The Time Management Secret That Will Change Your Life Forever.

97% of people never do this.

I was recently asked a question about how I would create a time management and productivity system if I were starting out today.

My initial reaction was to set up a task manager and calendar and build a structure in a notes app. But then I thought, no, that would be the worst thing to do. It would be like adding a sticking plaster to a gaping wound. It might slow down the deluge of tasks, but it would not help manage a person’s time better.

Going straight to the tools would mean prioritising current issues and likely other people’s urgencies. It would mean neglecting what matters and what someone wants to accomplish in the short and long term.

Areas of Focus.

So, if I were to begin with a blank canvas, knowing what I know now, my first approach would be to sit down and carefully think about what matters. I would use the eight areas of focus we all share:

• Family and relationships

• Health and fitness

• Career/business

• Self-development

• Lifestyle/life experiences

• Spirituality

• Finances

• Life’s purpose

These eight areas would be the starting point. You don’t need any specialised tools for this exercise. A piece of paper and a pen would be sufficient to get started.

Learn more about your Areas of Focus ➔

I would begin by defining what these areas mean to me and identifying what activities I would need to do to maintain them at a level I want them to be.

For example, what does my financial well-being mean to me? How important is it? And what do I need to do weekly or monthly to maintain my financial health? I could then pull out any tasks I would need to do and how frequently.

Going through all eight of these would give me a list of between ten and fifteen tasks I must consistently perform daily, weekly and monthly.

This would be my starting point because that would put my needs and those of the people that matter to me first.

Your career/business area will inevitably be significant, and many of your daily activities will come from your work. But that does not mean it should be prioritised over everything else—a mistake most people make.