by Alexander Mark

Created on: August 05, 2008   Last Updated: August 22, 2008

Why are you in a hurry? You have a lot more time than you think you have. But in order to find that time, you'll have to make sacrifices. Don't worry, some of it will be fun, and all of it will be beneficial.

The very first thing you will need to do is set aside time for yourself to relax. For the busy go getter, this will be your biggest stumbling block. Now I can hear you screaming at me that you have absolutely no time to slow down. I have to ask, if you are reading this article, then isn't there some part of you that finds your hectic schedule intolerable? Go ahead, admit it, you want to sit down right now and take a break. So first on your list is to unwind completely everyday, perhaps once in the morning, afternoon or evening. Perhaps more. It is only then that you can regain your proper perspective by blanking your mind or doing something fun and absorbing. This is the first sacrifice, probably your hardest.

The next sacrifice is to manage your time truthfully. What I mean by truthfully is: what do you say is absolutely essential versus what you can actually cut from your schedule? Barring unresolvable circumstances such as family illness or an outrageous commute or unusual work obligations, there is no reason you can't cut items from your to do list that you can't live without. Do your kids belong to several sports teams? They only need to go to one, if they need to go at all. Perhaps you and your spouse feel it is important for your children to be involved in a structured sporting activity, but let me ask you, is your daughter going to grow up to be the next Maria Sharapova and is it truly the most important thing in the world? If you're worried about your family's health, schedule that time to go biking together instead. You'll save time by not having to drive anywhere.

Reducing obligations and personal discipline. When you take your break, or do laundry or clean house, set a reasonable time to get it finished. This sounds unreasonable I know, floors continue to get dirty and the oil change can't be ignored. But what if you were stuck on an island? Some of those things would lose their importance. So when you think you can't give up one chore to better your life, think of the island and you will be able to prioritize what is truly important.

Do you do your chores on your day off? Don't. At least keep one day that you do absolutely nothing that you don't want to do. It is not a waste of time, because if you are a true workaholic, you will be itching to get back to your daily routines because things have to get done. In the mean time, a day off reenergizes the soul and bleeds off stress. Take them and don't feel guilty.

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