Unlocking Time: The Transformative Power of Getting Organized
From a place of feeling overwhelmed, stuck, and battling depression, I discovered a transformative journey to unlock more time.
Spoiler alert: it wasn’t about magically adding extra hours to my day, but finding clarity, transmuting limiting beliefs, and living in flow through the simple art of getting organized.
Walk with me. Talk to me — let’s unravel the secrets to feeling like time is on your side.
Photo by Clemens van Lay on Unsplash
I felt depressed.
I felt angry.
I felt bitter
I felt stuck.
I spent months in my head, going over all the things that were wrong in my life. Fixating how unfulfilled I was with the work I was doing. Annoyed with myself for tip-toeing around people. Judging myself for overextending my finances to “help” others. Processing my dad’s passing. And processing the news I got about my biological father.
My life felt chaotic. I felt like I couldn’t catch a break.
I felt exhausted. And at some point, I froze.
I had no idea how to move forward.
I just knew that my life was feeling very dark, and I didn’t know how I got there.
There was so much going on in my head… and a loud story kept repeating itself…
I HAVE NO TIME TO DO WHAT I WANT.
And I found myself constantly repeating this. And yet something about it did not feel true.
I was starting to drown in the narratives I had created. Especially feeling as if I didn’t have enough time to do what I enjoy. And bothered by the idea that I was spending a lot of time doing what didn’t fulfill me.
To the Journal I go…
I decided to head to my journal, so I could get out of my head and see if I could figure out if what I was perceiving was true.
I started with this:
When did things seem to change? When did I get to this dark space? When was the last time I felt joy? When was the last time I felt free? When was the last time I felt a familiar energy in me?
I thought back to the last time I was happy; the last time I remembered feeling in flow. What was I doing? What was my life like?
I got clear on what my life looked like; and what I had been doing before life started life’n.
I understand how I got swept up into this state of depression. But I decided I was done whining and ready to do something about it!
I decided to make a list of what I wanted to be doing.
What I wanted my life to look and feel like.
The type of energies I wanted around me.
I questioned the narratives I had created.
I called myself out on my BS.
I had time! I was poorly managing it!
In this process… I was intuitively led to write out some goals. Develop steps to take to reach those goals, and then I decided my next step for each of my goals/plans.
I created deadlines and got organized.
I made plans, and I held myself accountable for following through.
And I did…
I followed through with it for a couple of weeks, and by the end of the 2nd week, I felt I had cracked the code to TIME!
Through this experience, I learned that getting organized will make you feel like you have a lot more time available to you.
AND LET’S THINK ABOUT IT — Nothing had to change externally for my experience to change… I shifted my mindset and that impacted the choices I made.
MY ENERGY WAS SPREAD THIN
Before I got organized, everything was in my head and it felt overwhelming. I saw problems around me because, within myself, that’s how I felt. It was a never-ending trail of loose ends… and eventually, I started to feel like I was drowning in it all.
When I was just thinking about all I was doing or wasn’t doing, it was feeding stress and overwhelmed me. And eventually, it led me to a depressive state.
And once I was there, I was in the void of it all. I wasn’t who I was, and had not integrated with who I was becoming. I had no access to clarity.
I felt stressed, low on energy, and resentful. I was making poor use of my time, missing opportunities to change my circumstances, not as productive, overwhelmed, and financially strained. My relationships were shifting, and I felt I had to let some of them lose. Not to mention, I lacked direction.
My life felt a bit chaotic! My mind certainly was.
GETTING ORGANIZED CHANGED THAT
Once I shifted my mindset to connecting with solutions and implemented my plan… I had access to an abundance of energy; this altered the way I related to time.
I believe this was possible because I wasn’t being aimless.
I wasn’t spending so much time in my head thinking about what was wrong, or what I had to fix.
My mind was clear. I wasn’t exerting all of my energy into managing my mind. Everything that was concerning me or I felt responsible for, I had awareness of. It was no longer just a bunch of ideas floating in my head.
I had put it on paper.
Put it in my face, and made the choice to come to peace with it, or change it.
I created a plan for the changes I desired. And when I implemented the plan, the results were that my life felt in flow.
I felt like I had more time and I think it’s because by managing my time, I was managing my energy.
Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash
Let’s explore some of the shifts I noticed as a result of this newfound clarity and intentional organization in my life:
Organizing tasks allowed me to prioritize effectively. When I knew what was due and when, I scheduled things to reflect that. I kept in mind deadlines, my energy levels, and personal commitments.
When I scheduled a task, I did it considering how I knew myself to be. What task needed to be completed before others? And if the deadline was close, I was mindful not to schedule other things around it that could be distracting to me.
Basically, I did not want to be on one task worrying about the next one. For instance, when I have cleaning and work to be done, I learned to prioritize cleaning first, if not, I’d be distracted cleaning things here and there, resulting in the task taking longer, or eventually being put off for later.
I think about how much energy we exert juggling tasks or worrying about what comes next. Some of us are tired not from the physical work we do, but the mental work. I realized the amount of energy saved by not engaging in constant mental strain.
When my mind is not trying to keep up with everything and see problems, it’s clear and light, and I am in flow.
And when I am in the flow, that’s less dense energy I am exerting, resulting in me having the energy to invest elsewhere without feeling burnt out. And because I am getting more done, I often feel like I have a longer day and — more time to get things done.
Because I broke up my large tasks into smaller, manageable steps, they felt approachable and less daunting. There is something about seeing the details that brings me a sense of peace and reduces the chances of me feeling overwhelmed.
And when I am not overwhelmed and worried, there is space for ease and flow.
I am not fighting against anything.
Trying to get a hold of anything.
Or attempting to control things. And this allows for ease and peace.
Again, not having to constantly exert forceful, dense energy, helps support us in staying energized and maintaining a peaceful state.
Having a plan also helped me reduce procrastination, which again, made me feel like I was getting more things accomplished. And not just anything, but the tasks and targets that supported me in reaching my goals.
I knew what needed to be done, and I knew why. I developed a practice of taking action even on days when motivation was lacking.
Through this experience, I accepted that motivation is not constant, but the ‘WHY’ behind my goals remains unwavering. So I focused on the why, and even when I did not want to do the thing, I did! My promise was more important than my fleeting mood.
And something I noticed about doing the task even when you don’t initially want to… sometimes completing that task will motivate you.
I’d be so pumped up from being proud of myself, for getting things done, that I would have the energy to do more.
Throughout this experience, it also became clear to me that having plans helped me feel secure and safe. I find comfort in knowing where I’m headed, even if it’s just the first step. The organization gave me that; it’s been like a calming force for my nervous system.
Planning and organizing also helped me minimize decision fatigue. Most of the time my tasks were outlined so I knew what I would be doing next. There were fewer things I needed to decide at the any moment.
Plus, knowing my goals and what I was focused on helped make it easier to know what to give my time and energy to. I could decide if an invitation aligned with my focus.
If an opportunity didn’t resonate with my current objectives, saying ‘no’ upfront became a simple choice — rather say no now, then cancel later.
A therapist recommended time blocking, and I did a version of that.
Again, this is a great tool because it lessens the amount of decisions you have to make, or things you have to think about, and can support you in maintaining a state of flow.
Even now, I have a pretty structured schedule. I have a 6 am start time to my day, and my schedule is pretty much filled from there, with the first couple of hours reserved for me!
This approach allows me to be aware of my commitments, allocate time effectively for each task, and visualize available spaces in my schedule. If the schedule ever feels taxing, I revisit it, adjusting it to align with my current needs.
In this way, time blocking can also help us gather data on whether our current schedule is supporting us, and ways we can manage our time and energy differently to support our well-being. If we’re mindful, this approach can offer insights into managing time and energy to better align with our evolving selves.
I think the biggest thing about getting organized was that I now had a streamlined process. Not only was my process streamlined, but I also enjoyed creating it!
They say that organizing workflows and processes leads to increased efficiency. I can confidently say that I have felt like it’s helped me reallocate some of the time and my attention, and reduce unnecessary steps.
Photo by Lucas Lenzi on Unsplash
My whole life was organized after this and that helped me to improve my focus.
I knew what my goals were.
I knew why I had made those goals. And I had an emotional attachment to my goals too, because they were born after emerging out of a dark season. And Inspired by the transformed version of me.
Being clear on what I desired, and knowing what steps to take, helped me to concentrate on the tasks that were in front of me, completing them more quickly and efficiently.
And on top of that…
I realized that I HAVE TIME!
Here’s the thing, since getting to this level of organization last year, I’ve utilized my process multiple times, fine-tuning my schedule, perspective of time, and overall structure.
Though I believe my time and energy management is a continued work in progress, there are noticeable improvements in my time management skills, and I LOVE IT.
Planning, prioritizing, and implementing these plans create a sense of having more time at my disposal.
I am convinced that the feeling of having more time is due to the state of flow that being organized can create in your life. When there is a plan. And you take action on that plan… It’s like the world opens up for you. It feels easy. There is this effortless flow.
It’s quite interesting.
And not to mention…
Even when the unexpected occurs, I have so much clarity, that the unexpected has not been resulting in feeling overwhelmed. I have the capacity to handle what comes my way.
Having an organized life creates a different experience.
So, if you find yourself saying you don’t have enough time, consider writing out how you’re currently spending your time… and be honest. Do you binge-watch TV shows? Are you having things playing in the background while you do a task? And does that result in tasks taking longer than planned?
Make note of your current habits with your time. You can figure out your habits by thinking about how you’ve been spending your days.
And if you are like I was, in a state of depression — pay attention to what you’re saying to yourself.
What is the narrative playing? What do you feel like you’re missing? What is that desire rooted in?
You may be saying you dislike your job, but is the issue that you’d dislike any job?
Like, question yourself. Question your needs. See if there is a way to find time to do more of what you enjoy. More of what speaks to your heart, even while juggling a job you have to show up for at specific times.
You may need to do some trial and error, but decide that you’ll enjoy the experience.
Make the plan, utilize it, reflect, and see if it works for you… and make any necessary adjustments.
You may need to do that several times; sometimes that’s part of the process… don’t give up on it!
Additionally, if you are experiencing a state of dense energy, and are not sure how to journey through it — last year I shared my experience of awakening during my depressive state. I shared how I interrupted depression and got back in flow; you can check that out here.
I’m about to head out; here are my almost final thoughts
I spent a good amount of time in the trap of complaining about not having enough time. I would see posts where people mention that we don’t lack time, we lack proper management of our time, and that initially escaped my understanding.
I noticed the times I made plans but struggled with execution. I noticed how I gave myself an out and lacked follow-through.
Truthfully, I did not know how to manage my time. I was still figuring it out… and even now it’s an ongoing journey. But, with the changes I have made around organizing, and the systems I have implemented, I can understand why I feel like I have access to so much time!
Getting organized and establishing processes helped me create a way for flow and ease that breaks through dense energy generated by overthinking, distractions, having everything in my head, and not knowing where to start. It provided me with a way to transmute the dense energy into inspiration, vision, and actionable plans.
It helped me unlock time!
What about you? What’s your experiene with getting organized? What changes can you implement today to create more flow and ease in your life? (If you need ideas, I shared a list of strategies below)
Please share your insights and experiences in the comments, I’d love to hear from you.
Let’s inspire each other to unlock the full potential of our time and energy.
And if you’d like me to share my approach with the 12-week year or share my morning routine, let me know in the comments, I’d love to elaborate further.
LOVE YOUUUUU!!!
Photo by Yoav Hornung on Unsplash
You know I wasn’t going to leave you hanging.
Getting organized involves adopting various strategies and habits. I wanted to propose some ideas in case you’re looking to get organized or make adjustments to some of your current processes and systems.
Getting organized is a personal journey, and finding a combination of these strategies that suits your preferences and lifestyle is key.
1. Brain Dump: I will always encourage a brain dump! WRITE IT ALL OUT. I don’t care if it’s a feeling or emotion. Right it down. Release all the things you’re holding on to and get it in front of you. When we can see things in front of it… it often stops feeling like a pound of bricks on top of us. We can see with clarity what we want and consider what it might require. With brain dumps comes clarity, and an opportunity to put everything in its rightful place… which isn’t to be swirling in your head.
Come to peace with it or plan a change.
2. Create a To-Do List: List tasks and prioritize them. Break down larger tasks into smaller, more manageable steps.
3. Use a Planner or Calendar: I don’t know about you but I have tons of books/journals. I do use my electronic calendar, but my physical task book and calendars are always by my side. Planners and calendars help us keep track of appointments, deadlines, and important dates. When you know what you are already committed to, you can decide and use discretion on your future ‘yes.’
4. Time Blocking: Allocate specific blocks of time for different tasks. This helps maintain focus and prevents feeling overwhelmed.
5. Declutter Your Space: AHHHHH! There are times I can not focus because my space is out of order. A tidy workspace promotes clarity and reduces distractions. Regularly declutter your physical and digital spaces. **Unsubscribe from those newsletters that no longer align**
6. Set Goals: Have a vision of your short-term and long-term goals. This will help provide direction and help you allocate time and resources effectively. Plus think about it, when you know your goals, you can say no, confidently, to anything that doesn’t walk you towards that.
7. Prioritize Tasks: Identify high-priority tasks and tackle them first. Or when you have the most energy. There are certainly things I prefer to do while the sun is out. Since this is the case, I plan those tasks on days when my schedule has open space during the daytime hours. This ensures that crucial activities are done under the best conditions for myself, and are done promptly.
8. Establish Routines: Create daily or weekly routines to streamline activities. Consistent routines simplify decision-making and promote efficiency. For me, I have a morning and night routine for my life. My morning routine is the same every day, however sometimes on Sunday, I may skip the workout portion. However, I will decide ahead of time if I don’t plan to exercise.
9. Digital Organization: Clean up your desktop. LOL. Or is that just me? Organize digital files into folders and use naming conventions for easy retrieval. You can also get external drives for specific types of files or purposes and keep them organized that way. Also, clean up your email inbox regularly.
10. Delegate Tasks: If possible, delegate tasks to others. If you have a community around you, please ask for help. This lightens your workload and allows you to focus on high-priority items and utilize your energy efficiently.
11. Use Productivity Tools: Explore productivity tools and apps that help with task management, time tracking, and collaboration. I currently use Trello and I enjoy it! This is my second time trying it, and this time it’s a vibe! I also use Notion to keep track of my 12-week-year stuff, but that’s not going as well.
12. Limit Multitasking: I do not vibe with multi-tasking. I am not efficient when I multitask… so I try to limit it. I recommend a practice of focusing on one task at a time. Multitasking can reduce efficiency and increase the likelihood of errors.
13. Automate Repetitive Tasks: Identify tasks that can be automated. Automation frees up time for more critical and creative work.
14. Establish a Filing System: Organize documents and paperwork with a clear filing system. This minimizes time spent searching for important information. As I mentioned above, highly recommend external drive filing with purpose!
15. Reflect and Adjust: Regularly assess your organization’s strategies. Adjust them based on what works best for you and your evolving needs.
I am currently implementing The 12 Week Year System to help me organize. I resonate with a lot of what the system supports. Though I started a more streamlined organizing process early last year, I was still lacking some things.
Reading The 12 Week Year by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington, I realized I was the DRAMA! I realized some habits I had that did not support what I was wanting to create. And it highlights the importance of checking in on whether your tactics are helping you to succeed in your plan.
16. Learn to Say No: Be selective with commitments. Saying no to non-essential tasks or activities helps maintain focus on priorities.
17. Mindful Breaks: Schedule breaks during the day to recharge. Short breaks can enhance productivity and prevent burnout. I’ve become keen on taking mid-day naps.
18. Batch Similar Tasks: Group similar tasks together. This minimizes context switching and maximizes efficiency. Also– try to take a break in between switching tasks, don’t leave your energy open to what was. Have a way to cue your body and brain that y’all are moving to a different next thing.
19. Establish a Morning Routine: Set the tone for your day! I like to start my day off slow… taking my time. A well-structured morning routine can set a positive tone for the day and improve overall organization.