How to manage your time? Today, our lives move fast. They’re full of obligations, things to do, people to see and things to experience. We run to the right, then to the left. As a result, stress has become a way of life. It’s everywhere, all the time. That’s why I’m sharing with you 7 tips to be more zen and happier.

1 – Don’t waste your time

Time is a gift. Yes, every day we receive 24 hours. But those 24 hours can be taken away from us at any time!

Yet many of us live as if those 24 hours were a given, to be renewed again and again.

In fact, we tend to waste our time! Doing things we don’t really enjoy, seeing people who stress us out…

We do these things, more often than not, because we feel we have to.

But what if we didn’t?

As soon as we live with the awareness that these 24 hours today are a gift, that they can be taken away from us at any moment, we stop wasting our time doing things that have no meaning for us.

Also, remember, your time is your only wealth. Use it wisely.

2 – Remember the importance of time

Why do we receive these 24 hours as a gift? What are we doing here on earth?

Our sole purpose is to be happy. In our own way, at our own pace.

How can we manage our time? The only question we need to ask ourselves is: does what I’m doing make me happy? Does it make sense to me?

Yes ? Then keep going. Better still, enjoy it!

No ? Find a way to stop doing that thing. Delegate. Delete. Get help. Or change the way you do or experience that thing.

Remember that your time should be used to do things that make you happy, things that make sense!

3 – Manage your time: return to the present moment

Another way of wasting our time is to give more attention to our thoughts directed towards our past or our future, rather than to what is happening in our present.

Yes, it’s not uncommon for many of us to get distracted by our thoughts. Me, for one! (laughs)

And yet, to manage your time better, you need to pay full and undivided attention to what’s going on right now.

The past doesn’t matter. Let’s learn from it, no more, no less.

The future doesn’t matter either. All we have to do today is take the right actions to make the future we want possible.

Indeed, getting lost in our thoughts is of no use at all. Worse still, it prevents us from being zen and happy.

So get into the habit of coming back to the present whenever you feel distracted in your thoughts.

No need to get angry with yourself, just come back. Breathe and smile.

4 – Manage your time: have 2 or 3 priorities, no more

How can we manage our time? Stop letting yourself be eaten up.

It’s not uncommon to be consumed by obligations. That’s why we run around all day, ending up on the couch in the evening, exhausted and stressed out.

We urgently need to take back control of our time. To stop letting obligations dictate the rhythm of our lives.

So I invite you to give yourself just 2 or 3 priorities a day. No more, no less.

Remember, life isn’t about filling out a To Do List.

Life is about being happy. So don’t be consumed by doing, just take the time to be.

5 – Managing your time: having a core objective

Better time management means knowing where you’re going. Yes, it means knowing which direction to take small steps in.

Because we need to feel we’re moving forward, moving towards something, to feel fully alive and happy.

So I wholeheartedly invite you to set yourself a heartfelt goal.

It doesn’t have to be grandiose, or lead to wealth, success or recognition.

You know the only criterion a goal has to meet? It must lead you to greater joy, no more, no less.

What makes you happy? Which direction?

6 – Refocus on what’s important

It’s not unusual for bad habits to creep back in. That, despite our resolutions, stress becomes a habit again.

That’s why it’s essential to regularly take stock and refocus.

Every weekend, look back over the past 7 days: what did you do? How did you feel?

Then ask yourself: what did I like? What didn’t I like so much?

And finally, think about how you can do more of what you like and less of what you don’t like in the coming week.

Remember that managing your time to be happier and more zen doesn’t just happen. It has to be built day by day, week by week.

It requires vigilance and a lot of love.

7 – Don’t be afraid of heights

When time seems to slip away, it’s often because we’re afraid of emptiness. So we fill our days with a mountain of things to do.

After all, we don’t like emptiness. Emptiness is scary. What’s more, we’re ashamed of emptiness, of having to say to others: “Yesterday? I didn’t do anything!

It seems like a very sad life, one in which we do nothing.

But what if it’s a lie?

It’s in the void that we really hear ourselves, that little voice inside us that guides us.

It’s in the void that our creativity, our unique voice, is born.

So remember, time management isn’t about punctuating every moment of your life, it’s about making sure you do the things that really matter, and having enough empty space to connect with your essence.

Don’t be a machine. Be a human being, a unique and magical being!

Find out more:

I invite you to read these 2 complementary articles:

Discover Slow life: 10 tips for living more slowly, but better
Discover Having time for yourself: 7 mistakes to avoid if you want to stop being overwhelmed

I recommend this inspiring book:

Make Time by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky.

This book offers concrete strategies to help readers take control of their time and make room for what really matters. It offers a framework for managing priorities, minimizing distractions and creating intentional daily routines. By implementing Make Time’s tactics, we can improve our time management skills, focus on meaningful tasks and achieve a more balanced and fulfilling life.

A good book. It offers good perspectives on how we spend our time today, and advice on how to spend it better.
The opposing viewpoints really emphasize that there are many ways to save time. A good read.
I loved the writing style!

Thank you very much for reading this article.

If you liked it, let me know in the comments.

Take care of yourself