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1,440 Minutes  

     You and your co-workers all get the same 1,440 minutes each day to divide among the activities you deem important. While you may dream of getting more done within your workday, you may not be game when you learn the collateral damage of accomplishing superhero status. Instead, take a hard look at what you are doing with those 1,440 minutes.

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KAESER & BLAIR

TOP SHELF TIP NO. 101

"We all have our time machines. Some take us back, they're called memories. Some take us forward, they're called dreams."

Jeremy Irons, British actor

Where Does The Time Go?

     Figuring out where your precious time goes is the first step to reconfiguring your allocations. Dieters looking to implement a new way of eating are often told to write down everything they eat each day. Through this written log, a nutritionist can evaluate the client's choices and name both the obvious and stealthy assaults on a healthy eating plan.

     In the same way, you have to look at where you are hemorrhaging your minutes so you can re-evaluate actions that do not yield a great payoff. When you write down where your time goes, you are then in a position to choose differently for yourself. At that time you can change an action if it does not support or reflect your goals. Then you will be operating from a place of choice and power.

Decide What's Important

     What constitutes a successful or productive day to you? When your head hits the pillow each night, what measuring stick do you use to evaluate the day? Is it the money you earned, the sales you made, the prospects you contacted, the meal you prepared or how many items you checked off your to-do list? Is it a clean home, eating healthy for a day, happy kids or spouse, time spent with your family or having time to exercise?

     It sounds simple, but if hours surfing the internet in the evening edges out your gym time and exercise is on your list, you have to decide to get to the gym before sitting your bones in front of your computer. If your lunchtime spinning class gets bumped because of office work, write spinning on your calendar and let people know you have someplace to be at lunch. The same goes for activities with family and friends.

     Decide what is important to you before the day begins and then allot time to accomplish these things. Get your calendar out and schedule these activities just as you would a doctor's appointment.

     Source: Rena Reese is an author, speaker and radio host, as well as founder of The Soul Salon. She has a master's degree in counseling from Johns Hopkins University and life coach training from the Coaches Training Institute. In her latest book, The Soul Salon, readers learn about the path of awakening, alignment and living life with purpose.