I'm too busy...

-By Jaime Willis

"Focus on being productive instead of busy."

-Tim Ferriss, The Four Hour Workweek

Pre script #1: Matt is out of town this week making things happen in the big state of Texas.  I'll be taking over his blog posting duties for today. 

Pre script #2: This is one of three posts that will be published on our blog today in honor of Triathlon Training Blitz Week.  If you'd like to join us, go here for more information.

Pre script #3: If post script is a thing, pre script is a thing too, right?  

Today, I want to explore three of the biggest reasons excuses that we hear about why a particular goal or dream can't be accomplished.  This morning, let's talk about TIME.

One of the things I hear so often is, "I would do X, but I just don't have time."    

"I'm late! I'm late!"

I don't have time to make it the gym.  

I don't have time to go back to school.

I don't have time to pursue a hobby I'm really passionate about.

I don't have time.

You know what I say to that?  

Malarky! 

Whenever I hear that excuse, I think of the President.  The President of the United States, the Commander in Chief of our entire country, finds time in his week to a) play basketball; b) watch his girls play sports; c) read to his kids at night; and even d) go on vacation.  The President before him found time for exercise, family, and relaxation as well.  

If there is anyone in this country that could say with a straight face that they don't have time, it has to be the President.  The fact that even our Presidents find time for things that are personally important to them means that any of us can do it as well. 

When Matt and I started prioritizing our lives to make our dreams possible, we realized pretty quickly that time management was key.  

For Matt, this means a 5:00am wakeup call every day of the week.  While the rest of us are sleeping, Matt is taking concrete steps towards his dreams.  

For me, this meant cutting out almost all television watching.  TV is so enjoyable - I know.  It is relaxing, it is entertaining, and it gives us something 'easy' to talk to our coworkers about during the work day.  But television watching is rarely a productive use of our time.  

Think about this -- when you think back on your 2011 ten years from now, are you going to proudly brag to your friends that 2011 was the year you watched Season 15 of The Bachelor?  Are you going to pull out your iPad 20 with your grandkids some day and swipe through all the photos you took of yourself watching Glee?

Wouldn't you rather look back on your 2011 and say proudly:

2011 was the year I wrote my first book.

2011 was the year I ran a triathlon with some of my now closest friends.

2011 was the year I finally "found" the time and made my dreams happen.

Take an honest assessment of your schedule and see if you can find even 15 'new' minutes of the day to start working towards a goal of yours.  Try keeping a time log to see what you actually do in a day and see if there are any areas that you could more productively use your time.