You’re not busy. You’re a sh*tty manager of your time. There, I said it. I have been meaning to get this off my chest for some time. And by you… I mean the collective you, not you personally unless this applies to you.
I’ll be the first to admit guilt. Meaning I have uttered those words, “I’m busy.” You have said it, too. Anyone over the age of 11 has implied it more than once this week alone.
Let’s climb into the tree of trust and have a moment of get-realness. The real reason you didn’t make those brunch plans, write that business plan, finish that home improvement project, go to the gym, call your mother, update your website or live your best life was that you did not make it a priority. When something or someone (this applies to any relationship) is a priority in your life, you rule your time to connect with it.
This is a trivial example, but it works. I am the proud owner of a unibrow. If I were stranded in the wild, my brows would connect and grow into my baby hair. I know you’re probably thinking that I wake up like this, but there is a considerable amount of effort and trick lighting to make this happen.
Since I have no desire to look like Al B. Sure “On Your Own” circa 1988, I have a standing second and fourth Tuesday appointment to get it sorted. I will shut down my laptop, cease the tweeting and doing it for the 'gram so I can ensure my brows are two separate and distinct individuals.
When you think about it, if you really wanted to have brunch with “so and so” from the “such and such,” you would have whipped out your phone/calendar and booked it on the spot. That business plan that you have been meaning to write, you would have made space in your life for it if it was a priority.
Here’s a couple of tips to rule your time:
- Wake your a$$ up earlier: If you need to fit a little more in your day, try waking up 30 minutes earlier. This is great for side hustlers and part-timepreneurs.
- Live by your calendar: Block out time in both a paper and digital calendar for your professional and personal time. STICK TO IT.
- Don’t be a jerk to your future self: Organize your day the night before. Draft your non-negotiables (that’s another post), pack your lunch, set up coffee if you don’t own a Keurig one cup or lovely Nespresso and lay out your clothes. Beyond prepping the day before, think of most tasks through the lens of your future self. So is Current Keita setting Future Keita up for unnecessary shenanigans (i.e. saving all her receipts in an orderly fashion to make tax time a breeze)?
- Set timers for time sucks: Have you ever looked at one Instagram post and then realized you have lost an hour? I recommend checking social media like meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner and a light snack) and keep it to 15-minute chunks (unless you’re social media influencer, then get your coins).
- Just say no: Rulers say no with ease. To focus on your priorities and/or goals, you may have to say no to Taco Tuesday or Winesday after work to get things done.
I’m going to say something controversial. Stop trying to manage your time! Management implies that it has free will and a choice in behaving. I’m going big and crowning you queen or king of your time! Let’s move our mindset from manager to monarch. Rule over your time as it is the only commodity you cannot get back. #WakandaForever
See, you’re not that busy. You read this to the end.
