The Weird Truth About Time Management...

Knowing how to manage your time is great, if it was possible. Here's what I mean...

It's literally impossible to "manage time." You simply cannot do it.

You can, however, manage yourself.

I realize this might appear trivial at first blush, but really think about it for a second.

Can you ever really manage time? Doesn't time pass regardless if you "manage" it or not?

So what can we do instead?

Well, in short -- we need to learn how to master our own emotions, develop our focus, and start investing our energy in the highest ROI activities.

Mastering Your Emotions:

The funny thing about emotions is this: they're just emotions...and, there's nothing to master.

They're sensations in the body that we as humans love to give a lot of meaning to, when in fact they aren't that important.

Emotions by themselves aren't bad. Not at all...

It's when we judge ourselves for having emotions - that's when we really get in trouble.

Or when we analyze each and every move that we make - further perpetuating the cycle of negative emotions, keeping us stuck, and distracting us from what's really important.

Here's what I've learned about emotions in the past few years: allow them to be.

Give them space and they will dissolve. Don't try to get rid of them or try to understand them...just let them be. You will feel instantly relieved and free.

Weirded out yet?? ......Good.

Developing Your Focus:

Here's the cold hard reality about time management -- if you can't focus, you're sabotaging everything you do. Here's why...

As much as you feel like you're accomplishing more from multi-tasking, "putting out the fires," and jumping from task to task....you're not.

Multi-tasking gives the facade that you're actually doing something meaningful...just because you are busy.

Here's the reality: most things just aren't that important!

Instead of burning your time on things that are literally getting you nowhere, start becoming aware of what is truly important -- in both your business and your life. Then find a way to do these things EACH DAY!

They need to become habits, or you will never consistently do them. I forget who said it, but I love this quote: "If it's not a habit, you don't have it."

Finally, get in the habit of getting rid of distractions when you are in "work mode." Turn off your phone, turn off the TV, log off of Facebook....everything.

Now, set a timer for 1 hour and focus all your energy on ONE thing. When the timer goes off, take a 10 minute break. Get some water, a small meal if you're hungry, and do 20 pushups.

Investing Our Energy In The Highest ROI Activities:

Warren Buffett, perhaps the world's greatest investor of all time believes that there's one thing to look for in any investment that's more important than anything else...

Any guesses?

I was at the Berkshire Hathaway (his company) shareholder's meetings for the past 3 years and Mr. Buffett continually talks about this 1 thing...

Opportunity Cost.

Opportunity cost is the cost of doing one thing, when you could be doing something else that's more valuable.

For him, it's investing his money in better investment vehicles.

For us, it's knowing where to put our own energy, money, and time.

The best way to do this is to simply ask yourself, "what one or two things, if done daily would help grow my business more than anything else?"

Do this with each area of your life: business, relationships, & health.

Now, commit to doing those 1 or 2 things each and every day.

It doesn't need to be something that takes up a lot of your time either. Get away from thinking that the more time something takes you the more valuable it is...that's simply not true.

For example, if you have a spouse or boyfriend/girlfriend...how about this...

Each and every day you take 30 seconds out of your day to stare them right in the eyes, tell them you love them, and then give them a kiss or hug -- and of course do it with passion!!

Just some food for thought...