How to Practice Mindfulness to Boost Your Time Management and Productivity
Are you constantly on the go, juggling your household, your family, and your business? Trust me, I know how overwhelming that can be. I get it. I’m just like you.
I love a day when I fall into bed, gleaming from sticking to a schedule and knocking my to-do list out of the park. The downside? You’re always focused on getting everything done and never really taking the time to stop, breathe, and enjoy the people right in front of you. That can definitely be me.
That’s exactly why I’ve learned to practice mindfulness with my time. Not as one more thing on the list, but as a way to get the right things done and actually be present for my life.
What Does It Mean to Practice Mindfulness in Time Management?
To practice mindfulness in time management means being fully present with how you spend your time. You plan with intention, you leave open space in your day, and you reflect with grace instead of judgment. It’s less about doing more and more about focusing on what truly deserves your time.
Practice Mindfulness When the Day Doesn’t Go as Planned
This topic came up one night during bible study with my ladies. We were studying Ecclesiastes from the Love God Greatly Bible Study, if you’re interested.
We never know where our conversation will lead. That night, it led us to time. Where we spent it, and how often we didn’t get everything done that we hoped. It seems I’m not the only one with days of frustration, looking back and wondering what I even did today.
Here’s the thing. When this happens, pause and mindfully reflect on where you spent your time. Not with negative thoughts to roast yourself with could-haves and should-haves, but to notice where you replaced those action items with meaningful connections. Connection to your family and friends.
Likely, you did more than you thought. It may not have been the things on the list. It happens. That’s where grace comes in.
When I plan my day with a to-do list and set a timeframe for each, I’m the most productive and relaxed. I mindfully think through how long it will take and whether it truly deserves time on my calendar.
How to Replace the Hustle and Bustle
Well, friend, I wish I had a magic answer for managing our time. Our minds may work differently, but the common ground we share is how the hustle and bustle leaves us feeling overwhelmed and stressed. With so much going on in our lives, practicing mindfulness with our time takes discipline.
You see, practicing mindfulness in your everyday life is the secret sauce to boosting your focus, reducing your stress, and getting more of the right stuff done.
When planning your day, make sure you have blocks of time that aren’t jam-packed. Give your mind space to enjoy the simple moments you’ll miss when they’re gone. Trust me, this is coming from a mama whose kids are all grown now.
When you’re focused, you can stay on task and complete your work more efficiently. And when you’re not bogged down by stress and anxiety, you have more mental energy to give your work, which increases your productivity and efficiency.
As an added benefit, practicing mindfulness can help you gain clarity and make more confident choices if you struggle with decisions.
At First, I Questioned Mindfulness as a Productivity Tool
I’m guessing you’ve heard of practicing mindfulness. My introduction came shortly after my career change from a traveling sales rep to an online business owner. That shift had me step back and look at the effects of all the go-go-go. Because frankly, at that time, I was exhausted and mentally drained.
Probably like you, I was not Googling mindfulness. The problem I was trying to solve was how to be more efficient and productive. Interestingly enough, mindfulness kept coming up.
I don’t know about you, but at first I questioned it. Practice mindfulness in order to be productive? Mindfulness only brought to mind people sitting on meditation cushions for hours, eyes closed, chanting. I sure as heck did not have time for that productivity tip.
What I discovered instead is that it doesn’t take hours in a meditation position to reap the benefits. It’s like a mini vacation for your brain, so every second you’re awake isn’t focused on getting everything done.
So How Does Mindfulness Make You More Productive?
According to Dr. John Ullmen, mindfulness should be looked at as two words. Mind Fullness. A mind fully present and engaged.
Surely I’m not the only one who manages time and productivity better when I’m present and engaged in the activity.
For me, practicing mindfulness has meant actually listening with my full attention. Looking people in the eyes, engaging in the conversation, and letting them know what they have to say is important to me. Even with clients who are thousands of miles away, I choose to meet on Zoom so we can talk face-to-face.
What is mindfulness?
If you Google mindfulness, it comes up with several great websites. Mayo Clinic has a nice post on What is mindfulness?
Mayo Clinic defines mindfulness as the act of being intensely aware of what you’re sensing and feeling at every moment, without interpretation or judgment. They say that spending too much time planning, problem-solving, daydreaming, or thinking negative or random thoughts can be draining. Not sure about you, but I can relate to the draining piece.
How to Practice Mindfulness in Your Time Management
Let me ask: are you ready to practice mindfulness for better time management? Let’s make this simple.
- Set clear priorities and one goal. Know what you’re working toward this month or this quarter. It’s essential to know why you do what you do in your life and business.
- Create a schedule with open space. Build a schedule that works for you and stick to it as much as possible, with open blocks that let you move things around when someone you love needs a little extra of your time.
- Eliminate distractions. Turn off your phone or work in a quiet space to stay on task.
- Take regular breaks. Stepping away helps you recharge and stay focused. A quick walk, anyone?
- Add a mindfulness exercise to your day. Even a few minutes helps you stay present and centered.
Start with Mindful Exercises
I have a morning ritual I like to begin my day with. I talked about it in a previous post on daily gratitude.
If you’d like to see how mindfulness affects your time management, check out a few mindfulness exercises and find what works for you. Here’s a blog post from Alfred James on mindfulness exercises. You may as well try them. I’m guessing they’re a lot easier than 100 burpees.
Let’s Bring It Back to the Big Picture
At the end of the day, when you practice mindfulness, you’re not adding one more thing to your plate. You’re choosing to be fully present for the work God has given you and the people He has placed in your life. That’s stewardship of your time.
And if your days feel full because you’re still holding every detail of your business together, that’s often not a time management problem. It’s a systems problem. That’s exactly what I look at in a Business Ops Review.
Give these tips a try this week and see how they work for you.
