How often do you hear someone constantly say they want to start something new? Whether it be starting a new hobby, working out, taking that first step in changing their career, eating healthier or getting that one task done that’s been on the list for months now, the list is endless. Nine times out of ten they’ll say something along the lines of “There’s just not enough time in the day!” I’m here to tell you why that’s the worst excuse people can use to not get started on what they’ve said they’ve always wanted to do.
When it comes to time management, it doesn’t actually matter how much time you have. What matters is what you choose to do during that time. Here it is, folks, the key to finally doing that d*mn thing: prioritization. That’s it. Well, that’s not entirely it, but for the sake of this article, that is the major stepping stone you have to get over!
If you want to do something new, you need to make that thing part of your top priorities. Think of it like this: you’ve got a ten page paper due at the end of the semester, right? At the beginning of the semester it seems so far away that obviously it’s not on your priorities list, probably not on your list whatsoever. Fast forward to the last month of the semester and you’re starting to think, “Hey, maybe I should start looking into that soon…” and you add it to the bottom of your list, but all the other work you’ve got due within the next few days is taking up your time. Finally you’re about a week out from the due date and you know that if you don’t start this paper soon it’s not going to be completed in time, so it moves to the top of your list, becomes top priority and the work that could have been spread out over the semester is crammed into a short five days (If you’re like me, it’s probably closer to two or three days … don’t be like me). Being at the top of the list means it gets the majority of your attention, and suddenly all that time you “didn’t have” is focused on the thing you’ve been meaning to get done!
To the people who say there’s not enough time in the day, you have 1,440 minutes in a day and you’re telling me you can’t put 30 minutes towards your goal? Even starting small and dedicating five minutes can make a difference. If it’s something you actually want to do, then you would find a way to make time for it. Wake up earlier, spend less time on your phone, do what you need to do to get that thing done. Make a list with your top three priorities that must be done and go from there.
I will say that it’s okay if you have something you want to do but haven’t been able to make it your top priority yet. We are living in a world where you can’t just do everything you want, because there are deadlines and due dates that have to be prioritized getting in the way. The important thing to remember is if you find yourself constantly thinking about that one thing, it’s up to you to decide what matters more and a lot of times that means having to make sacrifices. No one else is going to make that decision for you so stop making excuses and just do the d*mn thing.
So, what are you going to do with your 1,440 minutes?