Time management is really self-management. So finding more time in a day means making better choices about how we spend the 24 hours allotted to us each day. And we all know that’s easier said than done!
At the end of December, I started participating in the Mel Robbins #MindsetReset 30-day challenge. It has been one of the most positively transformational experiences I’ve had in recent years. (It’s 100% free, and you can start at any time. It’s available indefinitely, and you can join by signing up here.)
Mel is the most booked female speaker in the world right now — and with good reason. Her personal story is compelling. Her style is engaging. Her strategies for turning things around work. And she connects it all to the science behind how we’re hard (and soft) wired to think and the habits we form over time.
During this 30-day challenge, I realized that one of my limiting beliefs is “there isn’t enough time in the day to get all of the things done that I want to accomplish.” And by default, I have been setting myself up for failure every single time I tell myself “there isn’t enough time in the day to get all of the things done that I want to accomplish.”
Do you see how that works? Your body believes everything you tell it. I’ve been telling myself this over and over for years. And my choices and actions have followed suit subconsciously as a result.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m still a highly productive person most of the time. When I consistently track and measure my accomplishments, I’m often able to accomplish the things on my list in the timeframe noted. So imagine what I could accomplish if I changed my mindset to: There is more than enough time in the day to accomplish the most important things in my life and career.
Now I’m prioritizing the most important tasks, and accepting that it’s ok to decline or delegate less important things – without feeling guilty.
As a result of this #MindsetReset, I’ve not only gotten better at catching and correcting my limiting beliefs, but I’ve made several key changes to my daily routine, too.
I have an established morning routine that starts with not hitting the snooze button on my alarm (study up on sleep inertia to learn why this is important), a minimum of 10-15 minutes of prescriptive journaling using Mel’s 5-Second Journal concept (she shares her template for free in the challenge), and not checking my email or social media accounts until I’m officially ready to start my work day. I’ve never been one to sleep next to my phone, but I have gotten into the habit of checking the headlines from overnight before I start my day. Not a good plan.
Mel says you owe yourself a minimum of 10-15 minutes (30-45 minutes is even better!) to focus on your goals and dreams everyday…and she’s right!
As I’ve identified the single most important thing to me each day, and tracked what I’ve accomplished for the past 30 days, I can’t believe how differently 2019 has begun as compared to most of 2018. I had some major life events in 2018 that certainly needed to be factored into the equation. But I wasn’t as aware as I needed to be about what my limiting beliefs were doing to my overall productivity levels. And what I wanted to accomplish versus what I did accomplish in 2018 prove that.
I’m already doing better in 2019!
This week, our feature article deals with how we can prioritize our tasks to improve our time management skills. And we’re sharing plenty of tips, tools, and resources about how to better manage your day on our Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn pages.
The limiting beliefs we hold cannot be changed without a #MindsetReset. It requires analysis, reflection, and brutal honesty with ourselves to uncover our limiting beliefs so we can then reframe our mindset and reprogram our brain to help us succeed. If you’re feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or stuck in a rut, I strongly encourage you go join me and thousands of participants worldwide who are starting 2019 with a #MindsetReset.
It could quite possibly be one of the most transformative things you ever do for your life and career!
Supporting your administrative success,
Julie Perrine
P.S. It’s not too late to join the #MindsetReset with Mel Robbins. It’s all free! Sign up here.
