No Time for What’s Really Important?

If you’re anything like I used to be, your calendar is probably packed with other people’s priorities, leaving little to no time for the things you truly care about.

You’ve likely heard the metaphor about rocks and sand in a jar. The idea is to fit both into the jar by putting the big rocks in first, then letting the sand fill in the gaps. This is often used as a metaphor for life: the big rocks represent the most important things, and the sand represents everything else that fills your time.

Building on this concept, one of my mentors, Jesse Itzler, uses a strategy he calls “playing offense with your calendar.” (Check out Jesse on Instagram: @jesseitzler). Jesse even sells what he calls "The Big Ass Calendar" to help with this.

At the start of each week, month, or year, go on the offensive by prioritizing the big rocks in your calendar. Here’s how it works:

• At the start of the year: Schedule the things that matter most to you and will make your life better—whether it’s a family vacation, a course you want to take, or a marathon you want to run. If you don’t prioritize your time for your benefit, others will prioritize it for theirs.

• At the start of the month: Review your commitments to ensure you’re still focused on your big rocks. Check that they align with your current priorities and make sure no “calendar creep” has occurred—where others’ priorities start to overshadow your own.

• At the start of the week: Plan how you’ll honor your commitments. Look for things in your calendar that might push you into a defensive mode. Be ruthless about removing plans that don’t serve you, especially if they come from others.

This strategy works, but it’s not passive—you have to commit to it. Work obligations, family demands, and countless other distractions will inevitably try to pull you away from your offensive game. If you’re not vigilant, you’ll quickly find yourself back on defense.

Here’s a little something for free