By Lori Milner: author, entrepreneur, thought leader and founder of Beyond the Dress

I’m sure we’ve all had conversations about how quickly the year is going. When we are heading towards the end of the year, we start getting ready to put the old behind us and start preparing for the new. It’s a time of shifting away from old and unhealthy patterns and creating space for newer, healthier practices.

Use this time to start embracing these time boosting habits as part of your new life, because when you intend to be successful, you need to start by protecting the time it takes for you to recharge and reward yourself.

Be in the moment

Believe that what you’re doing right now is what you need to be doing and that it’s ok not to be doing what you’re not doing. This will facilitate the condition of being present. Being in the now and really focusing on what you’re doing or who you’re with is always the optimal state from which to operate.

Prioritise

The work/life balance ideal is a myth. The question of balance is really a question of priority, and when you change your language from balancing to prioritising, you’ll see your choices more clearly. Extraordinary results demand that you set a priority and act on it. When you act on that priority, you’ll automatically go out of balance, giving more time to one thing over another. The challenge then doesn’t become one of not going out of balance, for in fact you must. The challenge becomes how long you stay focused on your chosen priority.

Evaluate your relationships

If you have a friendship or an intimate relationship that is so unhealthy or one-sided that it drains you of time and emotional energy, while returning little or nothing of value to you, consider ending that relationship. You’ll free up valuable time and energy to invest in healthier, more fulfilling bonds. Surround yourself with people who build you up and encourage you rather than damage your confidence.

Build energy

By eating right and engaging in a long-term programme to improve your physical fitness, you can increase your stamina to get you through those particularly demanding days. These deeper reserves of energy can help you attack goals with greater vitality and speed, freeing up time for additional important activities.

Understand your body clock

We all have an internal rhythm that influences our cycles of sleep and activity within a 24-hour period. Listen to that internal clock and get into the habit of scheduling your day according to your body’s natural rhythms. Schedule activities that require creativity and energy during the time of day when you tend to be most alert and energetic. Schedule routine tasks during low-energy periods. It will help you get the best results and make the most of your time.

Get enough sleep

Unfortunately, we continue to celebrate people who sacrifice sleep for work when sleep deprivation is known to undermine high performance. In a Harvard Business Review article, Charles A. Czeisler likens sleep deficit to drinking too much alcohol, explaining that pulling an all-nighter (i.e. going twenty-four hours without sleep) or having a week of sleeping just four or five hours a night actually “induces an impairment equivalent to a blood alcohol level of 0.1%. Think about this: we would never say, ‘This person is a great worker! He’s drunk all the time!’ yet we continue to celebrate people who sacrifice sleep for work.” Treat your sleep like a meeting in your diary – don’t miss it!

Here’s to owning your time.

Warm wishes,
Lori

LORI MILNER is the engaging facilitator, thought leader and mentor known for her insightful approach to being a modern corporate woman. Her brainchild, the successful initiative Beyond the Dress, is the embodiment of her passion to empower women. Beyond the Dress has worked with South Africa’s leading corporates and empowered hundreds of women with valuable insight on how to bridge the gap between work and personal life. Clients include Siemens, Massmart, Alexander Forbes, Life Healthcare Group, RMB Private Bank and Unilever to name a few. Lori has co-authored Own Your Space: The Toolkit for the Working Woman in conjunction with Nadia Bilchik, CNN Editorial Producer. Own Your Space provides practical tools and insights gleaned from workshops held around the world and from interviews with some of South Africa’s most accomplished women to provide you with tried-and-tested techniques, tips and advice to help you boost your career, enhance your confidence and truly own your space on every level. Own Your Space is the ultimate ‘toolkit’ to unleash your true power. It’s for the woman who wants to take her career to new heights and who is ready to fulfil her true potential.