Do you ever feel like you’re just going through the motions? Like you’re constantly busy, but not truly present? The laundry piles up, emails flood your inbox, and you’re always rushing to the next thing. But at the end of the day, do you feel a deep sense of satisfaction? Or do you just feel… drained?

If you’re nodding your head, you’re definitely not alone. In today’s always-on culture, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and lose sight of what truly matters. We get it. We’ve been there. At AXIOS Coaching, we often hear from people who feel like time is slipping away, and they’re desperate to take back control.

But here’s the good news: You can reclaim your time. It’s not about finding more hours in the day; it’s about shifting your focus and energy. It’s about making conscious choices that align with your values and lead you towards a more purposeful life.

We’re passionate about guiding people toward transformation and fulfillment. We act as a guide, walking alongside you as you discover the path to a “wild, meaningful life.” And it starts with how you use your time.   

Here’s a simple, actionable process to help you get started:

1. Audit Your Time: Know Where It Goes

You can’t change what you don’t understand. It sounds obvious, but many of us have no idea where our time actually goes. We flit from task to task, distraction to distraction, without ever really stopping to analyze how we’re spending this precious resource.

Think of it like this: Imagine you’re trying to get your finances in order. The first thing you’d do is track your spending, right? Time is no different.

• Practical Tool: The Time Log To get a clear picture of your time habits, try creating a time log. For one week, track every single activity you engage in. Yes, every single one! From the moment you wake up to the moment you go to bed. Be honest and specific. Note down what you’re doing and how long you’re doing it. “Checking emails” might become “Checking emails (and getting sucked into social media) for 45 minutes.”
• You can use a simple notebook, a spreadsheet, or a handy app on your phone. Find a method that works for you and commit to tracking your time for a full week. It might feel tedious at first, but trust us, the insights you’ll gain will be invaluable. You might discover you’re spending hours scrolling social media, or that meetings are taking up a huge chunk of your day without much output.
• Start Today: Don’t wait! The sooner you start your time log, the sooner you can start making changes.
• Reflection: After one week, take a good, hard look at your time log. What patterns do you notice? Are you surprised by anything you see? What are your biggest time-wasting activities? Identifying these “time sucks” is the first step to taking back control.

2. Align with Your Values: Focus on What Matters

Time is a precious resource. We only have so much of it. That’s why it’s so important to use it wisely, aligning our activities with our core values and goals.

Think about it: What’s truly important to you? What do you want to achieve in your life? What brings you joy and fulfillment?

If you’re spending your time on things that don’t align with these values, you’re going to feel a sense of disconnect and dissatisfaction. It’s like trying to fill a bucket with a hole in the bottom – you’re putting in the effort, but you’re not getting the results you desire.

• Practical Tool: Values and Goals Clarification To get clear on what truly matters, take some time for reflection.
  • Identify your core values: What principles guide your life? Is it family, faith, creativity, adventure, service? There’s no right or wrong answer, but identifying these values is crucial.
• • Define your goals: What do you want to achieve in different areas of your life – your career, your relationships, your personal growth? What does a “wild, meaningful life” look like to you? 
• Take Action: Set aside some time this week – even just 15-30 minutes – to work on this exercise. It’s an investment that will pay off in clarity and direction.
• Reflection: Now, compare your list of values and goals with your time log from Step 1. Are your current activities reflecting what truly matters to you? Are you spending time on things that don’t align with your values? Where are the mismatches?

3. Gain Perspective: The Power of Visualization

Sometimes, we get so caught up in the day-to-day grind that we lose sight of the bigger picture. We need a way to zoom out and gain some perspective.

That’s where the Dickens Exercise comes in. Inspired by the author Charles Dickens, this powerful visualization technique can help you gain clarity on the long-term consequences of your time management choices.

• Practical Tool: Future Self Visualization Here’s how it works:
  • Close your eyes and imagine your life five years from now.
  • Visualize two different scenarios:
    • Scenario 1: You continue to spend your time and energy as you currently do. You keep hitting “snooze” on your dreams, and your days continue to be filled with things that don’t bring you joy.
    • Scenario 2: You organize your life around what matters most to you. You are living a life of purpose, spending your time on things that set your soul on fire.
  For each scenario, write down the potential outcomes for your well-being, your relationships, your career, your personal growth, and your overall fulfillment. Really let yourself feel the emotions associated with each path.
• Make Time:This exercise requires focus, so find a quiet space where you won’t be interrupted. Set aside 10-15 minutes to fully immerse yourself in the visualization.
• Reflection:How did each scenario make you feel? Did one scenario evoke a stronger emotional response? What insights did you gain about your current path and the importance of aligning your time with your priorities?

4. Take Action: Build Your Plan

Okay, you’ve done the work. You’ve audited your time, clarified your values, and gained some perspective. Now it’s time to put those insights into action.

Clarity without action is just a dream. To truly reclaim your time, you need to translate your newfound understanding into concrete steps.

• Practical Tool: Time Liberation Action PlanThink of this as your roadmap to a more purposeful life.
  1. Set SMART Goals: Take those big dreams from your values exercise and break them down into Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound goals. Instead of “I want to be healthier,” try “I will walk for 30 minutes, 3 times a week, before work.”
  2. Break It Down: Divide your goals into smaller, manageable tasks. What’s the very next action you need to take? What’s the step after that? Assign deadlines to each task and prioritize them based on urgency and importance.
  3. Schedule Strategically: This is where the magic happens. Block out time in your calendar for those important tasks. Treat these time blocks like sacred appointments that you can’t miss.
  4. Eliminate Distractions: Identify those time-sucking activities from your time log and minimize or eliminate them. Turn off social media notifications, create dedicated “focus zones,” and learn to say no to commitments that don’t align with your priorities.
  5. Monitor and Adjust: Life happens, and your plans may need to shift. Regularly review your progress, track your wins, and make adjustments to your action plan as needed. Stay flexible, be kind to yourself, and celebrate every step forward.
• Start Today:Don’t wait for Monday! Choose one small task from your action plan – something you can do in the next hour – and schedule it in your calendar.
• Reflection:What obstacles did you encounter while implementing your action plan? Were there any unexpected challenges? How can you adjust your plan or strategies to overcome them and stay on track?

Your Journey to Time Liberation

Reclaiming your time is not a one-time fix; it’s an ongoing journey. There will be good days and challenging days. Be patient with yourself, celebrate your progress (no matter how small), and remember that you’re not alone.

At AXIOS Coaching, we’re here to support you every step of the way. We want to empower you to unlock your full potential, live a life that truly matters, and experience the freedom that comes with intentional living.

Are you ready to begin?