Give up the futile quest to make time for everything that matters. Instead, consciously choose to make time for some things that matter and accept that other things will inevitably be neglected.
Reframe time management not as a quest for more productivity, but as a conscious decision about what tasks, relationships, or opportunities you will intentionally not do, due to finite limits.
Acknowledge that you are a finite creature in a world of infinite inputs and opportunities. This acceptance helps you make tough choices and prioritize, rather than striving for an impossible limitless existence.
Let go of the constant, anxious attempt to bring the world under your control. By dropping this desire, you can truly plunge into life and do things that count and matter to you, gaining real agency.
If you know you won’t get everything done, make time today for something you truly care about, instead of postponing it until other tasks are completed. This aligns your actions with your values in the present.
Be willing to “waste” time by engaging in non-instrumental activities, like staring at birds, which are not directly aimed at future goals. These moments can be deeply pleasurable, meaningful, and even lead to unexpected insights.
Instead of constantly trying to “make the best use” of time as if it’s a resource to control, strive to be present in the moment of your life. Over-analyzing time use alienates you from experiencing life itself.
Avoid spending all your waking hours constantly analyzing whether you are using your time well, as this pulls you out of the experience of living and prevents you from truly being in your life.
Stop trying to make the most of every experience or achieve a specific outcome to fully relax into it. This approach can lead to a fuller experience and, paradoxically, even help you accomplish things.
Start projects even if they are not perfect, understanding that imperfection and limits are inherent to bringing anything into reality. Avoid the trap of never starting to maintain a pristine, but unreal, mental image.
Engage in deadline-driven work or simply take action even with “bad ideas,” as this practical approach can help overcome perfectionism by forcing you to produce and learn that outcomes are often unpredictable.
Understand that perfection is not achievable in reality, and embracing this fact is central to navigating life’s challenges and avoiding frustration.
Recognize that relationships, especially with children, are constantly evolving and cannot be perfected. Embrace constant improvisation and “winging it” rather than striving for an impossible ideal.
It’s acceptable to plan and steer your day in a desired direction, but avoid the illusion that you are controlling the future from the present moment, as this is a source of anxiety.
Recognize that you don’t truly “have” time in the future; you only expect it. Understand that you cannot control the future, which helps reduce anxiety caused by trying to dictate what will happen.
Avoid endlessly berating yourself for not being able to evade the inherent limits of being human. Instead, act from a place of being in touch with reality, accepting your constraints.