The Golden Rule for Improving Time Managment
Anyone who's ever struggled with overwhelm knows what it's like to try and meet the demands of too many people. But there's only so much time in the day and there's only one of you, right?
Getting pulled thirty-seven different ways before 11:00 am takes a real toll on one's energy.
So how do you make time to juggle everything?
- School
- Work
- Family
- Friends
- Romance
- Hobbies
By following one simple rule: put yourself first.
Pay Yourself First
When I read Robert Kyosaki’s book, Rich Dad Poor Dad, the rules of money changed for me forever.
One of the first rules he talks about: “Pay Yourself First.”
After a paycheck gets delivered or direct-deposited into the bank, most people pay their bills first: their rent, utilities, groceries, cell phone, etc. then they spend whatever is left over on themselves. Maybe they indulge in a nice dinner with a loved one, or have a night on the town with friends, buy themselves a gift, or put it into a savings account.
Robert says that only poor people use this strategy, and suggests to do the opposite instead...
Rich people pay themselves first, not last.
You pay yourself an amount that you choose, then you pay everyone else. It’s the principle that’s important, not the amount. It doesn’t matter if it’s $10 or $10,000, it matters that you develop the mindset and commit to the discipline of paying yourself before others.
At first, I didn’t get it.
And then I understood it but was still in denial.
Now I totally live by this rule, not just when it comes to my money but also when it comes to my time...
Only after you’ve secured your own payment do you start dishing it out to others.
Why It's Important
What’s the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?
Do you hit the kitchen for your daily cup o’ coffee?
Are you checking email and social media before you even get out of bed?
When you’re operating in the realm of time management, you wake up with more stress than gratitude. You’re pulled from wonderful Dreamland and thrust into the immediate needs of the world around you. You’re responding to texts from friends, making breakfast for the kids, and sending emails to clients.
This strategy isn’t sustainable.
It doesn't work for you (regardless of how much you try to convince yourself) and it might not work so well the other people in your life, either.
Think about it...
Can you really be kind and thoughtful to your girlfriend or boyfriend when you're stressed out about
Can you really be effective at school or work when you're in bad health?
Can you really be present with your family when you can't stop answering emails from your phone?
You need to start paying yourself first. This means taking time for you and only you before you start your day. The consistency of the practice is far more important than the amount of time you dedicate.
Developing the Discipline
The easiest way to get started is to think about activities you already do by yourself and prioritize them in the morning before everything else.
For example, a shower or bath. You can make it a quick 3 minute cold shower to revitalize the body. Or you could sulk in a warm, soothing bath and make it an hour-long ceremony with some aromatherapy and slow jazz.
Maybe you go for a 30-minute run with the headphones plugged in. If you’re not the running type, maybe it's a 10-minute stretch routine in your bedroom.
Ideally, you want to pay yourself in the morning. Yet, depending on your circumstances, this isn't always feasible.
What if you have a few roommates all with clashing schedules?
What if you share a bed with someone else?
Life happens. Everyone's situation is different. Fine.
Here's what you do...
The next time you plan your day, or your week, the very first appointment you make is an appointment with yourself.
Richard Branson is known for his love of tennis, playing one or two hours on most days before he even considers taking a business call. Tony Robbins reserves some time with nature to revitalize him.
Start with five minutes and gradually expand that five minutes to fifteen, then thirty, then to an hour.
If you want to start with a 10-minute morning routine, set your alarm clock ten minutes earlier than normal. When that sucker goes off in the morning, don’t hit snooze! Get up and pay yourself first.
Hell, I have one friend whose rule is to pay himself no less than 51% net profit... that means he dedicates more than half the hours every day to things he enjoys, to solitude, to personal growth and development.
Another easy way to get started is to use the stacking method.
Let's say you have a lunch appointment scheduled at 12:00pm...
Instead of showing up at (or after) 12:00, plan to show up a few minutes early. When you arrive to the location, sit in your car and get amped up with one of your favorite songs. Or spend a few minutes in meditation visualizing a successful meeting.
No one else can pay you like you can.
OWN the Day
If it helps, you can think of the golden rule as a preparation strategy that puts you in a very high-level operating state. This state allows you to conquer the day with confidence and determination.
But you can only access this state by putting in the time... there is no other substitute.
Stephen Covey might call it sharpening the saw.
Brian Tracy might call it Prime Time.
Josh Waitzkin might call it a pre-flow routine.
A coach would probably call it a warm-up.
Regardless of what you call it, this rule is a non-negotiable, plain and simple.
You wouldn't take a test without first taking time to study and review your notes, just like you wouldn't negotiate your salary without first researching the market.
So don't start your day without making some time for yourself.
Paying yourself first allows you to OWN the day. It’s a declaration of your commitment to time mastery and a testament to the importance you place on your own well-being.
You’ll feel more in control of your thoughts, your emotions, and most importantly, your time.
Don't wait another day to implement this rule. Start right now.
- Review at your schedule for tomorrow
- Pick a five to ten minute slot where you can be alone (ideally in the morning)
- Decide how you're going to spend that time
- Commit to making that payment
If you notice resistance, start practicing this just once a week. Then gradually ramp up from there until you start making payments every day.
You owe this to yourself.
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