Do you struggle with managing your time?

Have you wondered how some people do many things in the same time compared to you? I mean what is it that they’re doing what you are unable to?

You could be wasting time on many things and if you begin to make a list, you will probably write the obvious ones – being disorganised, watching movies, talking to friends, and if you’re honest, then maybe spending time on social media.

But there are other things that you don’t know you could be wasting your time on. And I want to draw your attention to the biggest time wasters that could be eating up your valuable time.

The first one on my list is Multitasking

Yes, you heard me right. Doing many things at one go is such a big mistake and I have been committing this crime repeatedly. You see I was always proud of my ability to do many things at one time. But you know what, it was not just causing me stress but also wasting my time. Recently I experimented on doing one task after the other and guess what, it took lesser time than doing many things in one go. I couldn’t believe it either.

So if you’re a multitasking junkie like me, I want you to experiment and see how much time do you take when doing a single task one after the other. Do let me know in the comments and tell me if it worked out for you.

The second one on my list is Smart Phone

You could’ve guessed this, if you were honest. And when I say smart phone, I include Social Media, Texting, Emails, Phone call… all the distractions that our phones are causing us.

Now, I have a thriving social media presence and I have to open my accounts constantly in a day to communicate and connect with people. So believe me when I’m saying that smart devices are our biggest time wasters. So I want you to recognise how much time are you spending on your phone.

If you want to know the answer just open your settings and check your screen time.

Number 3 on my list is Speaking without Thinking. You can also say ‘speaking in haste’

Now, I am from the “Express Yourself” generation. I want to express myself explicitly the way I want to. However you know what, I used to spend a lot of time explaining to people, especially those who are close to me about I meant in the first place. Not that anything was wrong with my communication. But because of something I said without actually thinking that ends up being misread. And explaining yourself repeatedly is an absolute time waster. If I would’ve given my expression a thought in the first place, I would not just save time, but also the emotions, and implications that could cause because of my statement.

So next time before you say something or post something online, just give it a thought and consider if it is absolutely important for you to say it. Say it but only after you give it a thought so that you don’t have to waste time explaining to anyone, especially your loved ones.

The next time waster you probably didn’t know is Overthinking

The amount of time we waste on overthinking is mind boggling. Truly. Because when you think too much instead of acting it out or doing things, you are wasting a lot of time but also your energy. You end up feeling anxious and frustrated all the time that can result into many mental ailments.

So ask yourself this – am I overthinking? It doesn’t mean you’re sitting alone and thinking. You could be overthinking while you’re aimlessly scrolling your phone or watching someone else’s profile without any agenda. Being aware is crucial first step. Once you’re aware you can always find a solution.

I’ve already spoken on how you can stop overthinking, you may check out the blog here.

The final one on this list is Comparing to others

This is the worst form of time waster because comparing with others also leads to negative self talk. Everyone of us have our own battles to fight, which means no one has it easy. When you compare yourself or your accomplishments to others, you are putting your focus on a wrong person. This leads to anxiety, frustration and unnecessary resentment.

So if you find yourself comparing with anyone at all, try to recognise what that is doing to you.

And how much time are you wasting on this. Like I said before, you can stop or change a habit only when you’re aware it exists in your life.

3 things you cannot recover in life – the word after it’s said, the moment after it’s missed and the time after it’s gone.

So make sure you recognise where you are spending your time. I will soon share how you can save time doing things you love to do.