Annie Dillard, an American author, once wrote: "How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives." These words carry a profound truth that many of us overlook in our daily rush.

In a world where "busy" is worn like a badge of honor, we've been conditioned to view our time through the lens of responsibilities and tasks. We even say it - time is money. But just as money has both a cost and a value, so does time. So instead of looking at time as a cost and currency, let's look at it in terms of value.

Dr. Cassie Mogilner Holmes, who teaches at UCLA and wrote the book, “Happier Hour: How to Beat Distraction, Expand Your Time, and Focus on What Matters Most” believes in this new way of thinking about time.  And as a burnout and stress management coach, so do I.

This powerful idea underscores the importance of intentionally organizing our time around our core values. It's not just about being efficient; it's about being effective in living a life that truly reflects what matters most to you. By aligning your daily activities with your values, you create a sense of purpose and fulfillment that goes beyond simply checking items off a to-do list.

Let's explore how you can start this journey of aligning your time with your values. Remember, this is a process, and it may take some time to fully implement these changes. Be patient with yourself and celebrate small victories along the way.

How to Start:

1. Assess Your Current Time Usage Begin by tracking how you spend your time for a week. Use a journal, spreadsheet, or a time-tracking app to note your activities, how long they take, and how they make you feel. Be honest and detailed – include everything from work tasks to social media scrolling. At the end of the week, review your log. Look for patterns: Where are you spending most of your time? Which activities energize you, and which drain you? This assessment will give you a clear picture of where your time is going and serve as a baseline for making changes.
2. Identify Your Core Values Reflect deeply on what's truly important to you. Is it family, career growth, health, creativity, or community service? Consider moments when you've felt most fulfilled or proud. What values were you honoring in those moments? Make a list of potential values, then narrow it down to your top 5-7. These are your core values – the principles that should guide your decisions and actions. For each value, write a brief description of what it means to you personally. This will help you recognize when you're living in alignment with these values.
3. Create a Personal Time Policy Develop guidelines for how you'll spend your time based on your values. Think of these as personal rules or commitments. For example:
4. Learn to Say No Recognize the "acquaintance trap" - it's often harder to say no to acquaintances than to close friends. This is because we often feel we need to prove ourselves or maintain a certain image with people we don't know well. Practice declining requests that don't align with your values. Prepare a few polite but firm phrases you can use, such as "I appreciate you thinking of me, but that doesn't fit with my current commitments." Remember, every time you say yes to something that doesn't align with your values, you're saying no to something that does.
5. Focus on Values, Not Tasks Instead of thinking in terms of tasks, frame your time in terms of values. For each activity or commitment, ask yourself, "How does this contribute to my core values?" This shift in perspective can make even mundane tasks feel more meaningful. For instance, doing the laundry isn't just a chore – it's an act of care for your family if family is one of your core values. When planning your day or week, categorize activities by the values they serve, not just by project or deadline.
6. Schedule Time for What Matters Actively plan time for activities that align with your values. If health is a priority, schedule your workouts like you would an important meeting – set a specific time and treat it as non-negotiable. Use your calendar to block out time for value-aligned activities before filling in other commitments. This ensures that what's most important to you doesn't get pushed aside by the urgent but less important tasks that often fill our days.
7. Regular Review and Adjustment Set aside time monthly to review how well your time usage aligns with your values. Look back at your time logs and ask:
8. Communicate Your Priorities Share your values and time priorities with family, friends, and colleagues. This helps set expectations and can reduce conflicts. Let your family know why you're making changes to how you spend your time. Discuss with your boss how your new approach will make you more effective at work. By communicating clearly, you create a support network that can help you stay accountable to your values-based time management.
9. Practice Mindfulness Be present in each moment. Mindfulness helps you fully engage with value-aligned activities and makes your time feel more meaningful. Start with small practices, like taking three deep breaths before starting a new task, or spending five minutes in quiet reflection at the beginning and end of each day. When you're engaged in an activity, focus fully on it rather than letting your mind wander to other tasks or worries.
10. Create Boundaries Establish clear boundaries between different areas of your life. This helps prevent work from encroaching on family time, for example. Some strategies include:

By following these steps, you're not just managing your time – you're crafting a life that reflects your deepest values and aspirations. Remember, this is a journey, not a destination. Be patient with yourself, celebrate your progress, and keep refining your approach as you grow and change. Your time is your life – make it count!

You've just read about effective stress management techniques, but implementing them alone can be challenging. That's why I'm offering a Free 30-Minute 1:1 Consultation for a limited time to help you create a personalized stress-busting strategy.

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Warmly, Dr. Camilla Moore and The Wellness Cabinet Team