How often do you feel that your day is jammed packed? Each minute is filled with an activity. At the end of the day your “to-do” list still has at least 10 items on it. You fall into bed thinking – tomorrow will be better – it HAS to be!
Many of my clients come to me trying to figure out how fit more “stuff” into their schedule. They are busy, busy, busy all day long – yet still aren’t able to work on their “high priority” tasks. Plus, they are feeling more and more and more anxious, stressed and uncomfortable as the week goes on.
The solution – use 168.
- Make a list of every area you want to spend time on each week.
- Work
- Travel
- Eating
- Physical Activity
- Relaxation
- Family
- Big Goals / Projects
- Sleeping
- Volunteer
- Spiritual
- More
- More
- More
- More
- More
- Now assign the number of hours you want to devote to each area each week.
- Add up these estimates
- Subtract this number from 168 (the number of hours in a week).
What did you find? Many of my clients find that their number is MUCH higher than 168 – so once they subtract, they have a negative number! No wonder they “can’t get everything done”. Until we master the time space continuum (Ok – I’m a Big Bang Theory junkie – and I’m not sure I used that correctly!!!) we must confine our activities to 168 hours each week.
If your number is above 168, you have a number of options (delegating, deleting, splitting categories up for every-other week attention . . .) to make the numbers “work”. Regardless of the process you use, you MUST go back to each category and adjust the number of hours you want to devote to the category until you can equal 168.
Start today by creating a realistic view of your week! I promise the “I’m so busy, uneasy, anxious” feeling with start to disappear.
NOTE: Since I first wrote this post, a motivated and brilliant entrepreneur blogged about his journey on the 168 path. For more information on how 168 helped this particular professional excel on his time management, check out Gabe Arnold’s post.
It’ your turn! Is your number over or under 168? What do you do when you start to feel your days become “jam packed”?
Looking for a resource?
When you need to achieve long lasting changes you need a fresh perspective and an experienced coach.
I’ve created the Magic 168 Action Guide to help walk you through this process. It’s my gift to you – because this “I’m so busy feeling” is NO FUN! This guide gives you a framework for the steps I outlined above so you can easily take action toward successfully planning your week. You can do this!
What a great idea. I’m going to get a pen, paper and a calculator and work this out!
Nick – I’m curious, what did you find when you calculated?
Lisa
Aha, this is such a good idea. I’m going to have to make a list for myself now and calculate it all!
Thrilled Sophie! Any revelations with your calculations?
lisa
Oh no I was a Mathematician so now you know I will be working with this eve if it is just for the fun of it.
Sandra
As a former high school math teacher, I can certainly understand the pull of numbers!!! When you worked through the “magic of 168” what did you find?
lisa
This is great info Lisa! I am going to do it now as I am always running in the negative each week which ends up for stress and anxiety at the start of the next. It is so important to take a realistic look at what we can do. I love the call to action at the end of your post, well done!
Hi Lisa
Thanks for the comment. I’m curious, it’s been a few days, what did you find out when you worked with 168?
lisa
I think I’ve been working back to front so I need to start again with the list and assign some time thanks for the direction Lisa
Lorelle –
I’m curious – how did the change in direction work?
Lisa
This is awesome Lisa, today I planned my day hour by hour and realised there is no way i can even begin to do what i think I can do . I already saw subtraction was needed.
great to meet you and your blog
Thanks for the comment, Suzie. I’m curious – when you subtracted, did you move the activity to another day, or delete from your list entirely?
Lisa
This is great Lisa! I will definitely work on this homework :) and see how effective my time management works.
Awesome, Remy! I’m curious, what did you find?
Hi Lisa
I am at 155 and I have a lot more on my list. I really need to sit down and evaluate my time. Thanks for this easy eye opener exercise.
You are most welcome! One of the tips I use to pare down the list is to ask “is this activity in line with my values / goals / dreams / vision?” If not – the task is delegated or deleted!! Best of luck!
lisa
I need to do this, so awesome! I was so curious to see what this magic 168 number is about. Now I know! Thanks for sharing this great tip, Lisa!
Thanks for stopping by, Delia. Let me know what your number is!
Lisa
Thanks Lisa I would like to try!!
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