Make 3 Changes™ Monday Mission #7: Are you Investing or Wasting Your Time?

 

February’s theme is all about time…The Myth of Time Management & The Power of Self -Management

Last week I invited you to explore the thoughts and beliefs you have about time, how you speak about time and how that impacts your life in all areas.

This week, I invite you to go deeper. We’ll explore the shift from spending time to investing time, from managing time to allocating your time.

Make 3 Changes™ Monday Mission #7: Change the way you Think & Speak about Time: Invest, don’t Waste.

How many times a day do you find yourself thinking and/or saying …

  1. a) This is a waste of my time.
  2. b) They’re wasting my time.
  3. c) I’d be better off doing something other than what I’m doing right now
  4. d) all of the above

The way you think about and speak about time is having a BIG impact on your experience and others experience of you.  Did you take the challenge last week and notice how often you were complaining about time or using it as an excuse?

Most often I see these thoughts and beliefs, these words and actions showing up in my work with non-profit leaders, boards, staff & volunteers. We say “yes” to a volunteer opportunity or board position only to feel as though our time and talents aren’t being utilized effectively. We say “yes” to a volunteer who has graciously donated their time and talent to us, yet we don’t really have a place for them and we invest a lot of time and effort into someone who isn’t well suited for the role. We say “yes” to helping others and end up feeling our time isn’t being respected. We ask others for their help and don’t do the work necessary to properly respect THEIR time. We say “yes” to hiring someone who may or may not have the right skills and attitude for the job at hand.

When you think and speak negatively, from a place of lack, regarding time, you make different decisions and create different possibilities. Resentment. Frustration. Passive aggressive thoughts and actions. Short-sighted, relief based decisions and actions that only serve to “get through” as opposed to opening up and creating a better experience.

Transition to new possibilities

What if you began to think about time as an investment?  

What if you could begin to notice when you were slipping into this frame of mind and turn it around before you made judgments, statements or decisions?

Mindset:  Explore the thoughts you have about how you invest your time.

Take 5: Draw a line down the center of a piece of paper. On the left, write investments at the top. On the right, time-wasters. Make a quick list of the things you do that you consider to be investments and the things you consider to be time-wasters. Assess the list. The way you THINK about the things you do is having an impact on how you show up. What do you notice when you look at the list?

Mantras: Review the list and highlight any of the ones that resonate with you.

Read them aloud and feel the difference in your body, your heart, your spirit.

  • I choose to invest time in this activity.
  • I am choosing to invest my time in this activity.
  • I willfully and joyfully devote my time to this activity.
  • I am in the right place at the right time.
  • I am grateful for the opportunity to be of service.
  • I easily ask for what I need.
  • I easily say yes to those opportunities I consider to be an investment.
  • I easily say no to those opportunities I consider to be a time-waster.
  • I respect others time.
  • I am mindful of how and where I ask others to invest their time.
  • I am prepared for this activity.

Think about the types of decisions you’ll make when you’re operating under these beliefs and assumptions. That’s the power of mantras. They can help you quickly shift into a better state of mind so you are able to make better decisions and choices.

Take 5 minutes and jot down some mantras that would help you focus on the investment you’re making rather than the time you’re wasting.

Make 3 Changes™

Take 5 minutes right now and think about what 3 changes you could make to the way you think about and speak about time that would have the greatest impact in your world.

Make 3 Changes to the way you think and speak about time.  

Write them down on an index card, on a post it, put them in your note taking app on your phone… capture them and then take action.

Declare & Share!

Let me know what you came up with and how you did!  Check the facebook page this week for additional resources and inspiration to help you think and speak differently about time. Experience how doing so can make a difference in your life, the lives of those you love and the lives of those you lead!

What is Make 3 Changes?  Make 3 Changes™ is a framework designed to help leaders move forward during times of change, challenge and opportunity.  For more information about the Make 3 Changes™ framework and how you can use it to navigate changes in your world with more clarity, confidence and commitment, email whitney@whitneybishop.com

What are the Make 3 Changes Monday Missions?   These weekly missions are designed to get you thinking differently about various aspects of your life.  Each month will feature several missions within a theme, helping you to build awareness, create alignment and take action.  It is my hope they provide you with the tools you need to create positive and lasting change in your life, the lives of those you love, those you lead and those you serve.  Thanks for being here at the start of it.  Always open to feedback about your experience.  Let’s have some fun and make some changes!

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About Whitney Bishop

Whitney Bishop is a Change Agent who creates transformative experiences for leaders who are committed to making a difference in their own lives and in the lives of others. She has designed a proven process to help leaders and their teams elevate their questions, create new possibilities and take deliberate action. Are you ready to discover the power of possibility and experience breakthroughs that will help you have greater impact and influence in the world? Let’s talk.