Poor time management creates stress, making my thoughts and emotions feel scattered. When I’m stressed, I struggle to think clearly or make good decisions. It’s hard to focus, and my scattered thoughts spill over into different areas of my life, creating unnecessary chaos—especially in the parts of life that matter most to me, like my health, relationships, work, and finances.

When I procrastinate on an important work deadline, I end up rushing at the last minute, which leads to stress and exhaustion. That stress can then affect my mood, making me impatient with loved ones or unmotivated to exercise. Over time, this cycle harms both my well-being and my success.

Poor time management doesn’t just sabotage me—it can also affect others. If I’m constantly late or unorganised, it impacts my coworkers, family, or clients. Worse still, when I don’t take control of my time, I allow others to dictate it, which can leave me feeling overwhelmed and powerless. On the other hand, good time management empowers me. When I manage my time well, I feel in control of my life and my health.

I now see time as a valuable resource—something I can use wisely rather than waste. Some people talk about “filling time,” “spending time,” or even “killing time,” but why would I destroy something so precious? Wasting time leads to boredom, procrastination, and low motivation. It drains my energy and leaves me feeling stuck.

Instead, I can choose to honour time by using it with intention. When I appreciate time, I look for ways to use it effectively. When I respect time, I make the most of it rather than letting it slip away. By mastering my time, I also master my energy—helping me live a more focused, productive, and fulfilling life.

It’s easy to take time for granted. Here’s how I do that:

1. Doing too much by taking on too many responsibilities
2. Saying yes when I need to say no
3. Always taking care of others and forgetting to take care of me
4. Making a simple task complex
5. Getting overwhelmed by doing too many things that are urgent but not important
6. Wasting time by doing things that are not important and not urgent
7. Not defining my objectives
8. Not setting goals
9. Setting unrealistic goals
10. Setting unspecific goals
11. Setting goals that lack quantity
12. Setting goals that lack quality
13. Setting goals that lack personal purpose or meaning
14. Setting goals without steps, stages and phases mapped out on a realistic time line.
15. Not making the complex task simple by breaking it apart and working on one piece at a time
16. Not working out priorities
17. Not scheduling my priorities
18. Not visualising the outcome
19. Lack of direction
20. Forgetting my purpose for the day
21. Forgetting my life’s mission
22. Forgetting the vision I have for my goals
23. Forgetting the personal values that drive my actions
24. Forgetting to remind myself about why I am doing what I’m doing
25. Failing to prepare for failure
26. Not having a plan
27. Double standards and lack of congruency
28. Not sticking to my plan
29. Getting side tracked by those who are off track
30. Lack of focus or concentration
31. Applying critical thinking when creative thinking is required
32. Applying creative thinking when critical thinking is required
33. Choosing the wrong role for the task
34. Dwelling on the past
35. Worrying too much about the future
36. Not identify mistakes
37. Not learning from past mistakes
38. Not acknowledging your personal weaknesses
39. Trying to deny the existence of a problem
40. Avoiding necessary confrontation
41. Gossiping
42. Refusing to delegate
43. Narrow mindedness
44. Inability to make the most of a situation
45. Inability to turn a weakness into a strength
46. Not embracing or utilising personal strengths
47. Ignoring evidence-based successes
48. Paying too much attention to too many details
49. Not clarifying the big picture
50. Not reflecting on what worked at the end of each task, or at the end of day

If I spend my time on things that don’t feel meaningful or purposeful, my life as a whole will feel less fulfilling. The way I manage my time directly affects my overall happiness and well-being.

By developing a healthier relationship with time, I can reduce stress and feel more satisfied with my life. Learning to manage time well takes practice, but I improve by focusing on one mistake at a time. I track my progress by using the list above, checking off each skill as I master it.

Before I made the decision to manage my time better, I struggled to manage my energy. But once I started valuing my time—treating it with love, respect, and intention—my ability to take care of my health and overall life improved.

When I used to procrastinate on important tasks, I often felt drained and overwhelmed. But by practicing better time management—like setting clear priorities and sticking to a schedule—I noticed I had more energy and less stress. Over time, this shift helped me feel more in charge and fulfilled.