Five Ways to Do More in Less Time
Time. It’s something we all are very aware of and can often desire more of each day.
We understand that there’s only a certain number of tasks or activities that we can fit into the window that encapsulates a 24-hour day, though the pace of life can create the illusion that we must “do” as many things as possible in order to be efficient.
One of the areas where I witness this being most prevalent is when it comes to our professions.
We hustle, then hustle some more, then feel guilty at times if we’re not hustling or creating more “to do’s” on our daily list.
It’s an insidious cycle that if not properly monitored, can lead one to full blown exhaustion and an inability to create or produce at their best.
The typical 9-5 culture promotes this in spades, but it’s also evident in the entrepreneurship realm too.
Our clocks (both internal and external) can proverbially fill up with so many things that when it comes to creating time and space for ourselves, we often aren’t left with any.
Can you relate to this in your personal life?
I intimately know how this feels too.
For many years (specifically while working in the highly competitive corporate sales culture), I would “push” myself to “do more.” If my daily list wasn’t overflowing with things to do, I would judge myself as not enough or beneath my colleagues.
However, close to six years removed from this culture, as well as the prior belief I created for myself at the time, I can passionately say that there is a way to not only create more time for yourself, but also mindfully increase your productivity at the same time too.
Here are the top 5 ways I’ve personally been able to do so for myself, and have helped many ambitious and high performing clients do the same in their lives too.
Set Intentions
Intentions are similar to goals, as they are aspects in which we desire to accomplish. Here’s the rub though, in my experience, intentions create more clarity as well as a harmonized internal relationship to our words and actions.
Intentions are more malleable and offer a steady aim in the preset moment, without adding the rigidity of how one may perceive a hardline goal setting.
Hopefully that makes sense.
Here’s an example though.
Let’s say someone is beginning a meditation practice and sets an intention to do so for 20 minutes a day, every day.
Maybe they’ve created a nice start in the process of meditating seven days in a row at the 20-minute timeline. However, what if some emergency unknowingly comes onto their plate where their assistance is necessary around the clock for the next few days.
This has completely thrown them off of their previous routine, causing them to recognize that the intention of 20-minutes a day each morning to start the day may not be as manageable.
What if they instead shift their intention to 10-minutes a day over the course of the next few days while assisting with the aforesaid emergency that requires their attention?
This is the power of intentions. They can change and when they do, there isn’t a sense of failure or potential self judgement when taking place. They’re very adaptable and when coming from a pure place, are great self-reminders on what we’re creating in the present, in order to keep us focused on the dance of life.
2. Slow Down
Sounds simple enough right?
Alright lets move on to #3.
All kidding aside. I often find this is the most challenging or difficult step for many people to truly honor and recognize.
I know that was previously more than the case for me personally.
My days usually started with a nice cup of coffee so I could begin with a sprint.
I would try my best to do as many things as I could before lunch, because inevitably by then I would feel tired or lethargic post mealtime.
I knew I would need to “do” as much as I could the first few hours of the day, otherwise my pace would slide and I couldn’t keep up to the level or standard I held for myself.
It took me many years and recurring bouts of physical and mental burnouts for me to finally create a new relationship to this previous belief.
What if it’s possible to create more by doing less?
What if it’s possible to be even more efficient by slowing down and focusing all of one’s energy on the present moment?
Admittedly, as someone who’s mind naturally gravitates towards the future and has come to recognize this as one of my strengths, I have come to see with crystal clarity that the present moment is all that truly matters (and the future is but a representation of the actions we take in the present).
Once fully honoring this (and trust me, I still need to often remind myself of this), I began to consciously slow down.
I spent more time creating things in which I love, rather than “doing” things that took away from my energy.
Also, this is a great litmus test that can help one slowdown too.
Ask yourself, what am I doing that is either not in alignment to what I desire to create for my future (now), and be real in honoring whatever aspects come up for you.
Then simply let go of, or create a new relationship to the amount of time you spend doing said activities.
Over time, slowing down becomes a way of life and you’ll notice with pristine clarity when too much is on your plate. You’ll then have a unique opportunity to check back in with your intentions, in order to revise or set new ones that are in harmony with placing your peace of mind as a top priority.
3. Create Space for Doing Nothing
Sounds similar to the previous one in “slowing down” right?
Well it is, however this is the act of creating time on your calendar or schedule for doing absolutely nothing.
How does saying that feel within your body?
“I am creating space each and every day for doing nothing.”
What’s the importance of this?
It provides the brain an opportunity to rest and relax.We’re so inundated with not only our thoughts (which the average person thinks60,000 of them a day), but also our cell phones, social media, advertisements, the conversations we have with others, and the environments of what we see and perceive with our eyes.
Interesting to think about right?
Or hopefully not on the thinking too much scale, if this happens to be one of your times of nothingness ;-)
I think you get my gist.
What if you were to set the intention to create time to journal each day, or maybe it’s reading a chapter in a book, or maybe it’s even going for a walk in nature while listening to instrumental music.
These are just a few activities that can activate the rest and relaxation parts of our brains, bringing to light our creative nature and creating new possibilities for us to absorb intuitive thoughts or see different aspects in our internal world that we wouldn’t otherwise have the time to truly discern.
Whether it’s 20 minutes, an hour, or two hours that are created in blocks at various points of the day which you find most conducive, find a way to create something.
This is an act of recharging the brain and allowing one to honor the creative and curious nature that we all share to a certain a degree.
4. Create a Success List
What is a success list?
It’s a list of the non-negotiables that you set for yourself each and every day.
As an example, in my own personal life it’s meditation, prayer, a gratitude practice, drinking herbal tea, some form of physical movement, and to write in some form (whether journaling or creating blog content like you’re reading now)
A success list are the aspects that you do each day, no matter what’s happening (or not happening) in your life.
They’re the things that illicit a state of being that places you in your most authentic light.
It impacts how you do and show up for everything else in your day.
For some that could be listening to a certain genre of music, eating breakfast, talking to a close friend or relative, spending time reading one’s goals/intentions, or maybe it’s digesting the images on one’s personal vision board.
Whatever it is, the more we honor our success list and do the things that align us to our purest selves, then the more we’re able to naturally share our innate gifts with the world (which is what I believe in my biased opinion that we’re all here to do).
5. Intentional Deep Breathing
When relaxed, calm, grounded, and in a peaceful state, we breathe throughout our entire bodies. Fully and deeply from the base of our stomach on each inhale, and our exhales move throughout our entire essence.
When in a rushed or hurried state, notice if you’re breathing from your chest or stomach.
More than likely you’re breathing from your chest.
As you breathe right now in this moment, place one of your hands over your belly and continue breathing.
Are you noticing a big rise in your stomach on each inhalation or do you recognize most of the moment is coming from the chest?
This is a great self-practice to monitor, especially at times when you may feel anxious, stressed or in a hurry.
While we may naturally have the desire to go faster when we’re in a time crunch, the most efficient way to create a sense of calm and peaceful productivity is by firstly recalibrating ourselves into deep breaths.
Remember though, it’s not an overnight process. Just like anything else, habits or new patterns can only be formed with by two ways:
Time
Commitment
When we commit ourselves to dedicating our time to creating the lives we truly desire, then we naturally form new boundaries that place priorities on harmonizing our mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual lives. With this, we create more healthy, peaceful, and authentically happy lives.
With Love,
Brandon