NYE ASSESSMENT | FINDING TIME

With the new year comes resolutions for change, and while I prefer more regular assessments of my life goals, I cannot escape the feeling that time often flies by faster than I'd like. 2017 - that means it has been nearly two decades since my days of holographic Y2K leotards. Hard to believe it's been that long.

Today's Monday Motivation focuses on the concept of time management and how we use the phrase, "there's not enough hours in the day" far too frequently. Laura Vanderkam's TED Talk "How to gain control of your free time" exposes just how many hours per week can be devoted to all the things we say we want to do but  feel we don't have the time for. I don't want to spoil the stats, so I'll just let you watch her video.

I know many will argue that Vanderkam only includes hours spent at work, not the commute, and sleeping, but I believe that's her point. All those extra hours don't have to be counted against us, but rather for us. Why not listen to a podcast during your commute? (I've learned so many valuable lessons from podcasts such as Invisibilia and Strangers.) How about meditating for a few minutes during lunch break? Or going for a run instead of driving next time you have local errands? If you ever forget the power of one minute, hold a plank and you'll see just how long 60 seconds can feel. If you're not into planks, try squats while you wait for your meal to heat up in the microwave; trust me, it's a lot longer than you might think.

We make time for what is important to us. I've found this to be a very powerful concept. I used to complain that "I can never seem to find the time to..." but it's not about "finding" time, it's about creating time. Once I started truly assessing my priorities and strategizing how to schedule my days, I found that I was able to clear more space. It's a continual process, requiring frequent re-evaluation of priorities. I can't say I've perfected it, but I've learned to focus on the things that matter to me, the things that keep me balanced, and accept that I cannot complain about that which I do not put effort into.

I'll leave you with an excerpt from Mitch Albom's The Time Keeper:

“Try to imagine a life without timekeeping. You probably can’t. You know the month, the year, the day of the week. There is a clock on your wall or the dashboard of your car. You have a schedule, a calendar, a time for dinner or a movie. Yet all around you, timekeeping is ignored. Birds are not late. A dog does not check its watch. Deer do not fret over passing birthdays. Man alone measures time. Man alone chimes the hour. And, because of this, man alone suffers a paralyzing fear that no other creature endures. A fear of time running out." 

Happy New Year, everyone! *cheers*