Declutter your schedule for more self-determination
Do you sometimes feel like a hamster on a wheel—constantly busy, but at the end of the day wondering what you've actually achieved? Welcome to our eighth time impulse: Clear Time—the art of decluttering your schedule and making room for what's really important.
Why we need to clarify time
In our modern world, we don't suffer from a lack of time, but rather from a lack of clarity about how we use our time. Like an overflowing wardrobe in which we “can't find anything to wear” despite having numerous items, our schedules are often filled with activities that don't really help us move forward.
The truth is uncomfortable: we all have exactly 24 hours per day—no more and no less. Time is life, and how you use this precious resource determines the quality of your existence. Clarity about time is therefore not a luxury, but a necessity for a self-determined life.
The four relief questions: Your tool for time clarity
To gain true clarity about your time, you need a simple but effective tool: the four relief questions. These questions help you examine every activity and commitment for its true value:
1. Is this activity meaningful at all, and does it contribute to my goals?
The first and most important question gets right to the heart of the matter: Is this activity even worth it? Does it support your long-term goals, your values, or your well-being? Or is it just a remnant of past commitments?
If the answer is “no,” there is only one logical conclusion: Eliminate it. Remove this activity from your life completely. This may sound radical, but the liberation that comes with it is incomparable.
2. Do I have to do this task myself?
If a task is truly important, the next question is: Are you really the only person who can do it? Or could someone else—a colleague, family member, or external service provider—do it just as well or even better?
If the answer is “no,” delegate. Hand the task over to someone who is better suited to it. Delegation is not a weakness, but a sign of strength and leadership.
3. Do I have to do it immediately?
Urgency and importance are not the same thing. Many tasks seem urgent but are not really important. Others are important but not urgent. The distinction is crucial.
If “no”: Schedule or put it on hold. Consciously plan the task for a later date when it fits better into your rhythm or when you have more resources available.
4. Do I have to do it exactly like that?
The last question concerns efficiency: Is there a better, faster, or easier way to accomplish this task?
If “no”: Optimize. Find ways to make the task more effective or efficient. Sometimes a small change in the process can save a lot of time.
The Clear Time Process: Practical Implementation
Time clarity is not a one-time event, but a continuous process. Here is a practical guide on how to integrate the Clear Time process into your everyday life:
- Review: Take 30 minutes to list all the regular activities, commitments, and projects that take up your time.
- Evaluation: Apply the four relief questions to each individual item. Be honest with yourself.
- Decision: Make clear decisions: delete, delegate, schedule, or optimize.
- Implementation: Implement your decisions consistently. Communicate clearly when you delegate tasks or terminate commitments.
- Reflection: Regularly check how your time clarity is developing. What changes do you notice in your well-being, productivity, and satisfaction?
The added value of time clarity
If you consistently apply the Clear Time process, you will experience remarkable changes:
- More energy: Less clutter means more vitality for the things that really matter to you.
- Higher quality: Focusing on fewer activities leads to better results.
- Greater satisfaction: Feeling in control of your time increases your well-being.
- Reduced stress: Fewer obligations mean less pressure and overload.
The next steps
Clarity about time begins with a conscious decision. Here are three concrete steps you can take today:
- Identify three time wasters: Which three activities in your everyday life don't really get you anywhere? Apply the four relief questions to them.
- Create a no-list: Write down at least five things that you will consciously stop doing in the future.
- Schedule weekly clear-time sessions: Reserve 15 minutes per week to declutter and reorganize your schedule.
Reflection question for today:
What am I going to delete, delegate, or postpone for good today?
Take a moment to think about which item on your to-do list could be removed for good today—and how does that make you feel?
This time impulse is part of our Your Time principle—a philosophy that helps you develop a new awareness of your personal time and manage it more confidently. Discover all 28 time impulses and change your view of time.
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