Time is the one resource we never get back, yet it’s the first thing that slips away to work, chores, and endless distractions or to-do lists. If you’re anything like me, you want more of your hours to go toward experiences that actually matter—adventures with family, personal challenges, and memories you’ll still talk about years from now. This post is about how time management becomes the bridge between “I wish I could do that” and actually putting those adventures on the calendar.
Time management is a super important topic that deserves real attention. In life, time is the most valuable asset we have. If there is a common theme across the books on growth and self-improvement that I’ve read, it’s this: true wealth is having control over your time. Today there are so many things vying for our attention—family, hobbies, work, health—the list goes on.
For me, the first step is identifying what we actually want to do with our lives. Having a clear goal or purpose makes it easier to prioritize what matters. The hardest part is realizing how much time goes into things that don’t move us closer to where we want to be. That’s why it’s so important to know where we’re headed, so we can align how we spend our time and make it truly valuable.
Saying “no” can be a sensitive subject, but there is an art to it and a lot of value in learning it. When we say no to things, we create space to fill our days with what matters most and bring ourselves closer to the vision we have for our lives. Now that doesn’t mean everything is a no, but if it isn’t a HELL YEA, then it’s a no.
Create A Daily Routine
A routine is a huge part of time management for me. A routine is a great series of habits to build and once built it is like a hack. I keep a rough plan in mind for my days. Things change, of course, but this is what I try to keep consistent:
- 06:20 – Make sure my oldest is up and ready for school.
- 06:20 – 07:20 – Plan the current day
- 07:20–08:10 – Next set of kids wake up and we leave for school.
- 08:20–16:30 – Work (sometimes a bit earlier or later).
- 16:30 – 18:00ish – Decompress with a run or workout to break up the stress of the day.
- 18:00–20:00 – Dinner.
- 20:00–21:30 – Homework and bedtime routines.
- 21:30–23:00 – Journaling, meditation, writing, or reading.
Techniques for Time Management
One method that really helps me is journaling. I loosely plan my days on paper and look for places to fit things in. I can see where something needs to move because another task is more important right now. Every day there is going to be a new priority or a place that our attention is needed. Life is going to happen, the important part is how do we respond and adapt to that.
Journaling also gives me a chance to review the day and reflect. Am I leaning too far in one direction? Do I need to rebalance? That self‑reflection, built into daily planning, has been a game changer. This one I cannot stress how valuable has been to my overall increase in growth – from time management, to mental/thought clarity, to habit tracking, journaling is number 1.
I’ve also started using what I call the “Big A## Calendar” in 2026. I came across this idea and was immediately intrigued. I’m learning more and more how valuable planning is, and the only way to get better at planning is to actually plan. A big, visual calendar makes it easier to see the whole year and map out work, family events, and adventures. The idea also called Kevin’s rule – putting something you normally wouldn’t do into your calendar. This keeps things interesting and adds so much more to the year!
Tips to Improve Time Management
When it comes to family, the most important thing is to show up and truly be there. Keeping open lines of communication and using the time you have together to create adventures and memories goes a long way. Actually listening and being present is always something I think anyone can improve, but it is something we need to work on and be conscious of. By doing that in turn we will improve the relationships by showing them we care and value what they are saying.
With work, clear boundaries are essential. Know when to shut down, disconnect, and say no. Saying no more often is incredibly helpful in protecting your time and energy. Work is a large chunk of my time. I’ve been in my field for almost 20 years and it’s a high priority in my life. Sometimes it includes travel or late nights on projects. The key, though, is balance. We need to be able to go hard when it’s time—but not let work become all‑consuming. Over time, that leads to burnout and mental strain.
I’ve fallen into that trap many times—more than I’d like to admit—but I think I’ve finally learned the lesson. We have to be able to shut down the stress of work and not let it bleed into every other part of life, and the same goes the other way around. Whatever we are doing, we should be present in that moment. Good time management lets us make room for our priorities: building and maintaining family relationships, tackling projects, and making sure we have time for self‑care.
Finally, find something physically hard to do and keep at it. Working toward a personal goal—whether it’s running, lifting, hiking, or another challenge—pushes us to grow. Improving ourselves in this way raises the overall quality of our lives, and that directly shapes how we experience and value our time. Having this physical task improves so much mentally, the little wins of running a mile or lifting a weight compounds over time!
Before you click away, grab a notebook or notes app and try this:
- Write down your “typical day.”
- Circle one block of time you can reclaim this week for something that matters to you—family, an adventure, or a personal goal. Then, put that block in your calendar like any other commitment. Treat it as non‑negotiable and see how it feels.
Time management isn’t about squeezing productivity into every minute; it’s about making sure your minutes line up with the life you actually want to live. There will always be busy seasons, emergencies, and days that don’t go to plan. But with a simple routine, a few boundaries, and a clear sense of what matters, you can start reclaiming your time—one day, one decision and one adventure at a time.
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