Tips for Making Purposeful Time Choices

People don’t lose time. They waste it without noticing. A few years ago, I was drowning in busywork. My calendar looked full, but nothing meaningful was getting done. The shift happened when a mentor said: “You’re not overwhelmed. You’re operating without intention.” It stung. But it changed everything. I rebuilt how I worked, and my entire relationship with time transformed. Here are 8 simple steps that helped me finally take control of my attention: 1/ 2-Minute Rule. ↳ If it takes less than two minutes, do it immediately. Pro Tip: Set a 120-second phone timer to trigger instant action. 2/ Getting Things Done Method. ↳ Capture everything so your brain stops juggling unfinished loops. Pro Tip: Externalizing tasks lowers cognitive load and reduces stress. 3/ Eisenhower Matrix. ↳ Stop reacting. Start leading. Pro Tip: Prioritize based on impact, not who shouts the loudest. 4/ Task Batching. ↳ Group similar tasks to eliminate mental switching costs. Pro Tip: One batch for admin, one for creative, one for communication. 5/ Schedule It. ↳ If it’s not on your calendar, it’s not happening. Pro Tip: Treat your calendar like a contract with your future self. 6/ Plan Ahead. ↳ A few minutes of Sunday planning makes Monday feel lighter. Pro Tip: Keep it simple: 3 priorities, not a project plan. 7/ Pomodoro Technique. ↳ 25 minutes on, quick break, repeat. Pro Tip: Intervals prevent mental fatigue and keep you in flow. 8/ Monk Mode. ↳ Protect distraction-free windows so deep work can finally happen. Pro Tip: Communicate your focus blocks, it teaches your team to do the same. Mastering your time has nothing to do with squeezing more into your day. It’s about eliminating the noise so the meaningful work can rise. If you don’t own your time, someone else will. _________ ♻️ Share this with a leader who needs more focus and less chaos. 👋 Want a calmer mind and clearer days? Follow me (Dr. Chris Mullen) and get one actionable idea each week that helps you live with more intention: https://lnkd.in/gJTcghKK

Career & Leadership Tip: Don't confuse rest with avoidance. This tip may ruffle some feathers but a few years ago, I was juggling speaking engagements, leading a school, and running a business. I thought the answer was to take time off, thinking that stepping away from everything would help me recharge. However, I quickly realized that this wasn’t the solution. There was a time when I would call out sick to take a mental health day, thinking I just needed a break to reset. But instead of taking the time to truly recharge, I’d spend the day scrolling through social media, mindlessly consuming content, or doing other things that didn’t actually help me recover. By the end of the day, I’d still return to work mentally drained, and it would feel like I need more time. I know there’s someone reading this thinking, "Sometimes it’s okay to do nothing," and yes, I agree. But I would challenge that thought by saying: true rest doesn’t come from doing nothing in a way that leaves you feeling more exhausted. Rest is intentional. It’s about recharging in a way that fuels you, not just avoiding the work. For me, that meant planning my time wisely, being fully engaged with my kids and wife, taking time for recovery that helped me come back stronger, not more drained. This personal experience has helped me realize true self-care isn’t about escaping responsibilities; it’s about recharging so you can face them head-on. I shifted my approach by prioritizing strategic planning, breaking down my goals into manageable steps, and scheduling intentional rest alongside my work. This balance helped me avoid burnout and become a more effective leader in my business and family. Actionable Steps: Strategic Planning – Break down your goals into yearly, quarterly, and monthly steps to create clarity and structure. Set Intentional Rest – Schedule breaks that genuinely recharge you, not ones that avoid the work. Balance Work and Recovery ��� Plan for both focused work and recovery to maintain energy and focus. By shifting my mindset, I was able to balance hard work with rest, leading with more purpose and clarity in both my career and personal life. Now it's your turn to Take The Lead.

If you don’t control your time, someone else will. 7 time management frameworks to own your time: 1) Measuring my time At the age of 14, I started preparing for engineering exams, only to realise I just could not manage my time. So I recorded every hour of my day; I did this for 13 years. Just this act of measurement led to the act of improvement. Do it for 10 days and you will see the difference. 2) Time blocking I realised context switching was taking a toll. I started blocking 2-3 hours and have been doing so till date. Monday AM: X Monday PM: Y Tuesday all day: Z 3) Win the week, not the day Think of your week as your time unit, not your day. Think of what you wish to achieve in a week. And split your week to achieve that. 4) Single source of action We are constantly being fed a to-do list. From multiple sources. What helps me is to have a single source of action - my emails. It can be a to-do app for you, a notebook, or post-its - anything except your memory. 5) Create repeatable tasks I am a student of processes. So my endeavour is - find something I need to do in life, and find a way to convert it into a recurring task which I can add to my calendar. It builds a habit, routine, and discipline for your mind. 6) Setup distraction time Our mind craves distraction because we make it a forbidden fruit. Do the opposite. Set up time to waste time. 7) Zoom out We struggle to manage time, because we look at it in a micro way. Go back to the macro. What do you want to achieve this month, quarter, or year? What are the big milestones that will get you there (or tell you that you are on the path)? Did that happen this week? If yes - great. If not - go back to step 1 and figure out what went wrong. Repeat every week.

Most people spend 80% of their time on the wrong type of work. (here's how to fix it): I discovered there are 4 types of professional time—and the balance between them determines whether you're stuck in place or building something extraordinary. For years, I was drowning in meetings, calls, and emails. Busy all day but never making real progress. Then I mapped out where my time actually went. The 4 types: Management Time (Red): Meetings, emails, presentations. The stuff that fills most calendars. Creation Time (Green): Writing, building, coding. Where actual work gets done. Consumption Time (Blue): Reading, learning, listening. Where new ideas are planted. Ideation Time (Yellow): Thinking, journaling, walking. Where breakthroughs happen. Here's the reality check: Color code your calendar for one week. Most people discover 80% is red—pure management time bleeding across every day. Creation gets squeezed into tiny gaps. Consumption and ideation? Basically non-existent. This is why you feel stuck. The activities that create 10x outcomes: creation, consumption, and ideation, get zero dedicated space. Here are three fixes that changed everything for me: 1. Batch Management Time Create 1-3 blocks daily for emails and meetings. Keep the red contained instead of letting it spread like wildfire. 2. Protect Creation Time Block it on your calendar. Turn off notifications. This is where your best work happens. 3. Schedule Consumption & Ideation Start with one hour weekly for each. History's most successful people all made space for reading and thinking. There's a reason. The truth? Your calendar reveals your future. If it's all management, you'll manage. If you make space for creation and thinking, you'll build. Watch the full breakdown to optimize your professional time.

You don’t need more hours. You need better systems. Time isn’t the problem, attention is. These 6 time management strategies have helped me regain control, reduce burnout, and actually finish what matters. Here’s how to use them (plus how to start 👇): 1) Conduct a Time Audit Most people don’t need more time, they need more clarity on where it’s going. How to start: Track how you spend each hour for 2–3 days Group tasks into categories (work, admin, distraction, etc.) Spot time leaks and areas to optimize 2) Focus on One Thing at a Time Multitasking feels productive, but it lowers your output and increases errors. How to start: Choose one task and set a timer (e.g., 25 or 50 minutes) Turn off notifications and close unused tabs Don’t switch until the timer ends 3) Give Yourself a Reward Motivation increases when there’s a small win at the finish line. How to start: Set a reward tied to task completion (coffee break, walk, snack) Keep it small but satisfying Don’t skip the reward even for easy tasks 4) Use Apps to Block Distractions Your brain craves stimulation. Removing temptation boosts focus without willpower. How to start: Try apps like Freedom, Cold Turkey, or Forest Block distracting sites during work windows Set boundaries for phone use during deep work 5) Time Block Your Calendar What gets scheduled gets done. Time blocks turn intention into execution. How to start: Plan your day the night before Block 60–90 min chunks for deep work Include buffer time and breaks to avoid burnout 6) Set Clear Daily Priorities If everything is important, nothing is. Prioritization saves hours of indecision. How to start: Identify your top 1–3 priorities each morning Tackle them before checking email or messages Review your list at day’s end to track progress You don’t need to master all 6. Start with one. Build from there. ✨ Small shifts create major clarity.

What’s Your Relationship with Time? Time is more than a resource—it’s a silent partner in your success as an entrepreneur. Yet, how often do we treat it as the enemy, something to outsmart, instead of something to align with? I’ve seen it time and time again: entrepreneurs who feel like they're running a marathon but the finish line keeps moving. They’re busy—but are they effective? The truth is, managing time isn’t really about managing minutes. It’s about managing your choices. One client I worked with shifted her entire approach to time by abandoning the myth of "getting it all done." Instead, she focused on something revolutionary: aligning her energy with her priorities. She started by asking herself three questions at the end of each week: -What should I start doing that supports my goals? -What should I stop doing that drains time and energy? -What should I continue doing because it’s working? This "Start-Stop-Continue" reflection transformed her schedule—and her mindset. She became more intentional, less overwhelmed, and, most importantly, more present for what mattered most. Are you spending your time intentionally, or are you letting it slip through your fingers? What can you stop doing this week to create more white space to think, create, and recharge? Have you made time for nothing lately? As you prepare to start a new week, let’s remember this: time isn’t meant to be maxed out; it’s meant to serve your vision, your work, and your life. What choice will you make today to align your time with what truly matters? #SundayThoughts #TimeManagement

Instead of ‘what’ you’re going to do, start with ‘why’ you’re going to do it. कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचनमा। This lesson from the Bhagavad Gita shows that we can only control our efforts, not the results. When you waste time during important work, you might think that working harder or spending more time will make you productive. But this way of thinking often leads to endless work without a sense of accomplishment. I learned that instead of thinking too much about what I wanted to achieve, it was better to plan my time well. Set up time blocks for work and important tasks like job projects, family time, eating well, hobbies, or exercise. Don't worry about whether tasks will get finished or not, because while you can control the effort you put in, you can't always control the results. What matters is that you set aside time and stay focused during that time. I saw that my calendar had to show what was important to me. Make it a habit to review and adjust your schedule regularly so that it aligns with your goals.

“How do you have the time [to do all that]?” I get this question at least once a week—some people are genuinely curious, others are a bit more skeptical. My answer: I am extremely intentional (some might say obsessive) about how I manage and spend my time. It really is that simple. We make time for what we prioritize.* One pro of the billable hour is that I can see exactly where my work time goes. I know where I stand against my goals and my firm’s expectations. That visibility helps me manage my calendar, client work, professional brand, and all the other obligations that come with this career. When I do it right, most days I have enough hours left to have dinner and play a game with my husband, play tennis or work out, take a nap, relax with my dogs, read for fun, or learn something new. Not every day, of course—but that’s okay. I know what I’ve signed up for, and I know what I’m working toward. Recently, I reminded my husband (and myself), “My career will always come first.” He said, “I’ve always known that.” That kind of communication is important. Regularly checking in with your supporters, friends, and family—and with yourself—helps make sure everyone is on the same page, and that your goals and priorities are aligned (or adjusted as life changes, which it will). Intentional time management isn’t about doing it all, all the time. It’s about being honest about your priorities, managing your energy, communicating clearly, and making space for the things and people that matter—to you. If you want more time for what matters, start by getting clear on what you’re working toward, and be willing to adjust as life changes. The rest is up to you and your daily choices. ✌🏻♥️🔥 *I also want to acknowledge privilege: I have a lot of support, both personally and professionally. That’s a benefit of being part of the big law machine. I’ve also made the personal choice not to have children, which of course impacts my freedom and flexibility. I know that’s not everyone’s path. And, still: I see many working parents achieving extraordinary things with their time and careers—often because they, too, are intentional and mindful about how they spend it. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed here are solely my own and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Husch Blackwell LLP or any other organization. Examples are generalized and do not reflect current client matters or firm positions.