Elderwerks Senior Resource Directory 2025/2026

TIME MANAGEMENT: HOW TO RECOVER FROM THE DISEASE OF BEING BUSY

TIME MANAGEMENT: HOW TO RECOVER FROM THE DISEASE OF BEING BUSY

• Mind: Clear your mind of negative thinking that wastes your time by starting a daily meditation practice using popular apps such as Headspace. Remember that acts of daily living (such as washing dishes, doing laundry, walking the dog, gardening, etc.) can become “active meditations” simply by tuning into your breath and your body, becoming mindful of your senses and doing them with your full attention and presence. These practices have a way of “rebooting” your mind/body/spirit and having your operating system function more effectively. Start your day right. Establish a morning routine that includes time to start your day on the right foot. Plan your outfit, a nutritious breakfast and set the coffee maker the night before. Take time for a morning meditation or short stretching or yoga practice. Identify your values and goals. Create a vision board or annual plan that includes your personal, relational/ family and professional goals. Identify the major themes or values (for example, family, nature, fitness.) Then ask yourself, “Is how I spend my time meaningful and rewarding to me on a deeper level?” Make changes as needed so your time is aligned with your values. Break goals down into smaller objectives so your goals feel more manageable. Keep separate personal and professional “To Do Lists.” Consider apps such as your notes section or project management software such as Asana. Delegate and access support. Look at your To Do List and ask yourself, “Am I the best person to do this? Am I the only person who can do this? Do I enjoy doing this? Is this worth my time?”

Consider how your roommate, partner, or kids might be able to pitch in more. Outsource tasks you don’t enjoy when possible. Identify where you need help and ask for it. Prioritize tasks. Divide tasks into 1) Must Do/Critical, Should Do/Important and Nice to Do/ Non-Essential (eliminate any of these you can.) Identify time frame (i.e. daily, weekly, monthly, annually.) Plug work time into your calendar and set up alerts and reminders. Develop time awareness. Track your time. Notice what you are doing and reflect on whether it is a good use of your time. Is it aligned with your greater personal and professional vision? Apply creative problem-solving. For example, my friend and I noticed that we could help each other with our fitness goals if we walked rather than having lunch when we were chatting and catching up. Identify time wasters. Complete a time wasters inventory to identify behaviors that cause you to drift away from the life you want. These might include disorganization, not saying no resulting being spread too thin, pointless social media, too much TV, surfing the web, excessive video games, gossiping, etc. Strive for balance. Chunk related tasks. Avoid multitasking which slows down productivity because time is wasted as your brain shifts gears from one activity to another. As best as possible, plan your day rather than being a victim to incoming requests. Consolidate similar tasks (i.e. email, social media, voicemails) and trips (errands, running to the printer, etc.) Work on top priority tasks first. Complete the vital few instead of the trivial many.

Many of us are suffering from the disease of being busy. Through technology, we are plugged into a never-ending stream of news and work and subsequently, we have become disconnected from ourselves and one another. The result is a national rise in loneliness, mental illness and addiction, which is costly to each of us on a personal, community and national level. In order to promote good mental health, work/life balance and personal and professional productivity, we must develop effective time management. After more than twenty years of practicing as a licensed psychotherapist and the founder of a business aimed to promote positive mental health and work/life balance, I recommend the following time management tips: Clear the clutter. In today’s busy world, our brains are on information overload which slows down our productivity. The more stuff you have, the more time it takes to manage it. Simplify your life by getting rid of everything you don’t need: • Digital: Delete or unsubscribe from emails. Create folders for emails and files. Consider programs such as SaneMail. • Office: Purge and shred what you can. Consider scanning items to create space. Organize files in folders. Go green on your bills/ statements and set up automatic/ electronic payments. • Home: Follow Marie Kondo’s advice and get rid of everything you don’t need, haven’t used in a year or that doesn’t bring you joy. Sell items on Facebook Marketplace, consider consignment, freecycle or donation as a tax write-off.

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