Being a time billionaire…
I often feel like I don’t have enough time. When I was a kid, I truly believed that people had more time than they thought; that they just weren’t using their time effectively. My parents were never too happy about these statements. Since I’ve had ‘adult responsibilities’, I can see why.
A big goal of mine over the last 12 months has to try and become a “time billionaire”. I spent the first 6 months of this dabbling in inventing time travel. I was getting close but the laws of physics were holding me back.
I’ve spent the last 6 months reflecting on how to have more time.
Time is an interesting concept. For us, time is finite, and my most important reflection on time is that we are not going to get any more or less time, we have to spend our time doing activities that add value to our lives, or find the value in tasks that we have less control over.
For example, I thoroughly enjoy writing (quote this to me when I’m writing my thesis), so spending time writing a blog is a high value task, that helps me appreciate my time.
I’m not a fan of driving. I drive two and a half hours down to my girlfriend’s most weekends. I find value in this in a few ways. Once I’m out the city centre and can let my wind wonder a little, I’ll use the drive to reflect, or thinks of ideas in my PhD, or, more recently, ideas for blog posts. I’ll often put on a podcast in the drive, so this time doubles as entertainment. Listening to Danny Howard’s Dance Party from 6pm on BBC Radio 1 is something I particularly look forward to.
Whilst it’s important to look at time from a ‘values perspective’, there are several ways I’ve managed to optimise my time to have more of it for tasks like blog writing, exercise or reading (I’m already at 16 books this year!).
Here are a few:
1. Write Everything Down
Get everything out of your head and onto paper (or a digital list, I don’t make the rules). Both work and personal tasks. A list helps me see the full scope of what needs to be done and avoid the stress of trying to remember everything. I often start with a ‘master’ list and then break down each task into small ‘subtasks’.
2. Prioritise Urgency and Importance
Not all tasks are created equal. Some need to be done straight away, whilst others can wait. Read up on the Eisenhower Matrix for more help on this prioritisation. It helps you categorise tasks into four quadrants: urgent and important, important but not urgent, urgent but not important, and neither urgent nor important.
My process for prioritising is slightly unusual. I’m rubbish at jumping straight into an urgent and important task. My brain will reproductively procrastinate it over the fear of suffering, pain and discomfort during the task (melodramatic aren’t I). I will often tick off a few small, non-important and non-urgent tasks to get into a flow state, which helps me get cracking on the urgent and important tasks with less suffering.
3. Set Realistic Goals
Setting realistic goals is crucial. I often get carried away, and sometimes overwhelmed with my to-do lists. One thing I’ve found works for me is telling myself: it’s better to complete a few tasks well than to start many and finish none. There’s no shame in moving an item on the to-do list to the following day (as long as the priority principle above has been applied).
4. Use Time Blocking
Time blocking is a powerful technique where you allocate specific blocks of time to different tasks. This helps me stay focused and ensures that I dedicate enough time to each task. For example, I tend block out a 30 minutes in the morning to bash through emails, and then head to the lab until lab time. This method helps me avoid the temptation to multitask.
5. Review and Adjust Regularly
Your priorities can change throughout the day or week, so it’s important to review your task list regularly. If an item has been on your to-do list for far too long, it’s worth considering if it even needs to be there at all. If it definitely does — time block when to get it done!
6. Learn to Say No
One of the hardest but most important skills in time management is learning to say no. I’m admittedly a bit rubbish with this, and often overcommit and end up with a to-do list that’s a mile long. I enjoy being helpful, and enjoy the excitement of a novel task, but being willing to decline new tasks if they don’t align with my current priorities is something I’ve got a lot better at over the last 6 months (and my progress in the lab has reflected this).
7. Take Breaks
It might seem counterintuitive, but taking regular breaks can actually make you more productive. I use the Pomodoro Technique (working for 25 minutes and then taking a short break) daily. I’m significantly more productive this way, as the clock is now holding me accountable.
8. Focus on Results
Focus on the results rather than just the effort. It’s easy to get caught up in being busy, but what’s more important is what you actually achieve. By prioritising tasks that have the greatest impact on my goals, I make better use of my time and feel more accomplished at the end of the day.
9. Appreciate the Journey
Loosely linking back to what I mentioned in the intro, we often get so caught up in reaching our goals that we forget to enjoy the journey. Appreciating the process, rather than just the destination, can make your time feel more valuable. When you focus on the present moment and find joy in the steps you take, you enrich your experience and make your time more meaningful. For me, this mindset shift was a game-changer, transforming mundane tasks into opportunities for growth and enjoyment.
10. Cultivate Awe and Gratitude
Having a sense of awe and gratitude in all aspects of your time can make it more valuable. Practicing gratitude has incredible effects, from improving mental health to boosting relationships with others. I’m not saying you need to start a gratitude journal, but just reflecting on what you were in awe of each day is useful. This practice has helped me focus on the positive aspects in life, allowing me to appreciate the time I have, making it feel more abundant.
11. Don’t Beat Yourself Up
It’s easy to feel guilty if you think your time wasn’t well spent. However, feeling guilty can be a time waster itself. It can drain your energy and focus. Instead of dwelling on the past, focus on what you can do in the present. Accept that not every moment needs to be productive and that it’s okay to take breaks and relax. Letting go of guilt allows you to move forward with a clearer mind and more energy.
12. Identify What Time Well Spent Means to You
Everyone has different values and priorities, so it’s important to identify what you consider to be time well spent. Reflect on the activities that bring you joy, fulfilment, and a sense of accomplishment. For me, this is spending time with friends (even if it’s a quick chat after bumping into each other in the corridor at work), exercise, writing for a paper, my thesis or this blog, or reading (current book: The Big Psychology Book — worth a read). By understanding what matters most to you, you can make more intentional choices about how you spend your time.
Conclusion
By implementing these strategies, you can take control of your time and become a true time billionaire. It’s not about having more hours in the day, but about making the most of the hours you have. Appreciate the journey, cultivate gratitude, and don’t be too hard on yourself. Identify what time well spent means to you and focus on those activities. Happy time managing!
