"Time Management" Isn't a Thing
Do you ever feel like there just aren't enough hours in the day? Is it just me, or does it seem like there's never quite enough time for everything you want to do?
Many of us wish for better time management skills, believing that might be the key to achieving more.
But here's a little secret: time management isn't a thing. Time manages itself perfectly. Truly, it's one of the most predictable and reliable aspects of our lives.
There are always 60 seconds in every minute, 60 minutes in every hour, and 24 hours in every day. And everyone has exactly 24 hours every day. Even Taylor Swift.
Time is, however, a prized commodity. Unlike money, we cannot get more of it.
The real challenge isn't managing time but managing our BRAINS regarding how we use it.
There are three main things that we need our brains to manage when it comes to time to create the life of our dreams:
Committing to only the things that fully support our priorities and values.
Planning carefully, making sure to calendar self-care.
Keeping commitments to ourselves by overriding the motivational triad.
Today, we are going to focus on only the first one: commitments, priorities, and values.
What many don't consider is that because time is constant, when we say yes to one commitment, we are saying no to dozens of other things.
Overcommitting and trying to do too many things makes us show up poorly in all of them.
How we spend our time reveals our priorities and values. That's why it's very important to carefully consider what we value most and make sure those areas are getting the time and energy they need.
If you're not getting the results you want, it's never a time problem; it's a priority problem. You always make time for the things you value.
I've been trying to decide how much time and priority to give to exercise this year. Last year, I chose not to race any triathlons, deciding that other things (particularly a few of my children) needed more attention.
This year, I've been considering whether I can allot more hours to training without compromising my highest priorities (especially my family).
I also decided that I value reading to my little girls at night, so I am letting them pack their own lunches (which teaches them responsibility and ownership) while I read to them. Just a little shift, but I'm liking the results so far.
One other tweak I am making this year is scheduling my spiritual practices, so they aren't left to the end of the day where they sometimes get neglected or forgotten.
What things do you truly value? Make a list of your top 5-6.
What areas of your life do you want to more highly prioritize? Name 1-2.
What will you need to say no to so you can say yes to these things? List 10-12, or more if you're completely overscheduled.
How will you incorporate these things into your daily/weekly routine? I'll be covering this in next week's email, so stay tuned!
I am SO committed to helping you feel better about how you use your time in 2026. I'm curious what discoveries you make while considering your priorities and values this week.
