How often do you find yourself rehashing a conversation or situation from your past? We all have the same 168 hours in a week to make our lives work well.⁣

Part of a well-working life is balance. A combination of time spent working, earning, eating, sleeping, loving, playing, connecting, and growing.⁣

I certainly don’t advocate all categories get equal time, but what happens when one thing gets a ridiculously small amount, or zero amount, of time?⁣

How is your life experience if you never make time to play, relax, and have some fun? Conversely what happens if you don’t engage in a sufficient amount of work? How do either of these scenarios make you feel? What is the impact? What is the price you pay?⁣

Most people I know readily engage with their work. In Western culture it is almost a badge of honor to report how many hours one worked in a week. At what price are these hours purchased? ⁣

Have you ever done these things?⁣

➥ I can skip my workout because I am needed at work for x, y, or z activity? What price did your physical body pay for that? ⁣

➥ I can come late to my son’s ballgame because I “need” to finish this report. What price was exacted from your relationship with your son?⁣

➥ My morning meditation isn’t so important. I can just start my workday early and get going. What price did your soul pay?⁣

I have done each of these things in my own life, multiple times in fact.⁣

★ Looking back right now, I cannot remember the activity at work I thought was so important to make me miss my son’s game, or the report that most likely was never read, or what I did in the 30 minutes that I skipped my meditation. ★⁣

 What I do remember is how strong my body felt when I worked out, and how every day missed creates increased effort for the same results.⁣

 I remember seeing the excitement on my son’s face when he played ball & saw that dad was there to watch him…. and how today, because of living in different parts of the world, I rarely get to see him.⁣

 I remember the sense of ease and peace I found in consistent meditation, and the sense of disconnection that happens without it. ⁣

So why did I, and maybe you, choose to pay the price? ⁣

I believe it begins with not having a plan in place for our time.⁣

Like I said, we all have 168 hours in a week. How many of them do you let others use up? My 168 hours in a week are mine to decide how they will be spent, and so are yours.⁣

Granted, taking care of small children, or having pre-determined work hours, or experiencing unexpected emergencies can choose for me how to use some of those 168 hours. However, if I have not planned, how can I ensure I spend my 168 hours wisely?⁣

Do you have a schedule when you will go to bed and when you will wake up? How many hours of sleep does your body need for you to be most effective?⁣

Do you know what time and what days you will work out? How can you get yourself to the gym without knowing? ⁣

What activities do you want to be at with your kids? Are you protective of reserving those hours for them?⁣

Planning is essential for your well-being and to be able to enjoy the many facets of life.⁣

To maintain control and awareness of your available hours in a week, scheduling every one of those 168 hours is not unreasonable. ⁣

You can schedule in free time, personal time, even emergency time. ⁣

Ever have someone who needs you for something that is an “emergency” for them, but not you? Unless they are bleeding out, you can tell them when you can meet. It is already planned for in your 168 hours.⁣

Planning provides a boundary.⁣

It is a boundary for yourself as well as for others to get all the things done that are important to you. It is a boundary that aids you in maintaining good health…physically, relationally, and spiritually. ⁣

Making and using a plan of your 168 hours will take some practice. It is like anything else new that you may do. There is a learning curve and a period of discomfort while you get used to it. ⁣

The reward however is freedom and choice.⁣

Freedom to spend your hours where you choose and in a manner that benefits you and the ones you love. ⁣

Isn’t that worth a little effort to give it a try?

Author: Todd Gorishek

Todd is a certified Men’s Life Coach, an entrepreneur, a licensed healthcare professional, a husband, a father, and a world traveler. His mission is to co-create a strong and compassionate world by facilitating transformation through understanding, trust, and empowerment.He received his professional Life Coaching education from Newfield Network, a certified Life Coach training school, and is a member of the International Coach Federation.