Here’s the thing about time…

creative life / By

Time Management and Mindsets

I recently had the opportunity to chat with life coach Arienne Gorlach, and holy smokes. She just drilled right down into the core of what’s been holding me back. I left our session feeling enriched and empowered and inspired to take back my time.

See, here’s the thing about time: You get 168 hours each week. All of us do–even Oprah and Reese Witherspoon and Barack Obama and Beyonce, etc. What we do with those hours is what sets us apart.

My mindset around time–before I spoke with Arienne–was THERE’S NEVER ENOUGH! How can I be a good mom, wife, employee, business owner, and myself with so much to do and so little time in which to do it?!?! I felt like I wasn’t doing a good job at any one thing, but rather halfsies on all.

Clearly, that’s not positive. It’s not productive. It’s not sustainable.

So, from that convo, here’s my new strategy that has been ahhhhhmazing so far, and I wanted to share it with you in case it would help:

  1. How do I want to feel at the end of each day? At the end of each week? This idea came from Arienne and it’s all about determining to-dos not based on some arbitrary task or project list, but rather how you want to feel when you exhaust those 168 hours.
  2. What do I need to do today/this week in order to feel how I want to feel? What specific projects do I need to complete in each role (mom, wife, employee, person) to achieve those feelings? More importantly–for me, anyway–what should I not do?
  3. Track the reality of my time–projected versus actual. Arienne suggested a spreadsheet divided into the 168 hours. I’m a pen-and-paper gal, so I’m just using the left side of my daily agenda. Observe what works and what doesn’t; adjust for tomorrow or next week.

I’m a couple weeks in, and this shift has revolutionized how I spend my time. I hadn’t been to the track at the gym in months, and I’ve been twice a week since! Go, me!

All that said, if you’re looking for someone to talk you through similar issues, I highly recommend hiring Arienne. One conversation with her shifted my entire mindset, and I’m so grateful! And productive!