One thing that might be stopping you from achieving your goals.

One thing that does not discriminate is time, We all get 24 hours in a day despite our race or social status. Mastering how to go about your day is a skill necessary for your personal growth and ultimately your success( remember the word success is subjective to you, your values, etc) We are still in the first month of the year and most people still have the zeal to go after their goals. Unfortunately by the time, it’s year-end, quite a number of people will still be frustrated because they do not see progress in their life. Progress comes when you master how to use your time wisely and strategically. Do not let others dominate your time. Remember every time you say YES, you are saying NO to something else.

If you want to reach your maximum potential, you have to learn to be selfish with your time. Being selfish with your time does not mean you stop being mindful of the people around you. It’s important to prioritize taking care and growing yourself so that you can show up as your best self for the people you love. You can not pour out of an empty cup. Recognize that not everything is important, be cautious about what you say yes to because every time you say yes to something you are saying no to something else. If you say yes to having drinks with your boss after work ( after he mentioned it last minute when you were preparing to go home) you are saying no to spending time with your spouse and kids even though you did not verbally communicate it. If repeated consistently this might have a negative impact on your family.

You have to set your priorities and values right for you to be able to determine what to say yes to. From the illustration above, choosing to go for drinks with your boss might reflect that your career is more important than your relationship with your family.

When you start your day, define your non-negotiables for that particular day like your top priority on your to-do list by asking; What task do I need to complete today no matter what? That way you will not be sidelined by all the other distractions during the day. Don’t let the day have control over you. Have control over your day. You can not gain back your time. The greatest gift you can ever give to someone is your time!

Steve Covey has a time management matrix that can help you determine what is important and what is not. Multiple times people think they are being productive because they spend most of their time in quadrant 3

Most people do not operate in quadrant 2, because both the results and consequences are only visible in the long run. Challenge yourself to evaluate which quadrant you are spending most of your time in. Are you happy with the way you are spending your time? Do you need to say NO more often especially to the things that fall in quadrant 3?  If not, take action and make the change now. Five years from now you will be thanking yourself for the change. Keep winning, growing, and be the best version of yourself by being selfish with your time.

tanyafungai