Feel overwhelmed and stressed? It’s time for you to track your time
Feeling overwhelmed and stressed? Perhaps it's time to consider tracking your time. Discover how this simple yet effective strategy can help you regain control, reduce stress, and enhance productivity. Let's delve into the transformative power of time tracking.
“Busyness delusion”
The mistaken belief that we are busier than we really are
- Research shows that when you are highly aware of time passing, it makes you less compassionate toward others and interferes with your ability to make rational decisions
- Having no clear understanding of how you spend your time can leave you feeling more overwhelmed
- A 2009 study showed that if you make someone believe they have time to spare, they feel healthier and happier
Celeste Headlee
An award-winning journalist, the bestselling author of We Need to Talk: How to Have Conversations That Matter, and cohost of the series Retro Report on PBS
- In her 20-year career in public radio, she has been the executive producer of On Second Thought at Georgia Public Radio and has anchored programs including, Tell Me More, Talk of the Nation, All Things Considered and Weekend Edition
- She also cohosted the national morning news show The Takeaway for PRI and WNYC
Step 1: Track your time
Begin by keeping a diary and tracking your activities.
- No one will see this diary but you, and the more honest you are, the more helpful this exercise will be.
- Once you know how much time you’re working, how much you’re spending on social media and leisure, you can begin to ask yourself some important questions, like: How much time do I want to spend on…
- Email?
- Do I want …
- Exercise?
Step 2: Make a schedule
Create two ideal schedules, one for gym days and one for the rest.
- Gym Days: 7:00 Wake/take care of the dog/dress, 7:30 Walk the dog 8:30 Gym 9:30 Shower 9:45 Meditate 10:00 Email and social media 10:30 Write/work 12:30 Lunch 1:00 Short Walk 1:30 write/work 3:30 Free time and meditate 5:30 Walking the dog 6:30 Dinner 730 Rest 8:00 Bath or self-care 9:00 Bed
- Non-Gym Days: Seven am wake up, seven pm walk the dog, eight pm meditate, nine pm write, 10 pm read, 11 pm bed
- Check email once an hour and limit social media time to one hour a day.