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Time is our only non-renewable resource. We don\\u2019t have limits when it comes to health, wealth, happiness, fulfillment, etc. Time, however, is limited. No matter how you spend it, there are only 24 hours in the day. So how do some people seem to accomplish so much more in the same 24 hours? We\\u2019re going to dive into that, but first, let\\u2019s take a look at how people operate.

Have you ever noticed what most people\\u2019s default answer is when you ask them how they\\u2019ve been? Most people reply with something non-descriptive like \\u201cI\\u2019m good\\u201d or even \\u201cI\\u2019m great\\u201d. One response I hear more often than not though is, \\u201cBusy\\u201d. Everyone feels busy. Everyone is busy. In today\\u2019s world, we have so many things vying for our attention \\u2013 some important and others not worthy of said attention. We\\u2019re constantly inundated with news, politics, social media, emails, mail, advertisements, etc. With so much going on, it can be hard to determine what to focus on and what not to.

But one thing is certain. People are busy. And even if we\\u2019re not, we still make ourselves believe we are. Busy has become a badge we wear with honor. But are we as busy as we think?

Think to a time when you thought, I would like to *insert whatever here*, but I just don\\u2019t have time to. Then you proceed to spend hours of screen time on your phone and TV, doing things that don\\u2019t merit the time you\\u2019re devoting to them.

How does Elon Musk run 3 companies with goals to inhabit Mars, make space travel viable, build electric cars, and make solar power the main energy source on Earth? Meanwhile, you\\u2019re trying to get 8 hours of sleep and simply work out 3 times a week but can\\u2019t seem to manage that. How is this possible?! What are you doing wrong?

Time just seems to slip away from you. Don\\u2019t let it do that. Rather, guard your time. Protect it. Don\\u2019t let it slip away or get consumed with actions that don\\u2019t put you closer to your goals. How? Time blocking.

Yes, the solution is time blocking. Time blocking, as defined by WikiHow, is a type of scheduling that can help you manage your time better. Instead of working by the clock, you can focus on finishing big and small tasks one at a time. This will help you limit distractions, get things done faster, and leave you less overwhelmed by lengthy to-do lists.

One of the underlying principles of time blocking is setting aside time to do the important things first. Rather than letting your day fill up with tasks as they get thrown at you.

Let\\u2019s look at 5 ways you can start time blocking.

1. Identify which tasks you should start time blocking first. Many have heard the Pareto Principle, more commonly referred to as the 80/20 rule. This principle says that 20% of your actions are responsible for 80% of your results. So start your time blocking calendar with adding those 20% actions. It might take you some time to identify what exactly those are, but you probably have a pretty good idea to start with.
2. Determine how you are going to manage your calendar, either physical or electronic. Each has their advantages and disadvantages. There\\u2019s no one better option. Just use the one that works for you and that you\\u2019ll actually use. For electronic calendars, Google Calendars, Microsoft Outlook, and Calendar on Mac are all good (and free) options.
3. Create start and stop times for your day. Determine what time you are going to start your day, and what you need to first accomplish. Do the same for the evening, when you are wrapping up your day. This will set parameters for your day, making sure you give yourself time to sleep (which needs it\\u2019s own time block alone!).
4. Schedule that first task on your calendar. Set aside a certain amount of time to accomplish this task, uninterrupted by emails, texts, etc. Sit down and accomplish that task in the time you set aside. Don\\u2019t worry if you go over or under the time you scheduled. You can start to tweak your calendar as you go through...'