Make Each and Every Hour in Your Week Count

If you’re always wishing for more free time each week, join the club. According to a recent poll, most of us say we don’t have enough time to do all the things we love, because we’re too busy juggling work, family, school, and everything else on our “to do” list. Yet, most of us probably also know someone like Theresa Daytner. She’s a busy mother of six who somehow finds time each week to run her own business, coach soccer, go for hikes, read to her kids, work-out with a trainer, and watch reruns of her favorite TV show. Oh yeah, and she also gets at least seven hours of sleep each night!

What does Daytner have that the rest of us don’t? Well, that’s the point of a new book by Laura Vanderkam, called 168 Hours. The number 168 refers to the total hours in a week. Vanderkam says there’s no difference between people like Daytner and people who complain about not having enough free time, because, like it or not, we all have the exact same 168 hours to live each week! She adds that what matters is how we choose to spend those 168 hours. So, how can you make them all count?

• First: Understand that there’s only one person in charge of your time: YOU. Vanderkam says it’s silly to blame your job for hogging up all your free time. After all, didn’t YOU choose to take that job in the first place? If you approach life knowing that everything you do is your choice, then you’ll find ways to get the most important stuff done first.
• Also: Figure out what you do best. In Daytner’s case, she says she’s at her best when she’s nurturing one of three things: Her family, her business, or herself. So, she’ll only choose to do things that benefit one of those three things. Plus, when you focus on doing things that bring you the most satisfaction, you’ll never feel like you’re wasting time.

Vanderkam says the point of her book is simply to remind you that you can find time to build a career, spend more time with your family, and do all the things you love. It all boils down to how you choose to spend every minute of every hour. Want to go further? The book again is 168 Hours by Laura Vanderkam.