What is important to you? 

It cannot be protected or prioritized if it hasn’t been identified.  Furthermore, it is hard to fit it in if we are overcommitted.  If it is important, we have to make time for it, regardless.  We have to weed out the some of the other things that are taking our time and attention.

Drain on resources

For example, I enjoy TV.  However, I had to decide that I valued other things more.  My top priority is time.  I value having the time to do the things that are important to me.  TV directly competes with this.  TV shows are 30-60 minutes long.  It is easy to give an hour or more to TV daily without even thinking about it. 

When I watch TV, everything else ceases to exist.  It puts me in a trance.  It is quite ridiculous.  So, I cannot multitask in front of the TV unless I am doing something very trivial, like while cleaning the kitchen.  Even then, it takes me longer to clean the kitchen than it would, otherwise. 

Can you “multitask” in front of the TV?  Say, hop on a bike, run on a treadmill or put in a work out in front of the TV and catch up on your favorite shows?  I envy you.  I can't work out with the TV on.  Instead, I need strong tunes pumping in my ear.  Something that has a good beat and/or has inspirational lyrics.  I need something louder than my inner voice that continues to ask are we done yet.  My other substitute is a group sport/exercise where the comradery and competition capture my attention while I get in a stellar workout.  More on this topic another post.

Ultimately, I have a preference for books and movies over TV.  Books and movies move me in ways that TV does not.  Therefore I separate books and movies into a category of enrichment and inspiration and I make time for them.

Instead of cable, I stream content from subscribed services at a fraction of the cost.  My girls are able to stream content of choice to their ipad or TV during select hours on weekends.  I can get sport games playing on the major networks with the use of an antenna.  We have no want for traditional cable. Added bonus- the cost of cable TV is not negligible.  My cable bill was $150 a month.  That is $1800 per year!  When I cut off my cable and I added those dollars to my travel fund. Let's go!

Time

Go back to the post re: Time.  I encourage you to take inventory of what is taking your time.  Sit down and write it out.  Capture anything that takes more than 30 minutes away from your schedule. You will be surprised at how it adds up. Identify unused, misused, and lost time.  Proceed with the rest of the steps to recapture and prioritize your time!  Start today!