Time is not something you can control 100%. There are 24 hours in a day and there is nothing you can do about it. However, you control how you use it. So, here’s how to save time or, if you prefer, optimize your time.
The three tips in this article are intended to save you time AND energy. For me, the notion of energy is directly linked to time management. Indeed, the higher and more positive energy you have, the more focused and motivated you will be. As a result, you’ll decrease the risk of procrastination!
Here are 3 tips to save time
If you’re here, I imagine you already know why you want to save time. Let’s take a moment to ask ourselves the following question:
- If you had more time, what would you do?
Write down the answer, and that answer should be motivating for you. For example, if I had more time, I would read more, do more outdoor activities, play more with my children, go to school, etc.
So, here’s the first tip:
Tip #1: Get help
What do you get help with in your life? Both professional and personal?
And here, if you’re already wondering how to offer yourself financial help, I’ll stop you. Several people I know are doing service exchanges. Housekeeping for advice, accounting for cooking, etc. Only your imagination can stop you from getting what you want!
What I observe in my clients is that they ask for little help because:
- They know how to do it and it’s faster.
- the others are already busy enough as it is.
- They want to demonstrate their autonomy.
- they are at the last minute (emergency mode activated most of the time!).
- They make few compromises on how to do things at the risk of delivering with less quality
- They have misunderstood expectations and they prefer to take the risk themselves rather than delegate something that is unclear.
What I also notice is that they offer help to others.
Charity begins at home!
Which brings us to the second question:
- What do you think is holding you back and why you don’t have enough time for what you want?
Then to his sub-question:
- What do you need to remove the brake described above?
And don’t answer that you’re short on time! 😊 Generally, we need:
- Clarity on expectations;
- Learn to delegate;
- To better manage our time;
- To set our limits;
- Stop protecting/mothering our teams;
- To know how to explain our expectations;
- To let go (by the way I have an article on the subject, click here).
Tip #2: Get organized
Yes. Those who optimize their time have work plans, goals, to-do lists, etc. Regardless of the method, some have well-detailed and technological systems, others diaries, others colorful notebooks, others post-its… The right method is the one that works for you AND delivers the results you want.
The results obtained are the only important indicator.
- If you changed your plan, and you got your result, well done.
- If you wrote a draft outline, never looked at it again, and achieved your result, well done.
- If you have a Kanban board that you update daily and you got your result, well done.
For my part, I like fleshed out shots. I have a well-established routine and it works for me. I talk about it in this article. In addition to this process, the tools I use are: Microsoft OneNote and a notebook.
In previous years, I used a paper planner to replace OneNote, but I never had enough room and got tired of carrying it everywhere with me. So I decided to switch to electronic mode.
The point here is to invite you to change the method if it doesn’t work for you. There is the process and there are the tools. If your process is clear (e.g. the one described in the article), the tool will only be a support.
If your method is unclear, there are tools that can help. The best way to do this is to define your method and then find one or more tools to support your method.
Tip #3: Increase your energy
If you have help, a plan, and energy, you have a very good chance of success!
Here are situations that decrease energy:
- Be constantly in action.
You have to know how to stop! Even if we have a fast natural pace. It’s not true that a life that is extremely busy fills us with energy. Everyone has their own pace. My recipe: 2 hours on the weekend, alone in front of a fire doing nothing, and 1 week of vacation or more per quarter depending on my level of occupation and stress.
And the opposite is also true: being constantly inactive is energy-consuming, the body and mind need to move!
- Avoid managing stress and emotions as you go along
An accumulation of emotions, frustrations, stress, will harm your energy. It can be learned. Come and see the catalogue of online self-training courses, accessible to all. You will find several options, including training on stress and emotion management! Click here to view the catalog.
- Neglecting your personal life
Have you ever been on a plane? In the safety rules stated at the beginning, it is clearly explained that if the device lacks oxygen, masks come down from the ceiling. And that you have to put on YOUR mask first, before helping someone else, even if it’s your child!
At work, it can also be a question of neglecting one’s tasks to do those of one’s team, one’s colleagues, in order to be appreciated or pleased. This will not have a positive impact on you! In addition to a feeling of frustration or guilt for not delivering your files, this will drain your energy.
The younger generations are often criticized for thinking of themselves first. Maybe because old beliefs still exist about thinking of others first. I don’t know.
Know that it is quite possible to think about yourself AND others.
Both are possible and strongly suggested. Especially since altruism is a strategy to reduce stress!
Find the balance between yourself and others, and you will see your energy increase tenfold!
And the third and last question:
- What can you do right now: ask for help, organize yourself differently, or increase your energy?
There is a self-study course called ” Increase your energy and manage your time better ” that you might like if you liked the tips AND the questions in this article.
In conclusion
To save time AND energy, I invite you to find a personal anchor, a “why”. A reason that motivates you. Then, this reason should inspire you to find solutions and ideas to make it happen.
Then, some very concrete things save time: delegating, asking for help, getting organized. To all those who tell me: “It’s not in my strength to get organized,” I invite you to consider delegating this part, developing this skill or finding a reason that would motivate you enough to find a simple way that suits you!
Finally, don’t forget yourself. Taking care of yourself AND others is compatible!