Time to go!

Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of.—FRANKLIN.

I really don't know many people who are not busy all day long, and looking for more time for things left undone.  We really are a busy people.  And time is a far more valuable resource than money (it's possible to make more money, but time is a completely limited resource).

Where does that leave us? Time, like money, should be managed wisely.  Both time and money should be told what to do so they don't just waste away.  It is an incredible and liberating feeling to  budget money.  Suddenly there is distinction between needs and wants, and the same monthly income that used to barely allow us to scrape by has turned into a powerful weapon that can be used to destroy debt and build wealth.  Time works in much the same way.  It is amazing how many more quality things we can accomplish in a day/week/month with just a few minutes of planning and preparation each day, then a few minutes of review and evaluation at the end of the day.

Where do I find more time?  The same way you find more money in the budget.  Time, like money, is wasted away without even realizing it when it isn't planned and evaluated.  How well did I budget my time yesterday?  Was that hour in front of the TV a good use of time?  How about checking Facebook updates 5 times?  How often do I really need to check my email every day?  When I am 'working', am I doing so without distraction so I can be efficient and effective?  Many of us are paid by the job, not by the hour, so time wasted is money wasted (and for the hourly/salary workers, wasting less time and accomplishing more WILL impress management and co-workers which equates to raises and promotions, so we are really all being paid by the job).  And the really great thing about working efficiently and getting more done is that energy levels and job satisfaction are both far higher, making you happier and more creative (which in turn makes you shine even more and opens more doors of opportunity for growth and advancement).

Control your time, control your money, control your life.  You will be amazed at how learning to control the first two will give you a greater feeling of control over the third.

My advice?

1. When planning your day, don't overdo it!  Just like the budget, you can only spread your resources out so far.  Trying to do too much in a day is just as bad as not doing enough (if not worse).  You will end up feeling guilty because you just can't physically get to everything on the list.  Instead decide what the most important 4-6 things are, and list them in order of hardest (most time consuming or challenging) to easiest.  Then, as a rule of thumb, do the hardest things first.  That's right, the HARDEST things first.  Attack and conquer those things that you know will not get done if left until late in the day.  Once the hard things are out of the way, you will FLY through everything else and get so much more done throughout the rest of the day.  
2. Start up a 'stop doing' list.  This can be just as powerful in your battle to make the most of the day as your 'to do' list.  What are those things that you have gotten into the habit of doing that are eating away your day and providing no real benefit?  Cutting these out of your daily routine will be a revolutionary change!
3. NEVER underrate the importance of exercise in your daily routine.  Your body, mind, and spirit all need this time.  And every other area of your life will suffer when this is not part of your daily and weekly routine.
4. Keep your daily planning/preparation time to under 10 minutes.  You already know your basic routine.  This planning time is to help focus on the important and help eliminate the unimportant.  Most days, 5-10 minutes is all it should take to do this.  Once a week (or every other week) you may need an extra 10-15 minutes for a more thorough evaluation of overall effectiveness and efficiency, and maybe bounce ideas off of/or seek advice from others on your routine.  An extra set of eyes and ideas can be just what is needed to break out of a rut.
5. Struggling to find time to read/learn/grow?  Try listening to motivational/inspirational books or other audio materials while you are exercising, driving, or doing other necessary/menial things.  It's like a two for one deal!  I look forward to driving now that I have started listening to great podcasts and inspirational/educational audio books.  And I get way more than exercise when I go for a run.  The miles just fly by.

I have experienced personally that every time I focus on managing my time, an increase in money always follows.  And those are the two things that I always seem to need more of....

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.  

 Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 (verses 1-8)