How to Multiply Your Time: My Favorite Time Management Framework
In my opinion, a conversation about healthy living is a conversation about time management.
Why? Because most people tell me that lack of time is a major barrier to a healthier way of life.
If that’s you, you’re going to love this post because I’m sharing my favorite framework for freeing up time.
Here’s your mentor.
One of my favorite teachers on the subject of time management is Rory Vaden. He wrote a book called Procrastinate on Purpose. He also has an excellent TED talk called How to Multiply Your Time. I highly recommend both.
Vaden explains that the way we spend our time isn’t just logical. It’s also emotional. He gives super-useful strategies for time management while also addressing the emotional barriers that tend to get in our way.
How to Multiply Your Time: The Basics
Vaden explains that, with any given task, it’s important to decide if you can:
1. ELIMINATE IT?
Start by asking yourself if the task needs to be done at all. If not, get rid of it!
The emotional barrier here is guilt — wanting to say no, but feeling like you need to say yes.
Elimination involves giving yourself the permission to ignore.
This is about treating your time like the precious resource it is, and being selective in how you spend it. It’s about being assertive and not falling into the guilt trap. It’s about learning to say no to unimportant demands of your time so that you can say YES! to the things that matter most.
2. AUTOMATE IT?
If you can’t eliminate it, can you create a process that will save time and effort down the road?
The emotional barrier here is devoting extra resources up front.
Automation involves giving yourself permission to invest your time and energy now, so that you can free up more time and energy in the long run.
Some examples include: setting up automatic bill pay, using a synced family calendar on your phone, arranging an online grocery or food delivery service, etc.
3. DELEGATE IT?
If you can’t eliminate it or automate it, is there someone else who can do it?
The emotional barrier here is thinking others can’t do it as well as you.
Delegation involves giving yourself the permission of imperfect, for a little while, so that in the long run someone else can figure it out.
If you’ve got kids at home, I recommend delegating household chores to them early (even though this is painful in the beginning). In the long run this will save you tons of time and frustration. It also teaches them important life skills.
If you can afford it, pay someone to help you. When money can buy you time and sanity, that’s a great investment!
IF NONE OF THE ABOVE…
If you can’t eliminate, automate or delegate the task, then you must do it. The next step is to decide if it needs to be done now or later.
NOW?
If the task can’t wait, eliminate distractions and get it done! Give yourself the permission to focus.
Don’t fall into the trap of multitasking. Focusing on one thing at a time is what leads to efficiency.
LATER?
If the task can wait, then let it wait. Give yourself the permission to procrastinate on purpose.
This is different than waiting because you simply don’t feel like doing it. It’s about intentionally waiting because you’ve decided that now is not the right time. (A great example he gives is checking email 24/7.)
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Check it out!
Vaden goes into a lot more depth to help you understand how to do this effectively. He also provides a great visual representation called The Focus Funnel. If you’re a visual learner like me, you’ll want to check it out.
I learned this framework years ago, and it’s stuck with me. It’s simple yet powerful, and easy to remember!
Give it a try.
Try it in your own life, and let me know how it goes. Leave a comment below!
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This post was originally published on 2/3/22.
