You are 6 years old… It is 7 o’clock in the evening and your father has just told you that you have to go to bed. Yet, you absolutely must and will stay up iiiietsss longer. You want more… To get more out of that day and not lie in bed uselessly wasting your time, right?!
Now that you are probably a bit older, your father won't tell you to go to bed anymore. Still, in your busy life, you will increasingly think: “I want to get more out of the day!”
Nowadays, however, you have far more obligations than back then, and more people who count on you every day. Additionally, you must set a limit for yourself regarding how much (how little) sleep you can live with without it negatively impacting the quality of your life.
After all, a good night's sleep is extremely important for performance.
In the search for a good solution, I have by now read many blogs and books about terms such as getting things done, deadline principle, 4D method and many others.
Every method contains good as well as difficult elements, and you quickly tend to lose sight of the ultimate goal and start following the theory blindly. Before you start with all kinds of time management methods, it is important to take a step back and take a critical look at yourself: why am I not getting enough done, and why am I still dissatisfied with how I structure my day? The following tips will surely give you a helping hand.
1) Ask yourself WHY?
It all starts with that first question: WHY do I do what I do? By nature, people tend to resign themselves to everyday matters. After all, if I have been doing something my whole life, why would I do something else? Asking the question WHY can lead to a change in behavior and bring about a greater sense of fulfillment by increasing willpower-driven decisions; you are the boss of your own life! Conversely, you will also notice that you are more inclined to do things when you understand the WHY behind them. Eating vegetables every day might not be your hobby, but if you understand why you do it, it makes a lot more sense; if you do what you enjoy, you never have to work.
2) Say NO.
Oh yes… sometimes it can be that simple. Just think a little more carefully before you say yes again to the umpteenth colleague or client asking you for something. Am I really doing what I enjoy, or am I just doing it to please the other person? As soon as you do what you enjoy, you notice your pace picks up enormously. Your motivation skyrockets and your energy level is almost inexhaustible. That is the beauty of dedication; it ensures that distractions actually disappear completely from your life.
However, for people who are less assertive, this often causes a lot of problems; what will the other person think of this? Just put this aside for a moment and think about what it is like to work with someone who doesn't enjoy their work...? Exactly. If it really isn't necessary, just leave it out. You will see that the people around you will appreciate you much more if you enjoy your work!
3) Stop using email
Well, not entirely… As knowledge workers, we are naturally increasingly dependent on communication via the digital highway. But please, stop compulsively mashing that send/receive button every time. Also, turn off those ridiculous notifications for incoming mail and preferably close Outlook altogether. It only makes it difficult for you to concentrate for longer than 10 minutes. From now on, check your mail three times a day and deal with it until you are done. Are things taking too long? Schedule them. But don't just sit staring at an inbox that never empties.
4) Don't be afraid to do NOTHING for a change.
Do you remember that kid in front of the TV? As a human being, you also need relaxation every now and then. It is okay if you lack the inspiration to do something for a change; it ultimately gives you new energy. After all, a top athlete needs to get enough rest alongside their intensive training sessions in order to perform. Try to accept this and do not resist. No one can be under constant pressure, right?
If you can't manage this and continue to feel guilty, ask if your father can help you…
He seems to have experience with it!