7 Ways to Save Time for What Matters Most

If I could save time in a bottle,

The first thing that I'd like to do

Is to save every day

'Til eternity passes away

Just to spend them with you.

I like this song.  Of course, it's nostalgic for me.  This Jim Croce hit was the theme for my long-ago Senior Ball in high school.

If I could make days last forever,

If words could make wishes come true,

I'd save every day

Like a treasure, and then

Again, I would spend them with you.

These words are more poignant because Croce died in a plane crash at age 30.  "Time in a Bottle" became a #1 hit after his death, not least because the lyrics deal with mortality and the wish to have more time – a wish underlined by the shortness of Croce's life.

Never enough time

The chorus of the song continues:  "But there never seems to be enough time/To do the things you want to do, once you find them."  Probably as long as human beings have been around, we've had the sense that life is too short, that we will never have enough time to achieve all our goals and live out our dreams.

Croce's great achievement was to compress that universal feeling into one short song.  If we could just save time the way we can save money (in Croce's metaphor, the bank is a bottle), then maybe we'd amass enough for everything.

Of course, we all know that's impossible.  The song is wistful because no matter how much we might wish otherwise, our time is limited.  That being so, it becomes vitally important to spend time carefully.  Just as with money, everything we do with our time matters.

One more point we shouldn't miss about Jim Croce's lyrics is that he's clear about how he wants to spend the time he has.  He doesn't just want to save time so he can be more productive.  He's not looking for "life hacks."  He's not talking about having time to give more performances.  He's not dreaming of awards, recognition, or making money.

Instead, he wants to spend his treasure of time with a beloved person.

Maybe you've heard or read this quote by former First Lady Barbara Bush:

At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, not winning one more verdict, or closing one more deal.  You will regret time not spent with a husband, a friend, a child, or a parent.

Okay, yes, we all pay lip service to this idea.  But how do we really spend most of our free time?  Do we truly know and make memories with those we love, or are we busier shopping, scrolling, or watching TV?  Or maybe we're constantly driving to errands and activities, eating dinner in the car (again), and keeping our children busy so they have no free time either.

I know this is a balancing act.  I know you have to work and earn a living.  Your kids will reach an age when they want to play sports or (like mine) participate in music or drama or chess club.  There are errands to run and volunteer commitments to fulfill.  There are movies you want to see and news stories you want to read.

But if every "time transaction" matters, you'll want to be selective.  Focus on the most high-value activities, eliminate distractions, and say no to the non-essential.

7 essential time management strategies

Maybe you're thinking this is easier said than done.  Let me share some strategies that work for me.

1.  Pre-plan.

For me, planning my day is essential.  With just five minutes in the morning (or the evening before), I can increase motivation and focus.  To that end, I use a minimalist 3-Item To-Do List.  The short list makes my priorities clear, helps me overcome procrastination, and keeps me from feeling overwhelmed.  It also places limits on my tendency to "just get this one more thing done."

2.  Streamline everyday activities.

Whether you want to think of it as fighting decision fatigue or just spending less time on less important things, this is minimalist time management in action.  Streamlining can mean anything from wearing a simple wardrobe, eating the same or similar meals, or limiting visual distractions in my work area or on my computer desktop.

Related article:  6 Strategies to Simplify Your Life Every Day

3.  Accomplish your most important work first.

Mark Twain once said, "Eat a live frog first thing in the morning, and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day."  Lots of time management experts use this quote as motivation to do the hardest task first.

I'll admit, I'm not a fan of doing the hardest thing first.  But I can get behind the idea of deciding on and doing the most important thing first.  It might be a phone call to deal with a problem (which could be a task I dread).  It might be writing the first draft of a blog post.  It might be going to the grocery store or a doctor's appointment, cleaning out a closet, or taking a meal to a sick friend.

Whatever it is, once I complete it, I feel a great sense of accomplishment and a burst of energy to get on with the rest of my day.

4.  Use my dad's one-minute rule.

I heard this hundreds (or maybe thousands) of times growing up:  "If it only takes a minute, do it now."  Take out the garbage, put shoes away, hang up the towel, change the lightbulb, wash the dish, fold the blanket you were cuddling with on the sofa.  You get the idea.  One minute is easy, and makes a surprising amount of difference.

5.  Batch tasks.

Group similar small tasks and block out a period of time (even if it's just 10-15 minutes) to do them all at once.  This keeps your brain focused and lets you get these things out of the way and off of your "I've got so much to do" radar.

In the office, this works really well for getting through email a couple of times a day, dealing with real mail, returning phone calls, and so on.  At home, this is great for email, real mail, folding a load of laundry and putting it away, or prepping ingredients for tonight's dinner.

6.  Say no.

Our need to please others (and to feel necessary and important) keeps us over-scheduled and pulled in multiple directions.  But until we learn to say no, we won't be able to say yes to what really matters.  Until we save our time and energy for what we really care about, we may be busy and in-demand – maybe even successful and powerful – but we won't be truly fulfilled.

Related article:  How to Say No to Reclaim Your Time and Purpose

7.  Enjoy tea or coffee.

We all know that a small dose of caffeine is a real pick-me-up on a busy day.  But the ritual of making it can also provide two additional opportunities:

• The five minutes or so that it takes to brew the tea or coffee can be used for a small cleaning or decluttering task.  This is especially good for those little jobs that often get pushed aside, or that you keep telling yourself you "don't have time" to do.

• Instead of drinking your tea or coffee while you continue working or mindlessly scrolling, take time to rest, savor, and appreciate.  Feel the warmth, breathe deeply, take a look out the window.  Give thanks.  Think of someone or something that has made you smile.  Read or listen to something uplifting.  Say a quick prayer.

These few minutes of accomplishment, followed by a few minutes of contemplation and refreshment, are a great way to get the most from your beverage of choice.

The purpose of time management

The purpose of all this, for me, is not so I can cram in more tasks and activities.  My desire is to do the work I feel called to do and to manage my home while leaving as much time as possible for my marriage, my children and grandchildren, my faith, and my personal sanity.

I can't save up time in a bottle, because my days are numbered.  But time most certainly is a treasure.  I want to use my time wisely and make my moments count.  Don't you?

Related article:  It's Not Too Late to Choose a Better Life