Time is literally your most valuable asset. Being in control of how and on what you spend your time can keep you from teetering over the burnout edge.

I have a very controversial view on time management. I simply don’t believe in it. Management implies that it has free will and a choice in behaving. Stop trying to manage your time. Rule your time! Move your mindset from manager to monarch. You are the queen or king of your time.

How does ruling your time differ from time management? It requires deeper self-awareness, discipline, and ferocity to protect and leverage your time as the powerful tool that it is. Here are three quick tips to help you rule your time.

Don’t Be a Jerk to Your Future Self

I love this old saying: “What you sow at night, you reap in the morning.” Invest a few minutes in the evening, so you can start your day off strong. What does that look like in practice?

Before you leave the office or close your laptop for the night, prepare your non-negotiable list for the next day. Take that extensive list and turn it into your Pick 6. Focus on the six most impactful tasks you can conquer the next day.

Trust me, this activity will help you sleep better at night. No more running through all the things you forgot to do instead of counting sheep. When you start your day, you already have a plan of attack.

I even apply this principle to my outfit choices. I lay out my clothes, under-garments, and accessories the night before. In the morning, I don’t waste time trying to find the individual pieces or making up my mind on what I am going to wear.

Practice the Art of Time Honesty

One thing that can completely throw off your schedule is overestimating how much you will accomplish by underestimating how long it will take to complete a task.

One of my time ruling tips is to practice “time honesty.” For every simple task, add 30 minutes. If you think it is going to take you 30 minutes, it is really going to take you an hour. For deeply technical involved tasks, buffer your timeline by 60-90 minutes depending on the level of complexity.

Time honesty is a way to keep you on track with your deliverables and your sanity. I even use this methodology for commuting. If I think it is going to take me 30 minutes to get to my next meeting, I add an additional 30-minute buffer. I would rather arrive early and answer a few emails than arrive late in a sweaty panic.

Protect Your Time Kingdom

In an open format office, it takes a more concerted effort to stay on task. It is easy for people to stop by your desk to ask questions and chit-chat. While this is amazing for collaboration and real-time problem solving, this can throw us off pace to finish tasks.

When you have one of these “pop-up meetings,” ask the person if it is mission critical. If it is not, simply say, “Hey Ted, I am time protecting so I can get this deliverable out the door. Can we schedule a time to chat a bit later? I want to give you my undivided attention.” Then, book the real meeting on the spot in both of your calendars. For those tasks that can turn into a total time suck, set a timer and stay within your allotted time. I use this technique for research and social media. I am a lifelong learner, so I easily fall down an information hole with research. I love to digest and consume new knowledge, so I must give myself 60 minutes. If I cannot find what I need in that time frame, I call a lifeline. Similarly, I switched to checking social media three times a day. Once in the morning, once midday, and once in the evening.

We are only scratching the surface on ruling your time with these three jumpstart tips. It takes commitment and consistency to put these into practice, but over time it gets easier.

Keita Williams is the Founder and Chief Strategist of Success Bully. You can contact her at keita@successbully.com.

This article appears in the spring 2019 issue of the WashingtonCPA Magazine. Read more here.

Join Keita at the Women’s Leadership Summit on June 13, 2019, where she will share more about time management and goal setting. Learn more and register at
www.wscpa.org/wls2019.