5 Tricks That Will Improve Your Time Management

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Time is a precious thing that no one wants to run out of. We all have things that we should be doing or would rather be doing. No matter what you choose to do with your time make sure it counts. Our time is short and we should be using it wisely that’s where time management comes in to save the day.

Time management is so important in life because in a way time is our greatest asset. It is the one thing that once it is spent we can never get back. We can sell it, leverage it or even waste it but we can’t buy or earn more. Make sure you value your time wisely and use it for what you want to use spend it on.

We know that time is important to you so we put together 5 ways to improve your time management.

1.) Be Positive About Your Time Management Skills

Time management is a skill that you have to build on. Being positive will help you think about how great life will be once you have mastered this new skill. Positive affirmation is a great way to train your brain to do more with less. If you tell yourself you are doing a good job enough eventually you will do more than a good job.

When you have mastered time management you will have plenty of time to relax and do the things you enjoy. You will be able to look back at all that you have accomplished and think “It’s amazing how much I can do!” Always look back at what you have learned and think positively about the experience.

2.) Create a Way to Visualize Your Time

Humans love to look at things. Our world is built around being able to see the things around us. Time on the other hand isn’t made for us to see. It can be hard to visualize what exactly time is or how we should be using it. Creating a way to visualize what our day looks like can make it easier to understand what needs to be done when.

There area few ways to visualize your day and you will have to find what works best for you. There are time management apps, calendars or even something simple like a spreadsheet that can help you see what you should be doing when.

I personally like using spreadsheets because I’m able to map out my days by the hour. I know which hours are for work, sleep, and personal. All these categories are color coded to make it easy. As you get more experience you can break down your map into smaller segments.

3.) Maximize Your Day with Priority Lists

A to do list is a great way to make a list of things that you don’t want to do. A priority list is a good way to make a list of things that have to be done.

Creating a priority list isn’t about adding everything to a list that you should be doing on any given day. A priority list is about finding the things that are most beneficial to your day and putting them at the top. Start from the top of your list and work your way down. Make sure to finish something you have started before moving to the next part of your list. These lists are not set in stone and should be updated as new priorities pop up.

Don’t make the list too long. The list should only be 3 to 5 tasks long. If you pass this limit move the least important task onto a to do list. Later on you can use this to do list as a reference for new priorities.

Remember that these priorities make the most of your time and will leave you the most satisfied when completed.

4.) Create Good Habits

Habits can be a hard thing to form it takes time and thought to do stuff regularly. Once a habit is formed it will be the easiest thing you can do. Do you ever think about brushing your teeth, driving a car or writing? No that’s because you have created a habit and now it is easy to do.

There are many views of how long it takes to create a habit. In my opinion you shouldn’t think about how much time it will take to create the habit. You want to do that task regularly so get out and do it. Once the habit is formed you can think about how much time you are saving by not thinking about the task all the time(don’t think like this too much or you’ll be back to square one)

5.) Find a Way to Make a Game That You Can Win

Have you ever won a game and still hated it? I can’t think of a time I have. When you find a way to make a game out of time management that you will win in the long run you will be more inclined to keep going. Don’t make the game too easy but make it something that you feel accomplished for winning.

One example of winning at your own game would be to cut small increments of time off of how long you do something. If it takes you 15 minutes to make lunch before going to work do it in 14. Win you are able to consistently make lunch in 14 minutes drop it down to 13. Keep improving and keep winning. You’ll be amazed how fast you can do something when you’re racing against your most challenging rival.

Time management isn’t something that you can be the best at from day one. It takes time to manage your time. If you learn what you can do better you will always improve. Those small improvements will allow you to spend more and more of your time on the things you enjoy. Don’t forget why you are working so hard on making your life better. Improving your life is the whole reason you’re here. Check out my post about the  pursuit of excellence which will help you find the reason why you need to focus on time management. 

The Law of Averages: Why Your Friends Matter

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Changing Your Life With The Law of Averages

The law of averages is the idea that over time everything will eventually work its way to equilibrium. When you think about it that means everything around you is becoming more average. This concept is really important when you think about who you spend your time with. Are your friends and family struggling to get by or are they successful? Depending on how you answered that question you should be able to reflect on what they’re doing and see how things are most likely going to be for you.

It’s important to understand that just because your friends and family act a certain doesn’t mean you have to do the same thing. It only takes one person to change your life. One person make a positive impact on you that pushes you in the right direction. Look at the people you spend your time with and ask yourself “Do I want to be like these people?” if the answer is “Yes” then you’re doing something right. If you answered “No” then it’s time we look at how the people around you impact your life.

How People Influence You

There are many ways that the people around you influence your life. Peer pressure is a really difficult thing to work around. If your friends and family are making certain choices it’s more likely that you will too. It’s hard to go against what the social norms are when it comes to your group. You can become an outcast and we are programmed to avoid becoming an outcast. What you need to remember is the choices you make can only truly affect you. Don’t let the choices of other influence you into doing something that doesn’t improve your life.

The more time you spend with successful people the more you will realize that success comes from the choices you make. If your friends are saving 10% of their income it is more likely that you will too. Start small and find one person that is a good influence on your life. Find someone that has the same goals, aspirations, and dreams as you. This person should be more experienced than you and can help you out. It only takes one person to change your life. Remember that your net worth will be based on your network.

Law of Averages

The law of averages is an important thing to understand. In the most basic form it states that over time things will become more similar. Earlier I mentioned that it means we reach an equilibrium. Both of these ideas are true. The law of averages can really make a difference in your life because you become like your friends. If your friends are successful you will be successful. If you friends watch every new movie you are more likely to watch every new movie.

Life likes to balance itself out. That means if you want to balance out higher or become above average you are going to need to do above average things. One of those above average things you can do is create a network of successful people to spend time with. If you surround yourself with success you will eventually become successful. This happens through a process of mimicry. Find the people that have successful habits and follow in their footsteps. Some of the habits will be difficult but others will happen naturally without you know. Remember it’s easier to change things one step at a time. Don’t go big and give up. Start small and pyramid your success into bigger success.

Help Others Achieve MoreTake Action

One way to help build your network is to help others. Now that you’re in the mindset of looking for successful people to help you, get out there and help others. Giving to others is one of the best ways to have others give to you. You don’t need to be the best at something to help someone learn. In reality you only need to be one step ahead of the person you’re teaching. Do what you can to help others and add value to their lives and it will not only grow your network but it will make you feel good about yourself. Feeling good about yourself is one step towards becoming more successful. You’re also building that network so you’re killing two birds with one stone!

No One Achieves Success Alone

Contrary to what most people believe success isn’t about being self made. Success is about surrounding yourself with people that can help you achieve more. The people you surround yourself with are everything. At any point in time someone you know may bring you the opportunity that changes your life. Don’t forget that you may be the person in someone else’s life that changes their whole world. Be social but know that you need to look for people that aspire to bigger things than what they have today. There is nothing wrong with big dreams!

Let’s Get Started

It’s time to get serious about your network and who you spend your time with. Here are 6 steps to improve your network so you can achieve more.

  1. Write down 3 traits of the person you want to become.
  2. Create a list with the 5 people you spend most of your time around.
  3. Write down the 3 most common traits of each person.
  4. Compare these 15 traits to the traits you want to have. If the traits don’t match decide if this person is helping you or hurting your dreams of becoming successful. If they are hurting your dreams mark them off. This doesn’t mean you have to drop all contact with them it just means that you are more knowledgeable about the situation.
  5. Now it’s time to find replacements for the people that you have marked off. This doesn’t need to happen quickly. Some great places to find successful people are Toastmasters meetings, Real Estate Investment Associations, networking events, or events related to you hobbies. It is easy to find these groups using the Meetup app.
  6. Now that you are working on growing your network, share this idea with other people that you think will benefit from meeting new people. You can never know too many people and you can never help too much.

Don’t forget that no one succeeds alone. The people around you are going to make all the difference. Find the best and eventually you will be the best!