Tame the Tiny Time Wasters That Trip You Up: 5 Tips

Why should you worry about tiny time wasters?

I mean, staying on track should not be so hard, right? 

You have your eye out for the really big distractions.  But do you still sometimes ‘come to’ and realize that you’ve wandered off into the underbrush?

Well, maybe it’s the tiny time wasters that throw you off.

3 Common Tiny Time Wasters:

• You plan to go to bed early, but you’re streaming a new series on TV.  The next thing you know, you’ve binge-watched three episodes and you are in bed much later than you had planned.

• Your plan is to meditate before you start working but you check your e-mail first.  You get caught up in reading and responding, and run out of time so your self-care activity falls by the wayside.

• You are getting ready for an important Zoom meeting but start reading an article that pops up in your news feed. One thing leads to another and you end up unprepared and slightly late for your meeting.  

What Do These 3 Scenarios Have In Common?

• Your focus shifted and you tried to fit a new activity into your schedule. 

• You probably thought you were being flexible and going with the flow.

• Maybe you felt victimized by the consequence.

• You have undermined your trust in yourself to follow through on your plans.

Important Distinction:  Being flexible and “going with the flow” are NOT the same! 

In each of these examples, being flexible would mean making a conscious choice to stay on course or to change it.  When you do that, you are recognizing and mindfully navigating the choices that your day presents. 

This is a very empowering distinction to make for yourself.

5 Tips for Taming Even Tiny Time Wasters

• Make an effective To-Do List and keep it nearby for reference. This is the course you’ve committed to for the day. When you are tempted to change your plans, ask yourself, “What goal am I putting at risk?”

• Weigh the consequences of putting your prior plans at risk before coming to a decision.

• Make a list of your own particular time wasters, and notice what feelings precede an impulsive choice that wastes your time. Are you feeling anxious, bored, or angry? What is an effective way to resolve what is bothering you without becoming diverted from your plans?

• Schedule a specific time every day for spontaneous pleasure. The more consistently you enjoy this special portion of your day, the easier it will be to reject impulsive choices.  

• If you genuinely value flexibility, make a list of situations in which you wish to ‘bend your schedule.’ These might include things like helping a friend in need or spending extra time with your child. Create buffer time into your day to accommodate these events.

Consider your options the next time a temptation crosses your path. Take a deep breath, affirm what you value and have planned, and make a conscious decision. 

The choice is yours. And each time you make it, you are finding time.

And here’s more help…

Time is pure potential. You decide how to use it; and once you do, it’s gone.  That’s why it’s so important to build on your best time choices.  If you feel like your time slips through your fingers, then you’ll want to claim your copy of my complimentary “Daily Choices Template:  Proven Strategies for Tracking Your Best Time Choices Today, Tomorrow & All Year!” There’s no time like the present – to start moving toward the future you envision for yourself.