When time seems to be slipping away, try this.

It’s funny how some weeks appear to move slowly while others fly by. I have been experiencing the latter of the last few months and when I stop to catch my breath, I am shocked by where I had ended up. Not necessarily in a negative way but I realize that when I don’t have things planned out my days and my efforts go in many different directions.

One of the ways I have tried to combat this is by utilizing my calendar religiously. It seems like a simple thing, but you would be surprised at how effective of a tool it can really be.

My wife shared an article with me from Huffington Post about using the calendar rather than to do lists. It was a great reminder to stay consistent and own my time so that others did not dictate it for me. In the article, it talked about the strategy of scheduling your day in small increments, down to the last detail. Everything from meeting times to breaks, meditation, writing, and family time. I jumped right in and started doing this for about 30 days and have seen my productivity, energy, and general happiness improve.

Even when things aren’t completely on schedule it is very easy for me to adjust because I know where the down times in my day occur. The organization has helped to keep me focused and I have been able to accomplish more in the last month than I have in the two or three previous months combined.

I know that this doesn’t sound like a life-changing event, but I have realized that it is sometimes that simplest things that have the biggest impact.