Time. Sometimes is just seems as if we don’t have enough of it, huh? I, for, one have found myself constantly stressing lately about how little time I have. With the release of  The Girl’s Guide to Loving Life, managing the book’s Facebook page and website, working full time, finding time to exercise, do household chores, and spend time with loved ones, etc… I have been a buzzing busy bee. While I’m thankful for the opportunities I have been given and am so grateful to be able to do what I am most passionate about on a daily basis, I sometimes have moments of weakness where I forget how blessed I truly am. A moment of such occurred last night.

Gah, I wish I had more hours in my day. I just don’t have enough time to do it all, I thought as I was rushing to complete unfinished tasks before bedtime. As I looked over my to-do list one last time before shutting down my computer, I felt anxious, stressed, and completely out-of-touch with myself… not to mention a gnarly headache was starting to form just above my left ear. Ugh, just what I need… a headache! I took a moment to just sit there and ponder why I felt so out-of-whack, so negative. As I took a quick moment to chill out before bed, the self-help junkie in me made an appearance and gently reminded me: Girl, you gotta get yourself together and slow down a bit. Stressing about how little time you have sure as heck isn’t going to give you more of it. You can’t do it all…and that’s perfectly okay. Breathe. Relax. Enjoy the moment.

Almost immediately, I felt better. I took a deep breath, got myself together, headed up stairs, and listened to my ‘Simply Being’ guided meditation before falling asleep peacefully. I woke up this morning feeling refreshed and rejuvenated, with no head-ache in sight, and decided to blog about something I’m pretty sure we can all relate to: the feeling of not having enough time.

As you get older and take on heavier responsibilities, it’s probably going to seem like you have way less time to do everything that you want to do. But, unfortunately, you cannot pause or slow down time. You also cannot get more hours in your day, more days in your week, or more months in your year to get it all done. The only thing you can do is reorganize your priorities, stop wasting as much time on the things that aren’t as important, become more productive, and find a way to make time for what truly matters.

Because you can’t physically do anything to get more time in life (a ‘pause’ button would be nice, though!), I have three suggestions for you today that can help you to change the way you think about your time, and the way you spend it:

1. Stop stressing about how little time you have; start appreciating and utilizing the time you do have. Whining about how little time you have definitely won’t give you more of it — your complaints will only waste more time. Stop stressing about how busy you are, how there’s not enough hours in the day, or how you never have enough time to do it all – you’re choosing to be worked up over something that’s out of your control. Shift the negative, limited thoughts you have, such as, “Ugh, I just don’t have enough time!” to positive, constructive thoughts such as,  ”I have plenty of time,” “I am productive,” and “I make the most out of my time.” Appreciating your time won’t give you more of it, but it will make the present moment more enjoyable — no matter how long your to-do list may be.

2. Stay organized; prioritize. A daily planner is great for this. I start by writing down my big rocks (the most important things I need to get done that day) and then jot down a few small rocks (tasks that should be, but don’t necessarily have to be, completed on that day). Furthermore, prioritize; try to not waste too much of your precious, limited time on petty, insignificant activities that don’t provide you with much fulfillment (so maybe watching Parks & Recreation for four hours straight wasn’t a good idea…hmm). Spend your time (especially your free time!) on activities that add to your happiness and well-being, that lead you in a positive direction, and that you’re most passionate about. While achieving your wildest dreams and living your best life, I urge you to re-organize your busy schedule and strive to make time for the things that matter most to you. Don’t wait until it’s too late.

3. Make the most of your time by setting an intention. You can’t control how much time you have, but you can choose how to spend it. One way that helps me to make the most out of my time in any given day is to set an intention; to set goals for my day in which I hope to achieve; small achievements that will make my day more worthwhile. I try to stay focused on my goal(s) for that day (sometimes it’s as simple as remembering to smile every time I check off an item on my to-do list, or to be extra kind to everyone I meet, or to complete that task I’ve been avoiding) and make an effort to check-in with myself throughout my day. If my goal is stressing me out, I’ll change it. If my goal isn’t enough, I’ll change it. Having at least one goal (even if small) each day is a great way to make the most of your time and to give a greater sense of meaning, purpose, and fulfillment to each and every day.

You may not be able to control how much time you have in your days, your months, or the length of time you have here on Earth, but you can choose how to spend it, or at least how to make the best of it. Time is the most precious gift of all — without it you wouldn’t be here right now; cherish it and choose to make the most of it. With everything in life, it all comes down which attitude you choose. Choose wisely.

Happy spending my time wisely,

Jordan Brown

Check out my recently published self-help book aimed for girls 13+ on Amazon.com! Enjoy