woman on beach enjoying her timeDo you want to have more time to do the things that matter to you?

If there is one thing we feel we never have enough of, it’s time. Yet all of us have the same number of hours in each day. As we are only too aware, it’s how we use those hours that count!

To be honest, I debated the title for this post. Technically speaking, we can’t ‘have’ more time. We get 24 hours per day. We don’t get extra hours for good behavior.

Neither can we ‘save’ time. We can’t take two hours out of today and bank it for tomorrow. We can’t stop the clock if we are wasting time, and start it again when we do something purposeful.

The clock keeps ticking on regardless of how we spend our time.

I think it’s more about finding time for the things that are really important to us as well as not wasting the precious time we do have.

Disclosure – This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. Any compensation I receive does not affect the price you pay.

Here are some tips for how to have more time so you can do more of the things that matter to you.

Watch Less Television

I have already written two television related posts, Could You Give Up Television? and Do You Need to Rethink your Television Viewing?

Many of us (including myself lately) spend too much time watching television. Yet we keep telling ourselves we don’t have time to get the important things done.

Imagine for a moment it is a weeknight. You sit down to watch the evening news, a current affairs program, a reality show, then you settle in for an episode or two of Chicago PD (or whatever your favorite show is). That selection alone could add up to 4 hours a day.

Times that by 5 days a week, and you have spent 1040 hours watching television in a year. This staggering figure equates to 43 days out of your year. That’s well over a month!

Not to mention, this is a conservative figure at best; it doesn’t include weekends and our current obsession with streaming channels.

Think of your goals and imagine what you could be achieving with that time?

Let me ask you – how many streaming services are you signed up for? How often is your television or computer on? How much do you watch on your phone? Streaming allows us to watch a whole season continuously. It can allow us to watch a whole series without stopping to consider what we are doing with our time.

Books that can help you spend your time more wisely – 

Know the difference between a want and a need

Your to-do list is huge, and you wonder how you are ever going to get through it.

Okay, let’s have another look at your list. This probably applies more to personal task lists over work related ones but I am sure the same logic can apply in some cases.

You are stressed because you have so much to do. You spend Saturday running around like a maniac, collapsing in an exhausted, complaining heap at the end of the day.

Have another look at your list. Did you really need to do and buy everything on the list today?

Were all of the tasks equally important, or did you merely want some of them? Any list, whether it’s a shopping or to-do list will contain both wants and needs.

Learn to understand the difference between the two and make the decision on whether you want to run around town exhausting yourself for a pure want that can easily wait.

Related post – 10 Reasons You Are Saying Yes When You Want to Say No

Get up early in the morning

If you are a parent with young children, you probably do this already. Most likely, you are up early looking after the kids.

One of my friends is an early riser, like ridiculously early, and she often mentions it on Facebook.

What she doesn’t realize is that her natural body clock is a wonderful opportunity for her. Instead of playing games on her mobile, she could be using this time more wisely. She has several hours in the morning before the rest of us have gotten up to work on creative, fun, or interesting projects.

If you are a gifted or cursed (depending on how you look at it) early riser, make the most of it and ensure those extra hours in the morning work to your advantage.

Related post – 12 Thought-Provoking Time Quotes

Delegate

What makes us think we have to do everything ourselves?

What makes us assume no one else can do a task to our satisfaction? Whatever the reason, you need to throw out the concept of having to do everything yourself.

Ditch the perfectionism. Delegate where possible. Learn how to ask for help. Get some time back to do what matters to you.

Get organized

I admit this one is a double-edged sword. It takes time to get organized, but by being organized, you can save time.

I will give you a basic example. Are you constantly running around in the morning before you go to work, looking for things? Always forgetting where you left your mobile? Can’t find your car keys?

If you know where things are, and they are where they should be, you will save a lot of time not having to rummage for things. The other benefit of being organized is being on time.

Related post – The Importance of Punctuality: How Being Punctual Impacts You and Other People

Have more time

If you want to have more time, you need to work out how you are currently spending your precious time and make positive changes to your habits and routines. When you use your time wisely, you will find you have more time.

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