Reclaiming your time is a transformative aspect that holds immense emotional and spiritual significance. In the fast-paced and demanding world we live in, time often slips away from us, leaving us feeling overwhelmed and disconnected from our spiritual path. However, by embracing organization and systemization, you can regain control over your time and create a sacred container for your spiritual practices and soulful pursuits.

Here are five steps to help you reclaim your time in midlife so you can experience more joy, fulfillment, and flow in midlife and beyond.

1. Evaluate Your Priorities

The first step in reclaiming your time in midlife is to assess your priorities and reflect on what truly matters to you on a deeper soul level. Having this kind of clarity allows you to properly evaluate activities so you can align your time and energy with those things that bring you the most enjoyment and bring you closer to your life vision.

Too often, we do things because we feel we have to, which robs time away from the activities that nourish our souls and deepens our spiritual connection. By filling our schedule with “to do’s” we take valuable time away from more meaningful and fulfilling activities and in effect, we feel that there just isn’t enough time.

So, before you add another “to do” to your calendar, ask yourself the following questions:

• Is this task or activity something that has to be done or is just busy work?
  • We get so used to having a full schedule that we often invent things to do (busy work) to make ourselves feel productive.
• If the answer is yes, what makes this task or activity a must do?
  • What is so important about this task that it gets a place on our calendar? Sometimes there aren’t any negative consequences for not doing a task or delaying completing a task. Instead, sometimes we feel obligated to do things because someone else has told us that it should be done, not because it actually needs to be done.
• What’s the worst thing that can happen if I don’t do it or delay it?
  • Is there a deadline, or is it possible to delay this task, or do it less frequently?
• Is there anyone else who could do it?
  • Sometimes, we may feel that no one else could possibly do the task, or at least not as good as we can do it ourselves, so we overextend ourselves. Instead, try to delegate tasks that don’t require your personal involvement or action.
• Can I batch it with other similar tasks?
  • If you have multiple tasks to complete, such as different errands, consolidate them together and do them all at once in one single time block. For instance if you need to pick up a prescription, wash your car, and return a purchase that didn’t fit, plan your time so that you can do all three of these errands in the same afternoon so you free up time on other days.
• Is there a time of day that you are more productive?
  • We often have the most energy during certain times of day. Some of us are the dreaded “morning people” while others of us are more “night owls.” If we try to do complicated tasks that require lots of effort during times of low energy, tasks take longer and exhaust us mentally and physically. Try to schedule tasks that require the most effort and energy during your most productive times to increase efficiency.

2. Set Clearly Defined Boundaries

Boundaries are essential when it comes to reclaiming your time in midlife. Learning to say no to activities, commitments, and relationships that drain your energy and detract from your personal and spiritual fulfillment, is the best way to free up your time.

It’s important for you to honor your own personal needs and establish healthy boundaries that protect your time and preserve your inner peace. By setting clear boundaries, you create space for the activities that align with yourideal life vision, empowering you to invest your time and energy in a way that honors your soul’s desires.

3. Streamline Your Schedule

Have you ever “jumped on” Tik Tok or Instagram and ended up spending an hour (or even more) watching cat videos? That’s time you can never get back.

To maximize your time, identify activities that distract you from other more important priorities and eliminate or minimize these distractions. This allows you to free up valuable time that can be redirected towards activities that support your personal growth journey.

Not that I’m against those adorable cat videos, or social media, but it’s better to set limits on these type of activities. So, if you want to take 15 minutes to watch cute cat videos, because you love cats and it gives you lots of joy, then add that time into your calendar. The trick is to set a timer whenever you’re on your on a device so when your allotted time is up, you can easily switch gears and move on to something else.

4. Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness can be a powerful tool to reclaim your time in midlife. By cultivating awareness of the present moment and what is most important to you, you are better able to make conscious choices about how you spend your time so you get the most out of whatever time you have available.

Being mindful includes avoiding multitasking, as it disperses your energy and diminishes the quality of your experience as well as your output. Instead, practice “single-tasking,” and devote your undivided attention to one activity at a time.

This mindful approach to time management allows you to savor each moment and make the most of your spiritual practices and other daily activities.

5. Create Rituals and Routines

Incorporating habits, routines, and sacred rituals can deepen your spiritual connection and help you feel more energized and focused, while also helping you to make the most of your allocated time.

Consider establishing a morning or evening routine or ritual that sets the tone for your day and is easy to repeat each day. Habits and routines provide structure and and become second-nature, therefore saving time in the long run.

Creating sacred rituals and spiritual practices also helps promote balance and increase life satisfaction in the 8 core life focus areas. So, make sure that you prioritize these rituals and honor their importance in your life, so you feel less stress and more in harmony.

Reclaiming your time in midlife is a transformative practice that aligns your daily activities with your personal and spiritual growth paths. It allows you to infuse each moment with intention and purpose, fostering a deep connection with your higher self and the divine. By following these five tips to reclaim your time in midlife, you empower yourself to create a harmonious balance between your responsibilities, self-care, and personal growth practices.

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