I meant to write this story 6 months ago.

Ironic.  One sentence tells the story.  This article could have ended there but it might have been a little understated.  We all experience procrastination to some degree.  We need to live life and not just spend our days and weeks checking off endless “To Do” lists, working or working on our “Fill in the blank with house/self/family/craft or whatever else.”

I’m referring to the procrastination that causes us to delay or ultimately miss out on opportunities to make our lives better.  The world we live in is filled more than ever before by things that divert our attention.  Walk outside into an area with a lot of people and at least half of them will be glued to their smart phone.  Streaming TV now gives us access to every TV show, movie, sporting event and channel we could ever want.  “Binge watching” is something we plan our schedules around.  And none of things helps us get things done!

There’s a better way.

1.  Prioritize.  Warren Buffett prioritizes his To Do lists regularly.  He’ll list out 25 things he wants to accomplish and then rank them in order.  The top 5 get his time, attention and focus.  The others are relegated to secondary and don’t get attention until the priority items are done.  In this way, prioritized tasks get completed, everything else is a bonus.
2. Plan.  Look, I get it.  We all have to work.  And do chores.  And bathe the dog and balance the checkbook.  But we have to LIVE as well.  Set aside time for both and build in a little extra time for all of them so that you aren’t always hurrying from here to there, five minutes late.  Once all that is done, make sure and have time set aside to do nothing.  Meditate.  Rest.  Spend time with friends or family in doing things other than outings or events.  It might seem a little awkward at first because we are all programmed to get things done now.  Your conversations and your relationships will ultimately be better for it.
3. Unplug.  I’ve taken to running errands without my smart phone.  I turn the radio on and just listen to whatever music is playing.  I don’t program it or have podcasts playing or anything else.  An amazing thing happened the second and third times I did it.  I didn’t mind running the errands.  And I was relaxed during and after.  Putting your smart phone or tablet  or other devices down and leaving them down is an exercise in relaxation.
4. Be you.  There are things that each of us do that make us who we are.  Running, yoga, gardening, naked skydiving…whatever it is that you love doing, make sure that you have time set aside to do those things.  Travel.  Meet new people.  Spend time with old friends.  All of these things make up the story of our lives and loves.  Make sure your story is as rich as it possibly can be and in a time frame that works for you, not in spite of you.

Everyone I know is busy.  And tired.  People are tired all the time.  Ask five of your friends or colleagues what’s the one thing they need more of and at least three of them will say, “More hours in the day.”  Personalize the steps above and show them how those hours can be delivered.  And then deliver them!