Note: This article is by Jessica Foutty, who shares some questions that will change your way of thinking.
I eventually noticed that at the end of some days, I would find myself thinking things like, “I have no idea how the day went,” “I did not get anything on my to-do list,” or “I feel like I have not made progress.”
This prompted me to look for ways to find a better definition of progress, and even if it was simple progress, I think it should be focused and the kind that drives me to achieve more and not just complete tasks on a cramped list of endless tasks. To gain this new mindset, I asked myself three questions, and the result was a big difference in how I spend time and what I can achieve. Now, instead of asking myself this question, "How has the time gone?" People ask me, "How do you find time for everything you do?"
3 Questions that Will Change Your Perception of Time
To find out how to find time to do all your tasks, ask yourself these questions:
1. Does the task affect my future or my present?
I found that a lot of the tasks on my to-do list did not affect my future; maybe they were routine tasks or just part of a massive process that did not do much for me and would probably get it done anyway. However, I let it take up most of my time, so I started to wonder, “Does the time I spend on this task affect my future and help me get to my destination, or does it keep me in place?” If there is something that keeps me in the same place, it is one of two things: either it must be done or it must not. For the first one, I get it done quickly and effectively because it is part of my job or because it is something that my boss asks me to do. Still, if there is something that I do not have to do, it is removed from my list of tasks. If it is an optional meeting, for example, I will see whether I will add value or get value. If neither, I decide not to attend the meeting to provide that time for projects that help me build my future.
2. How much does it affect my future?
Some projects should take less time depending on their impact in the coming days and weeks, and things became clear to me during my work on a specific project. I needed to determine the best platform to host the training courses I offer, and I needed something economically feasible while allowing my students to get the content they need smoothly and with a simple payment process. I spent hours reviewing blogs and reading about the best services and how they integrate with emails, among other topics.
I finally picked a top provider and signed up, but what I realized later was that I needed a good option right now, that I could smoothly move content elsewhere when my business needs to be changed, and that there was no need to spend hours looking for a permanent solution. I had to focus on the task itself and not how it would affect the future. I might need a completely different solution in the future, so I could have invested some of those hours to work on something else.
3. Is this task helpful or time-consuming?
I cannot tell you how many times I opened an app, and then I thought, ten, twenty, thirty minutes later, “Why did you open it in the first place?” This is because I switched from production to consumption; I started reading and interacting and forgot what I was doing. Over time, I started thinking about all the hours in the day I spent in vain—I mean, those hours I spent browsing social media, watching TV and shopping online. The result was shocking.
Once I grasped this painful reality, I was able to make the best use of my time, as well as take advantage of wasted time, and in the latter case, while watching my favorite TV shows. For example, I could make some updates to the website or do other tasks that do not require focus.
The answers to these three questions have helped me to control my time, focus my energy, and take better steps toward my goals. These questions will also allow you to focus on what drives you forward. As a result, you will not only feel busy but also accomplished.
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