5 Productivity and Time Management Superpowers
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Updated June 2022
Not everything that came out of the pandemic was bad.
When the pandemic first took hold, it allowed us to step back and evaluate our obligations and commitments. Old cliches came to life as many of us realized that perhaps all of the busyness we had normalized hadn't actually added value to our lives. The entire world had been disrupted and it offered an opportunity to rethink how we spend our time.
Society is returning to a new normal, and we are being tested. Perhaps you’ve altered how you work or live, with a newfound determination to spend more time on the things that matter. But you must remain vigilant. Opportunities will become burdens if you aren’t mindful of your time.
Will you continue to be someone who always says yes, then regrets it later, or will you harness these 5 productivity & time management superpowers?
SUPERPOWER #1 - Understanding the cost of saying YES.
It may seem harmless to say yes to a commitment now. But if you aren't taking the time to consider the total time and energy cost of fulfilling that commitment, you may regret saying yes and possibly become resentful in the process.
Ask for clarity & trust your gut. Before committing your time and energy, ask clarifying questions so you know exactly what is expected of you. If you are not getting clear and direct answers, your time and energy may not be respected.
SUPERPOWER #2 - If it's not a HELL YES, then it's a NO.
What opportunities are you missing because you've said YES too much? Each decision is a path we are choosing, which means we are not choosing a different path. Do not let a feeling of scarcity dictate how you choose to spend your time. The right opportunities will present themselves if you clear the way for them.
Get clear on the consequences of saying yes. Write out a list of commitments that you've regretted saying yes to in the past. Beside those, write what you missed out on as a result of those commitments.
SUPERPOWER #3 - "No, thank you" is a complete sentence.
You do not owe anyone an explanation. You do not need to justify your answer. You do not need to have something else planned for your time to be unavailable.
Practice rejection. Ask a friend or family member to help you practice saying no. Have them come up with different asks, and practice politely but firmly saying no and thank you to their requests. IT WORKS!
SUPERPOWER #4 - Stop scheduling your time as if everything will proceed perfectly.
Life rarely marches according to plan, but we often manage our time as if it does. When we don't provide ourselves with realistic timelines, we set ourselves up for disappointment and failure.
Plan x1.5 - If you think a task will take you 60 minutes, schedule or plan for 90 minutes. Give yourself some breathing room for traffic delays, diplomatic relations with your children, or an extra cup of coffee.
SUPERPOWER #5 - Identify and get in alignment with your values & goals.
When we don't understand our values and goals, we allow outside forces to determine them for us. Start making decisions based on what is important to you. If you give yourself permission to prioritize your future on a daily basis, you are less likely to feel like your days are wasted on meaningless tasks.
Start a weekly practice of evaluating & working towards your goals. Make a commitment to take some level of action toward those goals each day before tackling reactive busy work. Write these commitments out in a planner, calendar, or journal and review them at the beginning of each week.
There is no gold medal awarded for Most Done In A Day.
Busyness is not a badge of honor. When we find ourselves in the reactive loop of busyness, we are not paying attention to the essential things, like promoting healthy relationships and rest & recovery. Our time is a non-renewable resource, and we must act like it!
"Everyone who wants to be busy is busy. But not everyone is productive. Busy is simply a series of choices about how to spend the next minute. Productive requires skill, persistence, and good judgment. Productive means that you have created something of value."
-Seth Godin
If you would like to learn more about structuring your schedule using my Holistic E.T.A. method, reach out and schedule a 1:1 coaching session. Each session includes a Vision & Values assessment + a calendar and a to-do list audit.
Aimee Olson of Life Done Simply is a Productivity and Organizing Coach and is a member of the National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals (NAPO). She specializes in Holistic Organizing and Minimalism, Residential Organizing, Workplace Productivity, and Brain-Based Conditions.
