Life Balance: "I Don't Have Time" & Other BS

Welcome to Week 4 of the Fall Balance Series, designed to bring you more work-life balance in 30-60 days. 

Last week we learned how to make progress on your "10." 

This week is especially for those of you who say "I don't have time."

If you're thinking "Stacie, it's great that I've examined what a "10" looks like in each area of my life and that you suggest this weekly planning process but I really don't have time. I'm super busy."

I get it. Your job is demanding.

Your family keeps you on the road running all over creation. You would love to carve pumpkins with the kids or sip lattes with a friend, go on a fall shopping spree or take a great hike in the beautiful fall weather to bring balance into your life...but you "just don't have time." You're busy.

That phrase is woven into how we talk. I get that you are busy. It's a fact. I understand how you feel.

Here's where the tough love of a coach comes in.

As your coach I get to stand back on the sidelines with a wide-angle view of your life. I can see things you can't. And I don't have a dog in the fight. I don't stand to gain or lose if you are successful or not. I have no preconceived notions of who or what you should or shouldn't be or what's right for you. I am a neutral party.

I'm going to give you an example of what I mean when I say I will hold your feet to the fire and hold your hand while I'm doing it.

When a client says to me "I don't have time" my response is "Yes, you do."

You do have time.

Time is the great equalizer.

We all get 24 hours in a day. No more, no less. You choose what to do with your time. 

If you didn't have time to work on that project at work, or to carve pumpkins, or to go for a hike, or to sign up for that class, you CHOSE to do something else. 

As soon as you own that fact, it is very empowering. It will allow you to see so many opportunities you missed before. Own it! You do have time to work on the things that are important to you. It's just a matter of deciding what those things are, blocking it off in your schedule, and then sticking to it.

Be flexible.

I'm not saying be inflexible. Move the blocks around if you need to. Surprise stuff comes up for us all. 

You have to commit to the process if you want to reach your goals, find fulfillment in your life and bring in the balance you seek. Life isn't all about work. It's not all about any one thing.

If you're truly seeking balance in your life, then go through this process.

Decide what "10's" look like. Measure where you are now. Block off some time in your week, schedule it. Commit to a weekly planning process. Then quit using phrases like "I don't have time!"

How empowering would it be if you said "I do have time. What shall I use my time on this week?" What if you deliberately spent time on the things that truly matter to you? Where would your life be six months from now?

If you get to the end of the week and you've spent time on priorities #1, #2, #3, and #4 yet #5 didn't get the attention you wish it had and #6 and #7 dropped off the list...GREAT! Quit beating yourself up over #5, #6, and #7 and celebrate the heck out of the fact that you spent your time on priorities #1, #2, #3, and #4! That's fantastic!

That's life! That is living! That IS finding balance. It's putting things where they should be in order of priority.

If, for some reason, you get to the end of the week and you haven't spent the time on priorities #1, #2, #3, and #4...don't beat yourself up about that either. Use it to your advantage. Get curious. Ask yourself "what happened?" "Why didn't I spend my time on priorities #1, #2, #3, and #4?" How can you change that next week?

What are your priorities? What do you need to say "no" to next week that would clear time for this? Whatever it takes for you to get closer to your goals - make time for it.

Quit using the excuse "I don't have time." 

Next week is for those of you who are making progress...but not as fast as you'd like.

This is part 4 of 5 in the Fall Balance Series. If you want to get the whole series at an accelerated pace and not miss an episode... GREAT! Do it HERE.