Effective Time Management Starts with Mindset

How do you start your day?

I have an executive coaching client who likes to start her day early. She makes her favorite coffee and savors it while thinking about her day and looking at her calendar. She determines her three most important priorities and works on those while trying to limit her distractions.

If you’re anything like her, you’re always looking for ways to improve your time management, improve your performance, and be more organized.

A quick search will bring you millions of links and tips, from using the Pomodoro Technique to blocking your time. They’re worth a try.

But have you considered that it might be the way you’re thinking about your time and not so much a specific time management technique that’s slowing you down?

Your mindset might be getting in your way.

If your goal is effective time management and higher productivity, here are some questions to start your day and to avoid thinking pitfalls that may slow you down:

Do you really have to do all that stuff on your to do list? Really?

Who put all those things on your list?

What items on the list can be delayed, delegated, or just crossed off?

Do you have to be the one to do it all? Is there someone in your circle, or maybe outside your circle, who can do certain tasks better than you can? What if you hired them or created a barter trade where you swap something in exchange for their help?

What can you let go? Maybe it’s the need or expectation that it’s important to make a home-cooked meal every night or go grocery shopping.

What other resources…people, time, money, skills, services…are available to you? Have an open mind and look for options that you haven’t yet considered. Could you set up a meal swap or babysitting with another family, or swap dog sitting with a friend who also has a dog?

What are your top 3 priorities?

Can you give yourself permission to just focus on those 3 things & let the other things go?

Contact me to talk about changing your mindset.

If you’re like my coaching client, I suspect that it’s your thinking and mindset that’s getting in your way. Changing your mindset might bring you a sense of well-being and calm, if you’re open to new possibilities.

Let’s talk. Contact me.