Wish you "had time"? Here's how to make it.

This may come as a complete surprise to you, but there isn't any such thing as "not having time" or not having "enough time." 

And that's because we all have time.  We all get 24 hours every single day.  Over and over and over.  We all have the same amount of time.  Always.

The REAL question is:  Where are you spending your time?

How much free time do you think you have in a day?  Most people I talk to tell me they have no free time:  zero hours to do something they're not already doing.  So when people think about preserving their photos and memories, or reading that book they've been meaning to get to, or taking up a hobby, they're pretty convinced they don't have time.  How true is it?

According to {socialmediatoday.com}, people spend an average of 2 hours a day on social media.  And according to the {nydailynews}, people spend an average of 5 hours a day watching TV.

A. DAY.

This obviously isn't true for everyone, I know.  But time management is an issue for everyone.  Whether you're good at managing time or bad at it, our time is ours to manage.

What types of things do you wish you "had time" for?  I often hear people "wish" they had time for getting their photos off their phones or cameras and doing something meaningful with them.

So how do we turn that "wish" into reality?  Memories fade so quickly that making time to preserve them is very important.  And this, too, is true:

We know we have THIS moment.  Henry David Thoreau gave us a little perspective in his essay Walden when he wrote:  "...as if we could kill time without injuring eternity."  Using the moments we know we have for important things takes a little prioritizing and planning, but important things are always the most meaningful and rewarding.

I read a couple of articles recently that I'd like to share bits of with you that can help you "make time." 

{This great article} called "How to Make More Time For the Things You Love,"  gives some excellent tips on how to "prune" your days.  This will be a great resource for you if you're looking for more time to do something important.  To summarize Elsie's suggestions:

• delete anything excessive (things you're doing too much of)
• delete anything you're duplicating (like multiple shopping trips)
• delegate (what chores could your kids be doing, for example?)
• consolidate (meal prep, errands, etc.)
• make a plan to do it (don't hope for the time, plan for it)
• consider creating a ritual, a regular time
• use your time wisely

Naomi at {www.planitonapostit.com} observed that when we "have a lot on our plates, we suppress the ability to create."   Have you ever thought about it that way?  Remember--{creativity isn't for "creative" people.  We all create all the time.}  Our ability to create relates to creating new ideas or new ways of doing things as much as it relates to actually creating something tangible.  So making time to create is necessary!

Speaking of tangible, let's go back to trying to make time for your photos.  Here are a couple of posts that are specific to making time for preserving photos and memories.  See which tips and ideas would work for YOU.

• {How do you find time for memory-keeping?}
• {Mythbusting: the memory-keeping myth of not enough time.}  Be sure you click the link there to the "Selective is the New Smart" post--it's a great perspective.

What do you think?  What could you change?  What could you prioritize, plan, or prune?  How could you create a ritual or even a family activity so you can  #makesomethingmeaningful?

Share these tips on your favorite social media platform.