You probably don’t look at time as investment. When you binge watch Netflix for six hours, you invested six hours of your life. You can’t get those six hours back.
That’s why it’s important to use your time wisely and learn how to properly invest your time. We have so many goals that we want to achieve. To make them a reality, we have to put our goals into actionable steps.
It’s not that we shouldn’t have downtime to watch tv shows, scroll through social media or play Candy Crush. In fact, there’s a section for this below, so don’t give up on me yet!
We just need to be mindful of how much time we are spending on these things, and know exactly what we are NOT doing while we are enjoying an episode of Riverdale. We can’t talk about time being an investment without mentioning sacrifice.
When you choose to do something, you are giving up doing something else. For example, if you play Candy Crush for an hour, you gave up that hour of cleaning the house or writing a paper that’s due soon.
Below are some of my most helpful tips on how to invest your time and make a big return. Also, tips for staying mindful, slaying the day, and still making time for you!
Learn to Prioritize Your Life
This may take some exploring. Think about what’s really important to you, in the big-picture.
- What’s your dream career?
- Do you want a better relationship with someone?
- Wish you could have more time to travel?
There’s a reason why this section is titled to prioritize your life versus just your schedule. This is crucial to learning how to invest your time! You have to know where you want to end up, in order to figure out how to get there.
Once you know what your goals are, you can shape your schedule into getting you there with small, actionable steps.
Yes, small steps! I think we tend to get overwhelmed by our goals because we believe we have to make huge leaps every day and that’s just not true. All those small steps add up to big results!
Schedule Your Priorities
Now that you’ve thought about what’s important to you and what you would like to accomplish, it’s time to write out those small steps and schedule them into your daily to-do’s.
Let’s say that one of your goals is to start a blog. This can be an overwhelming feat on its head, but we can break down this goal into smaller steps to make it achievable and less stressful.
Here’s an example:
Goal: Start a Blog in 2020
Determine what you want to write about
Choose a clever title for your blog
Pick a host for your blog
Install WordPress
Select a theme/design that fits your blog’s brand
Write your first blog post
While there is a lot more to creating a blog than this, it works for our example of breaking a goal down into manageable steps. All of these steps seem doable, right? If you take even one of these tasks per day and schedule time for them, you’ll have made progress on your goal! That’s a big win, my friends.
Use a Planner & See Where Your Time Goes
Sometimes we fly by the seat of our pants, even with the important stuff. If you take time to use a planner and write out exactly what you’re doing and when you’re doing it, you’ll be more organized and you can see where your time is going.
Grab a cup of coffee and take an hour (it may not take that long, in case you’re not as excited about planning as I am!) to write down all of your important appointments, fun events, and other items that you don’t want to forget. Don’t lie to yourself, you won’t remember…so write it down!
Next, think about your goals and what you want to achieve. Break down those goals into manageable steps and schedule those steps in your planner! This keeps your goals right in front of you, and reminds you that you are making progress.
You go, girl!
Downtime and Why It’s Important to Schedule It
Granted, there are things that we don’t tend to write down. Like our Netflix sessions or Candy Crush missions, but what if we did? Let’s talk about downtime, friends.
Scheduling downtime is just as important as scheduling those small steps that lead to big success!
Your mind and body need rest. It is truly self-care in its purest form. If you don’t take time to relax, your body will eventually tell you in some not-so-pleasant ways.
- Have things been super hectic before and then you started feeling bad?
- Maybe it was your stomach bothering you from all of the stress?
- Your mind was constantly racing through thoughts that you needed to do a million things and driving you crazy?
You need time to just be, enjoy yourself and allow your mind and body to reset.
I hope that you’ve enjoyed learning how to invest your time! I think staying mindful on how we use our time is key to spending it in all of the right places.
P.S. I’m giving this post a little boost today. 🙂 I hope you had a great weekend! I’ve been working very hard on a ‘How to Start a Blog’ post for those of you who are thinking about starting a blog. It’s not just fluff about how to set up hosting. It will be super comprehensive and include some of the things that I wish I knew before I started blogging. I learned those things the hard way, but you don’t have to! Be sure to check it out next Monday, the 17th of February.
Let’s Chat!
Have you ever thought of time as investment?
Do you like using a planner?
How do you include self-care and downtime in your schedule?
I most definitely look at time as an investment. My favorite tool for staying organized and productive is writing in my planner. I love your tip about scheduling in down town. I don’t always do this but I understand how important it is 🙂
That’s my favorite tool, as well! Thank you so much! 🙂 I completely agree, it’s definitely the hardest to schedule.
Thanks for the tips!! I definitely use a planner to organize my life. I would be totally lost without it! Lol
Thank you so much for stopping by and reading, Tina! 🙂 I completely agree!
Thanks for sharing these great tips. It’s so important to break goals down into smaller steps.
I do use a planner, but I never think to schedule downtime! I will now though
Julia x
https://www.thevelvetrunway.com/
Aww, thank you for reading, Julia! 🙂 That sounds fantastic. Schedule some time for YOU!
These are great tips. Prioritizing life is so important.
https://www.ninakobi.com/2020/02/white-puffer-jacket-and-black-combat.html
Thank you so much, Nina!
My planner is my saving grace! It really helps me with time management and I make sure to schedule down time!
http://www.rdsobsessions.com
That’s wonderful, Rach! I love my planner as well, it keeps me sane!
To get me through my weekly schedule I need to prioritize as well, it’s so important to me. I’m using a planner as well, online though and not a booklet, I just forget too many things without it lol.
xx Simone
Little Glittery Box
Haha, nothing wrong with that, Simone! What type of online planner are you using? I’ve been getting curious about them, but I’m such a paper planner person.
So important to prioritize! Sometimes I feel like theres not enough hours in the day but when you properly plan it out it just works out great!
-Didier
http://www.didieryhc.com
Absolutely, Didier! You are so right. Keeping things in perspective and planning truly helps.
This is such a useful and inspiring post! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
melissakacar.blogspot.com
Thank you so much for reading, Melissa! So happy you found it inspiring, that is always my goal. 🙂
I always like to try plan my day ahead, with a scheduler as it tends to make me less likely to procrastinate xo
Makeup Muddle
Yes, those are great ways to stay on track!
Very interesting tips, and so important 🙂
xx
Mónica Sors
MES VOYAGES À PARIS
NEW POST: GSTAAD MEMORIES…
Thanks so much, Monica!
Amazing and objective tips!! For me, down time as been the best addition to my schedule. I used to take it for granted but never again! Thanks for sharing such inspiring tools 🙂
http://www.desiringsme.com/appreciating-the-present/
That is awesome, Yara!! Good for you, it really does help make sure that you’re prioritizing YOU! 🙂
A planner makes all the difference in the world! I’m a freak about getting things done so I agree with all of this.
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
I am completely with you, Kathrine! 🙂
I think putting a number on your time is important. Is this activity worth your time? It has absolutely helped me out a lot!
with love,
Bash
Hey Bash
Yes! I love that, Bash. Thanks so much for stopping by! 🙂
I’ve realised how valuable time is since I’ve started my blog! Usually in the evenings after work I’d do nothing except make dinner and watch TV, but once I realised I could write a whole post instead I realised that I can waste so much time. So important to still have down time though!
Becca x | http://www.beccaloisblogs.co.uk
Same here, friend! It really puts things in perspective. Plus with blogging, there is always so much to do and it’s best to stay on top of it as much as possible.
These are good tips and I agree it’s important to schedule time in for the things you love! It’s tricky with kids as you don’t always have the time you hope you’ll have but my priority right now is my kids so everything else falls to the side for them!
Hope you’re having a nice week 🙂
Absolutely! I would be the same way if I had kids. 🙂 I do hope you’re able to find some time to relax and do things you enjoy, in between time. You sound like a wonderful momma! ❤️ I hope you’re having a great one too!
Good tips:)
Thank you so much, Kinga! 🙂
I enjoyed reading your blog and while I was reading it I felt so smart. Sometimes I have a hard time investing my time so this really gave me a few tips. Thank for the wonderful blog.
Aww, thank you so much, friend! 🙂 You always leave such thoughtful, kind comments. They are truly appreciated. That’s totally understandable, I think all of us struggle with it from time to time.
These are great tips! I never schedule my downtime and think I’d be more productive if I did!
Jill – Doused in Pink
Thank you, Jill! Let me know how it goes if you give it a try! 🙂
Awesome tips and it sure does help to be organized.
xoxo
Lovely
http://www.mynameislovely.com
Thank you so much, Lovely! It really does!
I love this! Especially important to keep yourself organized and prioritized- that way everything super pertinent gets done!
-Ashley
Le Stylo Rouge
Thank you so much, Ashley! 🙂 You are so right!
The part about down time is what spoke to me. I usually don’t make enough time for that but, I’ve been trying to get better about it.
I’m so happy to hear that, Val! You deserve that downtime! 🙂
For sure scheduling your priorities really helps to make sure you maximize your time the best way possible!
http://www.rdsobsessions.com
Absolutely, Rach! Thanks so much for stopping by! 🙂
So important to pln out your time! Its crazy how much time can pass while mindlessly browsing youtube!!
https://sundaydahlias.com
I completely agree! Thanks so much for stopping by! 🙂
So many important tips here Thanks a lot babe xoxo Cris
http://www.photosbycris.com.au/?p=2066
Thank you so much, Cris! 🙂
This is such a wonderful post!
I changed my way of life few years back and I have not looked back!
I also have similar content on my blog with tips for a more happy, successful and eco-friendly lifestyle.
ecoislogical.com
Thank you so much, Nathalie! That’s wonderful! I just checked out your blog and will definitely be back to visit.
This is such a beautiful guide dear. Thank for the tips!
Jessica | notjessfashion.com
Aww, thank you so much, Jessica!
I don’t think I realised how limited my time is until I had kids. Now I try to have my downtime and work on my blog and social media in the space of about an hour at night and let me say, it’s not ideal. I also feel it’s a product of this day and age where there is so much information coming at us all the time, that it’s important to be in the moment and prioritise. Thanks for sharing these tips!
Thank you, Katerina! 🙂 While I don’t have kids yet, I have to imagine it would be so difficult to make time for those things. I completely agree with you, things are so chaotic today and much of it is out of our control.
This is so true! Time really is an investment, and it’s important to try to make the most of it. I definitely have to do more to make sure I prioritize what’s most important in my life.
http://mylovelierdays.com
I’m with you, Diana!
Such a great post!
I never looked back since I started to prioritize the really important things for me to follow my heart, passion and future happiness.
The level of contentment is priceless.
https://www.ecoislogical.com/
/Nathalie
Aww, that’s wonderful Nathalie! I couldn’t agree more. Thanks so much for reading!
love, love, LOVE the concept of investing in your time. ♥ I started using a journal to keep my goals in check at the beginning of 2020 and have felt so much more on track with my life.
As always, love reading your blog posts!
That’s a wonderful idea, friend! 🙂 Thank you so much, you are too kind!!