Time Abundance Mindset: How to Practice It as an Entrepreneur

Are you looking to create a time abundance mindset in your daily life when it comes to your calendar?

A time abundance mindset is the belief that time is available and usable to you and that there’s enough time to accomplish what matters most in your day.

It’s the opposite of time scarcity, where constant feelings of urgency and worry affect your relationship with the clock.

As an entrepreneur, you know that time is money. Time is truly the only resource that can never be created, renewed, or generated.

But if time is constantly flowing into and out of our experience, how can we best make use out of it, right here and now?

Sometimes, changing your approach to what seems like something fairly ordinary can have an extraordinary effect on your life.

In this article, you’ll learn about a time abundance mindset, how it relates to time management, and ways you can have a time abundance mindset in your routine.

Feeling overwhelmed by your daily workload? Download my free Productivity Mindset Planner™ to reset how you approach your day.

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Key Takeaways

Table of Contents

What’s a time abundance mindset?

A time abundance mindset is a mindset where you believe time is available and usable to you. You believe there’s sufficient time to accomplish what matters most in your day.

This type of mindset is focused on growth, expansion, and improvement. You may even believe there’s a continual supply of time available for yourself, others, and the world at large.

The opposite of an abundance mindset is time scarcity mindset, or a mindset of lack.

A time scarcity mindset is one where you believe there is a limited supply of time available and usable to you. You may believe there is insufficient time to accomplish what you need to accomplish during the day.

This type of mindset is focused on decline, constriction, or stagnation. You may even believe there is a limited amount of time available for yourself and others, or that ample time is meant only for a select few.

So how does these mindsets apply to something, say, like your business?

If you have a time abundance mindset, you may believe there’s more than enough time to work with clients, gain profits, and make lasting professional relationships.

And if you had a time scarcity mindset, you may believe there’s insufficient or not enough time to work with clients, gain profits, or make lasting professional relationships.

How does a time abundance mindset relate to time management?

Now that you know about the concepts of time abundance mindset and a mindset of lack, how does this specifically relate to time management?

As a productivity coach, I like to describe a time abundance mindset as how you think about and perceive the subject of time.

Chances are you already have some sort of existing mindset when it comes to time, but haven’t given it much thought. Let’s say you believe there’s plenty of time available for you to use.

You don’t worry or fret about the bigger picture when it comes to your schedule. You believe there’s a time and a place for things to happen as they should.

When things don’t go as planned, you make corrections as necessary, and move forward. In this case, you have a time management mindset that’s based in abundance.

But what if you believe there’s not enough time in the day for you to use? You may experience a constant sense of worry or dread when it comes to completing to-dos to or attending meetings.

You may believe you must overtly force things to happen in your schedule, no matter what.

When things don’t go as planned, you may make a big deal of the situation. You might feel stuck where you are and regularly fret about the situation. In this case, you have a time scarcity mindset.

So, if you currently have a time scarcity mindset, don’t worry. The good news is that you can change your mindset to one of abundance.

How can a time abundance mindset help you manage your time?

Having time abundance mindset allows you navigate the ups and downs that naturally come with having a calendar.

Keep in mind, a time abundance mindset isn’t about ignoring the passage of time, being reckless with your calendar, or not taking responsibility for one’s actions.

Rather, it’s about being aware of the passage of time, honoring the time you have, and consciously making use of it.

A person with time scarcity mindset might think five minutes is a worthless amount of time to do anything. Or they may believe taking a break at work is a sign of weakness and should be avoided at all costs.

But a person with a time abundance mindset would respect those five minutes and use it to their advantage. And they might choose to complete a brief task or take a much-needed break after several hours of work.

Ultimately, they understand that there’s more to time management than meets the eye.

What are the benefits of a time abundance mindset?

The benefits of having a time abundance mindset in time management may allow you to:

• Thoughtfully manage busy and slow times during the year in your business
• Plan your professional and personal schedule with improved clarity
• Better visualize tasks in relationship to your overall goals and desires
• Consider different ways to utilize available and unused time in your calendar
• Quickly recover from scheduling conflicts, delays, setbacks, and upsets

When you understand, value, and respect your time, it becomes a precious thing. That in and of itself is true time abundance.

If you feel like you have a time scarcity mindset first thing in the morning, then you need to nip it in the bud right away. Start your day off right by planning for what matters by downloading my free Productivity Mindset Planner™.

Click the button below to download the planner:

How to have a time abundance mindset in your business

How exactly do you cultivate a time abundance mindset in your business?

Sure, you know a bit more about having a time abundance mindset when it comes to time. But how do you put the pieces together?

Here are five smart ways to practice time abundance in your business on a regular basis.

An abundance mindset for entrepreneurs does require some planning and patience on your part, but the results are well worth it.

Set specific work hours for yourself

If you haven’t yet already done so, create specific beginning and end work hours for yourself during the week in your business.

And if you already have hours set in place but haven’t yet followed them, make it a point to follow them now.

Sure, working day and night may seem like the only way to get things done as an entrepreneur. And yes, of course you need to do your work.

But if you’re constantly overworking without regular breaks, you’re coming from a time scarcity mindset or a mindset of lack.

Do keep in mind, this isn’t to say there aren’t times in business when you need to finish up work because of delays and circumstances outside of your control.

But you do need to create consistency for yourself on a daily basis so you have ample time to rest and relax.

Leave blank spaces in your calendar

Add several buffers of time stretching from one part of your day to another. You can add minutes, hours, or both as you see fit.

This ensures you’ll have sufficient time to review, plan, travel, and rest as you move from one appointment to another.

Not filling up your calendar may seem counterintuitive. But here’s the thing: doing so allows your schedule to breathe.

With sufficient breaks and white space, you can clearly and easily discern appointments, meetings, and other calendar entries.

And if you’re worried your schedule will look half empty, rest assured you’re doing something good for your schedule.

Remember this key point: your schedule need not be full in order for it to be important. It’s important simply because it is your schedule.

Be 100 percent present during conversations

Do your utmost to respect others during conversations by giving them your full and complete attention.

Your presence in conversations goes far beyond your physical body taking up space in a room. Or your hand holding a phone receiver or your face appearing in an online conference video.

You need your mind and focus to be fully present as well. This means watching others, listening to what they’re saying, and processing information throughout the conversation.

By being fully present, you’ll not only have more meaningful conversations, but you’ll be able to address more details and concerns than if you were otherwise distracted.

Schedule future follow-ups with confidence

Take a moment to add a task or follow-up to your calendar or to-do tickler list. You can schedule a reminder on your online calendar or write items in by hand on your calendar.

Not only will you have ample time to follow up later with the item, but you’ll have focused time right now so you can work on other pressing items.

And do keep in mind, even if a rejection of any kind has stopped you dead in your tracks, be it a project delay or someone not returning your phone calls, that doesn’t mean you can’t move forward in your work.

Sure, you can try and push your way through a situation, but in some cases the timing is wrong. Sometimes things must unfold in their own time.

And sometimes the best course of action is to put a task aside and come back to it later at a future point in time.

Communicate your availability to others

Let others know when you are specifically available for meetings, reviews, consults, and discussions. Give them a specific date, time, location, or meeting type with which to work.

Now, this approach goes beyond the understanding that time is always flowing into your experience. This action step fully ensures you’ve created the physical time and space necessary to work with others.

Does it seem as if people are always contacting you at all hours of the day? Are you constantly fending off requests for your time but to no avail?

Perhaps you’re experiencing the exact opposite. Maybe you haven’t heard from someone in a long time and are wondering about their status.

Look, this task need not be difficult or complicated! At it’s heart, it’s all about communicating clearly with other people.

An in-person conversation, a phone call, a text, or an email shows you understand the passage of time. More importantly, it shows you understand the importance of connecting with others in real time on a regular basis.

FAQ: Time abundance mindset

Conclusion

Running a successful business requires thoughtfulness, tact, and mindfulness when it comes to time management. While you can’t always control time, let alone others’ schedules or circumstances, you can change how you react to things.

Having a time abundance mindset starts with your thoughts. And you need to practice honing your time management mindset on a regular basis. When you do, you’ll find you’re more able to navigate the inevitable changes, delays, and updates that happen in any schedule.

If you want to make the most of your year, start with making the most out of today, and everyday. My practical time management guide includes actionable lessons and exercises to help you better manage your time.

A version of this post originally appeared on Inc.com.

Rashelle Isip Productivity Coach and Founder of The Order Expert®

Rashelle Isip is a New York City-based productivity coach, consultant, and founder of The Order Expert®. With over 16 years of experience, she helps entrepreneurs and executives replace the "hustle and grind" mindset with one of "ease and flow." Rashelle is a former contributing columnist for Inc.com and Lifehack.org, and has been featured in Fast Company, Forbes, NBC News, The Washington Post, and NPR. She is the author of four books, including The Order Expert’s Guide to Time Management. When not helping clients master their schedules, she enjoys scouting for practical, well-designed office supplies. Learn more at TheOrderExpert.com.

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