6 Time Management Lies You Need to Stop Telling Yourself

Wondering if you tell yourself time management lies on a daily basis?

Would you like to get to the bottom of why your schedule never seems to pan out the way you planned?

One of the most important things you can do for yourself when it comes to time management is to be 100% honest with yourself.   

In this post, you’ll find a collection of six time management lies you may be telling yourself…without even realizing it!   

“It only takes five minutes to get to___________.”

A nearby destination is only five minutes (or less) away from your current location, right?

That’s not always the case.

How long does it really take you to get your destination?

If you’re constantly late to nearby appointments, you may want to try setting a timer to see how long it really takes you to get from Point A to Point B.

The results could be quite eye-opening!

“I have to rush.”

Rushing to work, school, rehearsal, the grocery store…are these velocity-influenced trips really necessary?

True, there may be times when you have to pick up the pace in order to do something.

But you certainly don’t have to rush yourself at every single moment.

Consider whether or not your rushing is really making a difference in your arrival time.

That being said, is also worth endangering your physical health and others’, or stressing yourself out over something that can be avoided?

“I don’t have time for time management.”

You say you don’t have time for time management? Think again!

Time management doesn’t have to be a long, dreary, and painstaking process filled with color-coded calendars and schedules.

Just taking a couple of minutes to think about your plans for the day, review your calendar, or take a breather.

That’s right, doing those tasks counts as time management.

A few minutes’ worth of thought and reflection may very well save you from hours or weeks of unnecessary work and effort.

“My time isn’t important; I’ve got a flexible/open/empty schedule.”

Do you give away your time freely because, well, you feel you can?

Perhaps things are a little bit slow one week and you feel you should automatically give it away and/or fill it up with someone else’s plans or agenda.

The only problem is you’re forgetting one key thing: your time is your time, and yours alone.

No other person can live the minutes and hours you are living; nor can they live your life.

Your time is important, no matter if you have a stuffed, overstuffed, or bare schedule. Always keep this point in mind.

“I never have any time for myself.”

Need a couple of moments to slow down and do what you want to do?

How about tapping into all those hours you spend on social media, politely say “no” to that last-minute volunteer event, or accept a friend’s offer to take the kids out on a weekend afternoon?

Look for time in places you don’t normally look.

You may be pleasantly surprised at the time “hiding” out in your schedule.

“I’m no good at time management.”

You are capable of managing your time.

Sometimes you have to challenge your pre-conceived thoughts and notions when it comes to time management.

For example, think about the last time you were fully immersed in a personal hobby or social event.

Just think…you enjoyed the last couple of miles of your daily run, that live concert in the park this summer, and dancing at your sister’s wedding last fall.

You used that time to the fullest, didn’t you?

You were completely absorbed during that period of time and enjoyed every single minute of it.

Remember, time management is more than just calendars and schedules.

It’s about being in the moment, and using the time that is available to you.

How about you? How are you going to handle things in future when you tell yourself any one of these time management lies? Join the conversation and leave a comment below!

Want to take control of your calendar? Learn more about my step-by-step time management workbook! 

5 Unexpected Things You Need to Organize a Work Notebook Mockup
About the Author

Rashelle

Rashelle Isip is a New York City-based productivity consultant who helps successful entrepreneurs and business owners manage their time and energy so they can reduce stress, work less, and make more money in their businesses. She has been featured in Fast Company, Forbes, NBC News, The Washington Post, NPR, and The Atlantic. Get her free guide, 5 Unexpected Things You Need to Organize a Work Notebook, by clicking here.

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