- Time is a matter of priorities: the problem is not the lack of time, but how we choose to use it.
- Priorities can change: unexpected events make us discover time we thought we didn’t have, providing we can always make different choices.
- Examine your week by analyzing your schedule, identify “expendable” activities and find space for what really matters to you.
“I don’t have time.” How often do we find ourselves uttering this phrase? Life is too hectic, and it seems to be more and more so. We are all constantly busy, divided between work, family, sports, and all the countless activities that fill the calendar. Sometimes it may seem that the script of our days is already written. If that were really the case, how much control would we have over our own lives?
Is this really true?
Give it a try and think about all the times you found yourself saying, “I’d like to, but unfortunately I don’t have time.” In those moments, you probably believed it. The lack of time felt like a real obstacle. No one doubts that a day consists of 24 hours, but if you think about it, more than a lack of time, it’s a matter of priorities.
And then… something happens
An event, a meeting, something might change the balance and thus your priorities. That’s when you realize you actually have time you never imagined. It’s not about giving something up, but about making choices. And that’s how “I don’t have time” turns into “Who would have thought I’d find time for…?” Time for your physical well-being, to get back in shape, to train for that race you’ve dreamed of since you started running. Time to dedicate to something that truly makes you feel good.
A practical exercise
Over the course of the week write down all your commitments, every single one, organized by day and time. Once the week is over observe and try to rank each activity, in order of importance, sincerely asking yourself whether they are all at the same level or there are some that are expendable. Most likely you’ll find a few gaps in your schedule. At that point, it’s up to you to decide how to use them, without wasting them.