“Time stays long enough for anyone who will use it.”
— Leonardo da Vinci*
I have been waiting, and as patiently as possible, to hear that we have warp time in place — that man has discovered how to speed up time. Just to confirm my suspicions. And moreover, that warp mode is not just a figment of fantasy like in Star Trek, boldly going where no man has gone before, and at warp speed when necessary.
Sometimes, I feel like the little hamster in the caged wheel that keeps running in place, and then someone increases the motor's rotation unbeknownst to the hamster. While it cannot identify, recognize or verbalize what happened, it knows that something has changed drastically.
Not sure how many Trekkie fans are out there, but if you are one, I hope you have this calendar hanging on your wall. I faithfully get one each year, and look forward to favorite scenes of the original Star Trek cast. There was a month spotlighting the Mirror, Mirror episode in which they met their evil opposites after simultaneously being transferred to a parallel universe, and their counterparts transferred to theirs.
It showed a face closeup of Chekov screaming in agony after being put into a torture chamber for trying to murder Captain Kirk so that he could move up in rank. I don’t know about you, but I could not bear to look at Chekov each day in deep pain — whether it was his evil version or not — so I politely took a white sheet of paper and taped over it, and couldn't wait until the month ended. Even wanted to write the calendar's publisher and say: Please don’t do that again.
Do you realize that William Shatner (Captain Kirk) is still boldly dishing it out to fans and foes alike in his 90s? And he just had a birthday. Believe me, it is an honor and pure joy to follow him and George Takei (Sulu) on X, along with other Trekkie sites. While Leonard Nimoy and the others (Uhura, Bones Scotty and Chekov) have left us, I follow his son Adam on X also, and subscribe to his newsletter. He’s been touring the country, promoting his book on what it was like growing up with Mr. Spock as a father. Hoping he comes to Louisiana.
I know I have greatly veered off the subject, but I can never resist talking about the original Star Trek and its wonderful cast of characters. I feel blessed to be able to watch them whenever I want Sunday-Friday because a local TV channel runs the old series, as well as the others, one after another.
Back to warp time and speed. Since I believe in the glass being half full — always, I also believe that warp-anything can be advantageous. Especially when you are in control, and as I've noted many times in the past, that requires having the right mindset. For instance, I was fired up and recently shredded a garbage bag of old mail and other unnecessary papers, and also rid myself of lots of old magazines. It was liberating. When you get important tasks done — particularly those that you have been procrastinating on — because you’re truly focused, that is indeed exhilarating!
Perhaps, you’re thinking: OK, I procrastinate a little here and there, but it is no big deal. You would be amazed at how much time we let time slip away. I cannot tell you how many times in the past, I had flopped down on the sofa thinking I would relax and watch a TV program, and before I knew it, several hours had slipped by that had been consumed by mindless programming. And always, I felt guilty.
Here are 15 ways, courtesy of ChatGPT, in which we lose time:
HOW WE SQUANDER TIME
1. Procrastination: Putting off tasks until the last minute causes stress and reduces the quality of work.
2. Endless social media scrolling: Losing hours to social media without any productive outcome.
3. Checking email too often: Constantly checking email interrupts flow and wastes time.
4. Engaging in unnecessary meetings: Attending meetings without clear objectives or value.
5. Overcommitting: Taking on too many tasks or responsibilities that you can’t realistically complete.
6. Lack of planning: Not organizing tasks leads to wasted time searching for information or figuring out what to do next.
7. Getting lost in unimportant details: Focusing on minutiae instead of high-priority tasks.
8. Waiting for the “perfect” moment: Delaying action because you're waiting for the ideal circumstances.
9. Too much time spent on low-value tasks: Spending excessive time on tasks that don’t contribute significantly to your goals.
10. Overthinking: Ruminating and overanalyzing decisions or situations without taking action.
11. Indecisiveness: Struggling to make decisions wastes time and energy that could be spent on action.
12. Perfectionism: Spending too much time trying to perfect every little detail.
13. Disorganization: Having a cluttered workspace or digital files wastes time searching for materials.
14. Lack of boundaries: Allowing others to take up your time without considering your own priorities.
15. Constantly reacting instead of planning: Reacting to problems as they arise instead of being proactive leads to wasted time.
Recognizing yourself in any of these? I am definitely guilty of #9: Too much time spent on low-value tasks. That is what happens when I waste time on mindless television if you considering TV-gazing as a low-value task. I am also guilty of several of others that were cited.
I never like to cite the negative without providing the positive, and here follows, 25 tips on how we can manage our time:
TIPS TO MANAGE TIME
1. Prioritize tasks: Focus on what’s most important and tackle high-priority tasks first.
2. Set SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound goals help keep you focused.
3. Break tasks into smaller steps: Breaking tasks into manageable chunks makes them less overwhelming.
4. Use a calendar: Keep track of deadlines and appointments to prevent last-minute rushes.
5. Create a to-do list: Write down daily tasks and check them off as you complete them.
6. Avoid multitasking: Focus on one task at a time for better quality and speed.
7. Time block: Allocate specific times for specific tasks to prevent distractions.
8. Set a timer: Use the Pomodoro Technique—work for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break.
9. Delegate tasks: Delegate tasks that others can do to free up your time for more critical tasks.
10. Limit social media: Set specific times to check social media instead of browsing throughout the day.
11. Avoid unnecessary meetings: Only attend meetings that are essential and have a clear agenda.
12. Use productivity apps: Apps like Trello, Todoist, or Notion help you organize tasks effectively.
13. Learn to say no: Don’t take on more tasks than you can handle.
14. Set realistic deadlines: Avoid over-promising and ensure your deadlines are achievable.
15. Start your day early: Begin the day early to take advantage of quiet, uninterrupted time.
16. Limit distractions: Turn off notifications and create a focused environment for work.
17. Batch similar tasks: Group similar tasks together to improve efficiency.
18. Establish a routine: Consistent daily routines help minimize decision fatigue.
19. Take care of yourself: Get enough sleep, exercise, and eat well to maintain focus.
20. Set weekly reviews: Reflect on your week’s progress and adjust plans for the following week.
21. Plan your day the night before: Set your agenda for the next day to hit the ground running.
22. Use the two-minute rule: If a task will take two minutes or less, do it immediately.
23. Eliminate time-wasters: Identify and eliminate activities that don’t add value to your life or goals.
24. Focus on results, not effort: Focus on what produces outcomes rather than how hard you’re working.
25. Celebrate small wins: Acknowledge accomplishments to maintain motivation and momentum.
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If you are already implementing some of these tasks, bravo! Try implementing a few more. And moreover, share these time grabbers and tips with your staff, coworkers, family and friends. Pay these tips forward!
For those of us who can use even more assistance, and this is really helps everyone eager to enhance their lives, here are some resources that will help you in your business, career and personal life. But — before we go there, one thing that is really important, as I have noted in my recent blog, we have to first stop complicating our lives. In this blog, I shared tips on how to do just that when it comes to your business, career and personal life.
Remember Tip # 9: Delegate tasks? My colleague Kim Nelson’s has a resource for that exact tip. She is offering Delegate Like A Boss that provides an AI systems toolkit for solopreneurs. You don't have to feel like you're alone doing everything alone. You can also utilize this resource in your career because we also feel alone on the job. Remember, experts note that we are CEOs of our lives whether we own a business or work for one. And as Kim so aptly puts it: “You don’t need more hours. You need better systems — and AI is the assistant you didn’t know you already had.”
Just recently, we had our Syndication Optimization training that encourages us to repurpose our work — our content — so we do not have to always start from scratch. It saves us time because repurpose is really another way to say leverage. We are leveraging our work, and who does not want to do that? Don't worry if you missed it: Join now for the next session, and lock yourself in for two years of Connie Ragen Green's invaluable training at one price.
Another resource that will help us conquer time is Ellen Finkelstein’s Get Everything Done that provides a system on how to do exactly that. Its subtitle is How to organize and get more done in less time without being overwhelmed. As you know, a lot of people are feeling overwhelmed in today's world, and that includes us at times.
I have enjoyed utilizing Faith's Biz Academy that provides courses for solopreneurs and others at a nominal membership fee. Likewise, I have welcomed Angela Wills’ Lifestyle Freedom Business, which teaches us how to create a business that gives us the lifestyle we want and crave. She also offers a trove of treasures in her FreedomPreneurs membership.
And remember Tip #19: Take care of yourself? Here are two resources that I offer with coupons:
SELFCARE2025 coupon for 50-Page Self-Care Planner; and
FITNESS2025 coupon for 54-Page Fitness Planner.
The bottom line is that learning, as well as taking action, is vital to our future and our survival, and the reality of such a statement should be embedded in our hearts and minds. Learning exercises our brain cells, keeps us alert, and activates endorphins, whether we are learning to write software code, try out a new recipe, or become a future Picasso. And moreover, learning helps us to combat warp time or warp speed in case either really exists!
*Quote from Brainyquote.com.
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I’m Ruth Anita Foote, an award-winning journalist, historian, author, and online entrepreneur — passionate about helping you enhance your business, career, and lifestyle. Whether you need writing, editing, research, or online business development, I’m here to support your growth. My goal is to empower you to elevate your success and make a lasting impact in your field. You can connect to all my social media platforms through Linktr.ee
