How to Get Control of Your Time and Your Life

1. Time is life: Master your time to master your life

Time is life. It is irreversible and irreplaceable. To waste your time is to waste your life, but to master your time is to master your life and make the most of it.

Time is your most precious resource. Unlike money or material possessions, time cannot be earned back once spent. Every minute you invest shapes your life's trajectory. By learning to manage your time effectively, you gain control over your life's direction and quality.

Effectiveness over efficiency. The goal is not to cram more activities into each day, but to ensure you're dedicating time to what truly matters. This requires regular reflection on your priorities and the courage to eliminate or delegate less important tasks.

• Focus on high-value activities that align with your goals
• Regularly assess how you're spending your time
• Be willing to say no to low-value commitments
• Remember: How you spend your time is how you spend your life

2. Set clear lifetime goals to guide your daily actions

What are your lifetime goals? How would you like to spend the next three years? If you knew now you would be struck dead by lightning six months from today, how would you live until then?

Define your life's direction. By clarifying your long-term aspirations, you create a framework for making daily decisions. This ensures that your short-term actions align with your broader life objectives.

Make goals concrete and revisit regularly. Write down your lifetime goals and review them periodically. This practice helps maintain focus and allows for adjustments as your priorities evolve over time.

• Ask yourself the three key questions about lifetime goals, three-year plans, and six-month priorities
• Write down your goals and keep them visible
• Review and revise your goals annually or when life circumstances change significantly
• Use your lifetime goals as a filter for daily decision-making

3. Prioritize tasks using the ABC system for maximum effectiveness

Items marked A should be those that yield the most value. You get the most out of your time by doing the A's first, and saving the B's and C's for later.

Not all tasks are created equal. The ABC prioritization system helps you identify which tasks will have the greatest impact on your goals. By focusing on high-priority items first, you ensure that your most important work gets done.

Be ruthless in prioritization. Many people get caught up in low-value activities out of habit or fear of tackling more challenging tasks. By consciously prioritizing, you can break this cycle and make significant progress on what truly matters.

• A tasks: High-value activities directly related to your goals
• B tasks: Important but less crucial than A tasks
• C tasks: Nice to do, but not essential
• Regularly reassess your priorities as circumstances change
• Don't hesitate to eliminate or delegate C tasks when necessary

4. Plan and schedule your time to create balance and control

Control starts with planning. Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now.

Planning provides clarity and direction. By taking time to plan your days, weeks, and months, you gain a clearer picture of what needs to be done and how to allocate your time effectively.

Balance structure with flexibility. While planning is essential, it's equally important to remain adaptable. Leave room in your schedule for unexpected opportunities or challenges.

• Start each day with a brief planning session
• Use a combination of short-term and long-term planning
• Block out time for high-priority tasks and important personal activities
• Review and adjust your plans regularly
• Remember to schedule downtime and relaxation to avoid burnout

5. Overcome procrastination with the Swiss Cheese method

The key to getting an Overwhelming A-1 under control is to get started on it as soon as you've identified it as the A-1 task. And an excellent way to get moving is to turn such an Overwhelming A-1 into "Swiss Cheese" by poking some holes in it.

Break big tasks into small, manageable pieces. The Swiss Cheese method involves tackling large projects by starting with small, five-minute tasks. This approach helps overcome the paralysis often associated with daunting projects.

Build momentum through action. By completing these small tasks, you create a sense of progress and involvement that can propel you forward on the larger project.

• Identify "instant tasks" that take five minutes or less
• Focus on getting started rather than completing the entire project at once
• Use the momentum from small successes to tackle larger aspects of the project
• Celebrate progress, no matter how small, to maintain motivation

6. Create quiet time and manage interruptions effectively

Quiet Time and Availability Hours worked well for Mr. Bean and it can work well for you too.

Protect your focus time. Constant interruptions can severely hamper productivity. By establishing designated quiet times and availability hours, you create a structure that allows for both focused work and necessary interactions.

Communicate your boundaries. Make sure colleagues, family members, and others understand your time management system. This helps minimize unnecessary interruptions and ensures that important matters can still reach you when needed.

• Designate specific quiet times for focused work
• Set availability hours for meetings and less crucial interactions
• Use physical cues (e.g., closed door, "do not disturb" sign) to signal quiet time
• Train others to respect your time boundaries
• Be flexible and adjust your system as needed to accommodate others' needs

7. Ask "What is the best use of my time right now?" frequently

Lakein's Question is: what is the best use of my time right now?

Regularly reassess your priorities. By frequently asking yourself this question, you stay focused on high-value activities and avoid getting sidetracked by less important tasks.

Make conscious choices about your time. This question serves as a reminder that you have control over how you spend your time. It encourages mindful decision-making throughout the day.

• Set reminders to ask yourself this question periodically
• Use it as a refocusing tool when you feel distracted or overwhelmed
• Apply it to both work and personal time to ensure balance
• Trust your intuition when answering; your first response is often the best
• Use the question to pivot quickly when priorities shift

8. Utilize transition time and find hidden pockets of productivity

Make the most of "transition time."

Maximize small time chunks. Transition times, such as commutes or waiting periods, often go to waste. By identifying these pockets of time and using them productively, you can accomplish more without adding stress to your day.

Be prepared for unexpected downtime. Keep a list of small tasks or learning activities that can be done in short bursts. This allows you to make progress on goals even when you don't have large blocks of time available.

• Use commute time for learning (e.g., audiobooks, podcasts)
• Keep a book or digital device handy for unexpected waiting periods
• Use transition times for planning or reflection
• Practice mindfulness or relaxation techniques during short breaks
• Tackle quick, easy tasks during "in-between" moments

9. Learn to say "no" and manage others' demands on your time

Sometimes the best solution is to say "No" at the outset. This one word, used promptly, properly and with courtesy, can save you a great deal of time.

Protect your priorities. Learning to say no to less important requests allows you to focus on your high-priority tasks and goals. It's a crucial skill for maintaining control of your time and life direction.

Be respectful but firm. When declining requests, do so politely and, if appropriate, offer alternatives or explanations. This helps maintain relationships while still protecting your time.

• Assess requests against your priorities before committing
• Practice saying no in low-stakes situations to build confidence
• Offer alternatives or compromises when possible
• Remember that saying no to one thing means saying yes to something else
• Don't feel guilty about protecting your time for important activities

10. Confront fears and stress benefits to tackle unpleasant tasks

Don't let your emotions do you in. If you suspect you are avoiding the A-1 because of some fear, then at Decision Time ask yourself, "What am I afraid of?"

Identify and address underlying fears. Often, procrastination on important tasks stems from fear of failure, rejection, or other negative outcomes. By confronting these fears directly, you can overcome emotional barriers to productivity.

Focus on the positive outcomes. When facing an unpleasant task, shift your attention to the benefits of completing it. This can help generate the motivation needed to push through discomfort.

• List specific fears associated with the task
• Challenge irrational fears with logic and past experiences
• Visualize the positive outcomes of completing the task
• Break the task into smaller, less intimidating steps
• Reward yourself for tackling feared tasks to build positive associations

11. Recognize the real price of delay and avoid deadline mania

Before you consider delaying in such situations, slow down. Take a minute or two to consider the consequences that will follow.

Understand the hidden costs of procrastination. Delaying important tasks often leads to increased stress, rushed work, and missed opportunities. By recognizing these costs upfront, you're more likely to tackle tasks promptly.

Find a balanced approach to deadlines. While some people claim to work best under pressure, constant last-minute rushes can be detrimental to both work quality and personal well-being. Strive for a more balanced approach that allows for thorough work without unnecessary stress.

• List potential negative consequences of delaying important tasks
• Consider the impact of delay on others and your relationships
• Evaluate the quality difference between rushed and well-planned work
• Experiment with starting projects earlier to find your optimal work rhythm
• Use deadlines as motivators, but avoid relying on last-minute pressure

Last updated: March 3, 2025