Stop Trying to Manage Time

by Jennifer Gleeson Blue, NYWSE Member

As a life coach, I keep hearing the following refrain from clients:

"I am terrible with time management, so there is no way I will get the things that are most important in my life."

These items that you say are important to you, are indeed important. Though often neglected, they too can be factored into your schedule. But some of these items cannot always be accounted for. Examples may include creative or business endeavors, financial matters, relationships or spiritual practices, etc.; they are the "stuff of life" that makes life worth living.

If you feel that you are not getting to what matters most because of poor time management skills, I've got some good news: You can't entirely manage time and the events that happen during the ins and outs of your daily life, just like you can't entirely manage anything that may be finite. You can however, manage yourself through acknowledging the story you tell to yourself about yourself and the events in your life.

Here's a little trick. The next time you find yourself defeated, telling yourself how impossible getting to the good stuff is because you "are terrible" at time management, try a new story: