Theres more than enough time, when you use the time you have

Theres mora than enough time, when you use the time you haveTheres more than enough time, when you use the time you haveHave you ever been so busy that you struggled to bedrngnisice the needs of those around you? Even those fruchtwein dear to you?Even worse than being over-busy is being distracted by things with little or no value like mindlessly surfing the web when your child wants to play.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreWithout question, there are countless things we could do at any moment of our lives. What do we choose to do with our moments? What does that say about us?How can you learn totrulyuse the time you have, so that looking back each day you will be proud of who you were and how you lived?The following is a short list of principles, that if applied, will empower you to make the most of every moment of your life. To be koranvers, developing these habits is not easy in our heavily distracted and externally-driven world.But the cost of not getting control over your time and life is astronomical. Its everything. For, how we use our time determines everything aboutWho we areWho we will becomeWhat we will accomplish in our days, and in our livesHow deep our relationships areAnd ultimately what we value mostLets begin in humility, for this is too important to ignoreBe Where You Are In Mind AndBodyWherever you are, make sure youre there. Dan SullivanAwareness is the first step. What are you doing right now? Be there, not somewhere else.If youre with your friends, be with your friends. If youre doing the dishes, do the dishes.Its amazing how bad weve all gotten at beingpresent.At actually living in the world and connecting deeply with the experiences were having with the people we love.However, awareness is far from sufficient. Indeed, full-engagement in the wrong things is no better than being distracted by something else.Good Things Are A Dime-A-Doz enWe should be careful not to exhaust our available time on things that are merely good and leave little time for that which is better or best. Dallin OaksIn every situation, you must ask yourself, Is this thebestpossible use of my time? Is this thebestapproach? Or am I settling for less? Derek Sivers has created a great benchmark for activity If something is not aHELL YES, its a no. End of story. If you are not 100% behind what youre currently doing, stop doing it. There are certainly better things you could be doing.For me, passively watching a movie with my kids is good. However, actively engaging with them whether playing games, laughing, playing out in the yard is better.Listening to or reading uplifting content is good. However, there are also better things you could be doing, like helping someone.The problem with doing good things is that they are easy to justify because they are inherently good. But, as Jim Collins, author ofGood To Great,has said,Good is the enemy of great. Few people attain great lives, in large parte because it is just so easy to settle for a good life.There are a million good things you could do this very moment. You could go to the gym. You could read a book. You could hangout with a friend. You could spend the evening with your family. You could watch a movie.But what is the best thing you could be doing right now? Context determines what is good, better, or best. Every situation is different.In some situations, its best to stop on the side of the road to help the person with a flat tire. In other situations, its best to pass them by. In some situations, its best to go to class. In other situations, its best to skip class. In some situations, the absolute best thing you could do is relax and chill-out. Or go crazy with excitement.Meaning is shaped within contexts. And every context is unique. Which is why you must bepresentto your circumstances. If you are not mindful but instead disconnected and distracted you wont be able to de termine what is good, better, or best.Always Take The HigherRoadMay we ever choose the harder right, instead of the easier wrong. Thomas MonsonI once asked an older couple whom I deeply respect how theyve lived such a beautiful life. The wife responded,In every situation, we determined to always walk the higher road.In every situation, there are always at least two options. Which one is your natural default?When the alarm clock goes off, do you push snooze or get up? When youre with your spouse, do you compliment or criticize? Do you listen, or must you always speak?Doing what is best is not always convenient. Actually, the lower road is almost always easier. As Robert Frost famously penned,Two roads diverged in a wood, and I I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.Literally every situation youre in is a fork in the road. You can become consistent even automatic at choosing the harder, better road. And you can find joy in being and becoming the person y ou desire to be. You can develop confidence using your time in meaningful ways, and positively impacting those around you.You can find satisfaction looking back on a day you invested in yourself and others which is sure to yield enormous dividends, rather than a day you merely consumed.Be Who You Ideally Want To Become,TodayHow would your life change if you made decisions TODAY as if you were already the person you want to become TOMORROW? Richie NortonWho do you want to be tomorrow? How about in 5 years? 10 years? 20 years? On your80th birthday?Stephen Covey has taught that highly effective peopleBegin with the end clearly in mind.Your current behaviors are a reflection of the future vision you have of yourself. For most people, that vision is not much different than their present selves.However, once you determine who you want to become, you must start acting like that person now. Otherwise, you will never become that person. As Bill Walsh has said,Winners act like winners before they become winners.Thats how they become winners.InThird Circle Thoery,Pejman Ghadimi explains that most people envision their lives no more than 13 years into the future, mostly living week-to-week.Ghadimi argues about 20% of people envision their lives 510 years into the future, and thus act accordingly and become enormously more successful. Lastly, 2% of people envision their lives in whole beginning with the end in mind of who they want to be the day they die. Consider these words by Elon MuskI would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact.Its obvious how that vision determines Musks daily behavior.To be sure, not all of us can or should be Elon Musk. But the vision guiding his daily behaviors is instructive. Without question, the potency of his why is how he can work 100 hour weeks year-after-year. And his behaviors are a reflection ofhisvalues, which he is unapologetic about.His values may not beyourvalues. But are you consistently acting in accordance with your values? Is yo ur why strong enough to keep you choosing the harder right, or do you consistently default to the easy wrong?Give Everything To The Things That Truly Matter, And Forget About Everything ElseWhen you cannot do what you have always done, then you only do what matters most. Robert HalesBecoming a foster parent has been the hardest thing Ive ever done. The first 6 months were hell. I wasnt ready for it. In my heart, I didnt want it.Thankfully, overtime, I was able to have a change of heart. Now, I couldnt be happier to invest my time in these kids. Theyve become in large measure, mywhy if not exclusively, theyve radically strengthened my why.But being a foster parent has done more for me. Its given me clarity about what really mattersto me.If Im going to be a good foster parent, then I dont have time to do many of the things I used to do. And thats okay. Actually, its the best. Because for me, its almost forced me to forego the many good options I could put my time into for what I belie ve is the best use of my time.Whatever it is you truly value, devote your time to those things. The thingsyou consider best. And remove all other non-essential distractions from your life.Become The Master Of YourMindYou tell me what you think about when you do not have to think, and Ill tell you what you are. Llewelyn McKayIts impossible to use your time well when you cant even govern your own mind. Most peoples minds are like a garden that has been overgrown with weeds. They havent done the work of managing their minds or pruning it, digging it about, and preparing the soil for good fruits.However, you can master the garden of your mind. And when you do, you will be in-control of yourself. When you have clear, simple, and specific goals and values with which you resonate with and your thoughts are constantly mulling these things over your greatest desires will manifest quickly.Every thought you think plays a role in who you are, and how you are living in the world. As James Allen has said inAs a Man Thinketh,A man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of all his thoughts.Take-AwaysAll of these things take constant practice. You will never arrive at any of these things. Every day is simply practice at getting better. Here are a few actionable ways you can start improving the use of your time.Work on being more aware of what youre doing. Catch yourself disengaging. If youre with people, leave your phone in your car, or in a drawer, or somewhere it doesnt tempt you. Work on being where you are, and embracing the moments.Take time to write down your core values and goals. Consider Stephen Coveys advice and imagine your 80th birthday party. Who do you want to be at the end of your life? What will you have wanted to accomplish? This vision determines what is good, better, and best in your life. Once you know what you want, it becomes painfully obvious what you dont want.Thus, you wont be seduced by the many good things in life distracti ng you from the better and best.When given an option, choose the harder right. As we can learn from Steve Jobs,standards arent for bending.Consistently walk the higher road and you will be transformed internally and externally.Remove the things in your life that get in the way of the best things. Or, be highly thoughtful about how you keep these things in your life. You dont have much time on this planet.Become the master of your thoughts. When you catch yourself mindlessly wandering, or going places counter to your values and goals, stop yourself. Memorize a poem, quote, scripture, or song that brings clarity and light to you. Whenever you have a negative or unhelpful thought, recite or ponder your memorized friend. Then, reflect on your values and goals. Eventually, youll get better even automatic at thinking about the things you want to think about. Your thoughts are what create your reality.Ready toUpgrade?Ive created a cheat sheet for putting yourself into a PEAK-STATE, immedia tely. You follow this daily, your life will change very quickly.Get the cheat sheet hereThis article first appeared on Medium.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will ersatzdarsteller your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people