Why can’t I manage my time?

Why can’t I manage my time?

Time Management seems so easy for some people, yet so hard for others. I often get frustrated emails from readers asking me “Why can’t I manage my time?”. For these readers, I usually take them through my private coaching program, or suggest they enroll in our Time Management course.

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However, I have noticed that they tend to have similar reasons. There are four primary reasons why many people are unable to manage their time. Once you identify your reason, it is easier to overcome it and master the art of time management.

1. Lack of motivation/Long Term Goals

This is the common trend I have found among people who are unable to manage time. Changing one’s lifestyle to be more productive requires great effort. Nobody can make great effort at anything without real motivation. Therefore, having motivation is essential for learning time management.

I am not talking about short term goals like completing this semester of study, or complete reading this book. I am referring here to long term motivation like “I want to establish a means through wish I can help the orphans in my country,” and “I want to build an Islamic center that focuses on helping young Muslims.”

It is a strong noble long term goal that will propel you to manage your time better.

2. Bad Habits

The second obstacle to managing time are bad habits. In my book, Getting The Barakah, an entire chapter is dedicated to this topic. As overcoming bad habits is crucial for learning effective time management. Here is an extract from the book:

The Habit Trap

As time management is primarily about forming new habits, the toughest thing in the beginning is maintaining the new habits until they become a part of who you are.
Bad habits are hard to quit, but not impossible. The key is to have a clear reason to quit and a good habit to replace it with. In terms of time management, this would mean replacing the habit of procrastination with the habits of planning, chunking and working in advance.

However, without determination and commitment, it is difficult to maintain momentum so it is important to be awareness of this and take measures to avoid falling back into bad habits.
Here are some methods you can use to stop yourself from falling back into bad habits:

(Click Here to Purchase the eBook to read the full chapter)

3. Not realizing the priorities in your life

Another common cause about which an entire chapter has been written in my eBook. Too many of us don’t understand what our daily priorities should be. Here are few examples:

1. Are the five daily Salah a priority in your life?
2. Is reciting Quran on a daily basis a priority to you?
3. Have you made time for your children a priority?
4. Is personal development a priority to you? 

You know something is priority if you are willing to spend both time and money on it. There is simple proverb in Time Management: “If you make time for the big things, you will find time for the small things.”

4. You just haven’t studied Time Management yet

If this is the case, then you simply need to study one of our time management resources. At Islamic Self Help, we offer two methods to learn time management:

1. Join our online course for $44
2. Purchase our eBook for $9.99

But we are making you a special offer today on our eBook.

If you use this link to purchase our eBook Bundle for $13.99, you will get our Time Management eBook and our Goal Setting Workbook, along with two FREE eBooks worth $10! 

Click here to get this special offer now!

Click this image to get the bundle offer!

The Two Minute Rule 

A popular and effective Time Management Tip is called the Two Minute Rule. This basically means that if you have any task which will take less than two minutes to complete, then do it immediately and get it out of the way.

However, one should be careful not to apply this rule during times when you are supposed to be concentrating on other projects as it will distract you from that work and dull your concentration.

Ideally, the two minute principle should be used in batches like when replying to emails or returning phone calls. Alternatively, when you have extra time on your hand between major tasks then get some of these done.

The benefit of this principle is that it gets the short tasks out of the way, so they are off your mind and done with. This frees up your mind to concentrate better on the bigger tasks. Often, we feel like we have too much to do, but what we actually have is a large list of two minute tasks. Getting them over and done with can boost your moral and help you be more productive.

Examples of when to utilize the two minute rule

1. When you need to make an appointment via phonecall or email
2. If you need to pay a bill online
3. When you need to reply to a short message/email
4. Whenever you need to file away a document
5. When you need to move a file from one folder to another
6. When you need to rename a file on your PC
7. If you need to delete something
8. Whenever you need to throw something in the trash
9. If you need to drink some water
10. When you need to listen to a voice message
11. If you need to reply to a missed call (and you know it will take less than two minutes)
12. Whenever you need to update some software
13. When you need to complete an order
14.  If you need to grab a cup of coffee
15. Right now, because you need to get our Time Management eBook 🙂

The Bottom Line

Sometimes your To-Do list may look overwhelming, but what you really have is a list of two minute tasks. Treating them as such will help you get through 30 items in one hour. Leaving the rest of your day free for more time-consuming and high concentration work.

Make the two minute rule a part of your life and see the dramatic improvements that come along with it.

Interested in learning more about Time Management? Get yourself a copy of our eBook or enroll in our online course today!

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