Oh time, that elusive, twisty ticking that feels so intangible. Sometimes it flies. Sometimes it drags. Physicists attempt to explain its fluidity, that there is really only a present and that the past and future, because they only exist in our minds, are not real. Heady right? 

What I know is that mastering your time means mastering your life. 

I've learned I can slow it way down and I want to teach you to slow down, because we have a lot to accomplish in our days and get pulled inso many directions. The cruel trick is that we think we need to move faster, squeeze more in and multi-task the day away. But when we act in this way, we are at the end of a rope that is being tossed around uncontrollably. We are whipsawed. 

We don't even know what just happened to us, only that weare exhausted and spent. 

The real secret is slowing down, eliminating and doing one thing at a time until it is finished. And cultivating the ability to make fast decisions so that we are not spending so much time in our heads. 

Since this month's Wise Workshop is all about mastering time, setting SMART goals and knowing your personal vision, I thought we'd spend the next few weeks discussing some of these key strategies. If you have any time mastering tips to share, please do so on the Facebook Page! It's getting fun there, so come join us if you haven't already!

Slowing Down

The way to say yes to slowing down is to learn to say no to lots of other things. I think of it like a cup. If your cup is full to the rim with commitments, obligations, work and responsibilities you can't possibly fit anything else in it without making a big mess. 

Here's the harsh truth: you have to begin to put serious boundaries around your time to get what you want. Whether it's more time with your children, more time with yourself, more time to paint, run or change the world, you are going to have to become insanely protective of your time. It'syour pot of gold and when someone takes it from you it's never coming back. 

Now there are going to be time suckers in your life that are going to seriously resent your commitment to spending your time how you want to spend it, and not how they want you to spend it, but you're a wise woman! You can take it. 

After you've made the commitment to slow down and figured out where you can establish boundaries in your life, you'll want to build buffers into your day. Make some non-negotiables around your priorities, for example your favorite exercise class. A non-negotiable can't be changed exceptin an emergency. There's no skipping because you have too much to do!!

Finally, you want to find some time to explore feeling content. You know that feeling when you're just at peace? Cultivate it. You might have some meandering thoughts, or feel contemplative, but it's definitely a relaxed, yummy state. For some of you this could be meditation, for others a walk in nature - I tend to find it in my bathtub. Creating this space for yourself will "buy" you more time than any strategic decision around time management. Cultivating contentment willactually slow time down and allow you to get more done because you will find a more focused, less frazzled, happier you.