A Rare, But Powerful, Time Management Treat: Honor Appointments With Yourself!

In the world of time management, we give a lot of weight to appointments that we set with other people, or events and meetings that we have to attend. We block them out on our calendar and then we make a commitment to show up unless there is a true emergency. And that is certainly a good thing. One would say we are practicing good time management techniques.

And yet, when it comes to making appointments with ourself, we don't give them the same importance on our calendar. Indeed, most people put themselves last. That yoga class you wanted to take? Missed it again. Getting to bed on time so that you are well rested? Oops, that went out the window when you let something else take precedence over it. Sadly, most of us do not honor appointments with ourself!

When I speak on time management and productivity, I ask my audiences to name something that they don't allow themselves enough of in their lives. The answers are almost always focused on simple pleasures like reading, sleeping, spending time with family, taking a bubble bath, going for a bike ride, etc. We crave more "me time" and yet we deprive ourselves of it on a daily basis.

We have the imagination to find creative ways to deny ourselves simple pleasures. You should hear the convoluted excuses high functioning, success-minded folks devise as to why they couldn't possibly, say, sit and read a book for half an hour. It'd be funny if it weren't so sad that they are denying themselves such basic human treats. Even though I know better, sometimes I catch myself doing the same thing.

Why do we do it? Sometimes it's guilt, sometimes it's low self-esteem (a sense that you don't "deserve" a treat), sometimes it's because you put everyone else's needs first. Sometimes it's a societal dictum or a limiting belief like, "I have to work hard and earn X before I deserve a treat."

Whatever the reason, the truth is that not only do you deserve to treat yourself to simple pleasures – it's essential for your health, well-being and creativity.

How can we change this? First, start by recognizing that you give your own appointments the short end of the stick on your calendar and in your own time management practices. Then not only resolve to change this, but act on that resolve. Block out the time on your calendar and then honor that appointment as if you made it with the most important person in your life. Why? Because you are an important person in your life! And you are worth it. Don't skimp on time for your own personal and professional growth and development.

"But Lisa", I hear you say, "I can't possibly. I have too much to do. I don't have enough time."

Ask yourself this: What do you spend time doing that you really don't enjoy – and that you really don't have to be doing? What isn't particularly healthy or helpful? What could you be doing less of, if you were honest with yourself?

Maybe you're a workaholic spending many more hours working than is really required. Perhaps you spend time worrying or stressing or complaining (most people spend more time complaining how little time they have than doing anything about it). Maybe you don't have systems set up so you are spending too much time doing tasks that could be streamlined. Maybe you're wasting your evenings watching television programs you don't really like that much anyway.

Whatever your day is like, you have an opportunity to do less of what you don't want – and more of what you do want.

I invite you to engage in this rare, but powerful, time management treat. Look for opportunities to not only make some appointments with yourself... but honor those appointments! Trust me, you are worth it.