do That I Dont Enjoy.

Under each heading, write a list of all actions related to


5/9

1)work,2)home,3)family,4)finance,5) recreation,

6)fitness,7) education,8)spiritual life,

And any other category of your life that requires your

time and attention.

Using your best estimate, assign an amount of time it

takes to pursue or complete these actions. For work, you

can assign the total amount of time you spend on the job.


6/9

Action # 2

Look at the page titled, Things I Still Need to Do That I

Dont Enjoy. Are there any items on that page that if left

undone would not adversely affect your life (beyond the

discomfort of disappointing someone else)? If so, cross

them off the list for now.

Are there any items on this same list that could bedelayed for one month or more with the same parameters

as above? If so, cross these off your list.

Looking at the items you crossed off the list, are there

any people you need to advise that you will not be doingthese things? If so, before you lose your courage, make

those calls right now.

List all of the actions that you absolutely must do

yourself.

Action # 3


7/9

Now take a look at the page, Things I Do Daily That I

Dont Enjoy. Look at the most time-consuming item. Write

down 5-10 possible ways that you could spend less time on

that item. Could you delegate, streamline, or completely

eliminate any part of this item? Do this exercise with the

next three most time-consuming items.

From this list you just created, write down any actions orcalls you need to make to implement the ideas. If

possible, handle those right now.

Of the remaining daily actions that you dont enjoy, are

there any tasks that you can eliminate or delegate

without a serious negative impact on your life?

Of the actions you absolutely must handle yourself, isthere a more efficient way of doing these that will take

less time or seem less intrusive? Write down your ideas.

List all of the actions that you absolutely must do

yourself.

Action #4


8/9

Look at the list titled Things I Do Now That I Enjoy.

Prioritize this list with the most important activities at

the top.

Now do this exercise with the Things I Wish I Could Be

Doing.

Pulling from both lists, prioritize the top 6-8 activities

that you do now or wish you were doing and write them

down in order. This is where you would like to be spending

the majority of your time.

Be aware that you may not be able to do all of the things

you enjoy. The goal is to spend more time doing thingsyou enjoy rather than activities you dont.

Action #5

Look at the final list of actions you dont like but

absolutely must do yourself. Calculate how much timethose activities take on a daily and weekly basis.


9/9

Now do this calculation for the list of 6-8 activities that

you enjoy.

By eliminating, postponing, or delegating some of theactivities you dont like, have you found more time for

activities you do enjoy?

By prioritizing the activities you enjoy, do you feel a

better sense of direction about how to spend your time?

Using these lists, create a weekly schedule for yourself,

leaving 1-2 hours a day of cushion for unexpected events.

Remember to build in time for sleep, grooming, and

eating.

This guide will be a start for examining and organizing how you

spend your time. Of course there may be bigger questions

related to your career, your relationships, or how to fulfill a

bigger goal or dream that cant be addressed so quickly. If

so, use the guide to carve out time to address these

issues. Make life creation one of your daily activities.

Documents

Organize How You Spend Your Time101