By Chuck Groot

So here we have the proverbial conundrum, I am telling you to do one thing but the dictionary says that you will be doing the opposite. The MacMillan dictionary defines “blocking off” as meaning one of two things. 1. To cover or close something completely so that nothing can move through it; and 2. To completely stop something from happening or progressing. Yet, as far as I am concerned, you will not succeed unless you block off you time. Indeed, it is imperative to block off time in order to focus on what is most important in your life or your business.

Too often we are distracted by the immediate and the immediate may not be that which is most important. Gary Keller, co-founder and chairman of the world renown Keller Williams Realty company, uses a technique called “time blocking”, so that he can have laser focus and avoid useless distraction to work on what is MOST important for him at that time.

It’s simple - schedule your most important tasks first. That is, if it is the best time of the day for you. Herein lies the key, always schedule your most important tasks during the time of the day that you are on top of your game. Why save your best energy and effort for second rate activities?

Finish the task! If possible, finish the task you started out on. Just like an ocean liner chugging along on its voyage. If you stop the ship, it will take forever to get it going again. Getting that flow started is hard at the best of times, let alone starting and stopping several times.

One of the most important things to block time off for is to dream, envision, plan, and strategize your life and business. There is an old saying that goes like this, “If you aren’t growing – you are dying.” It is true. If you don’t take the time to look at your life and business and see where you are going, you will go nowhere. If you don’t take the time to plan your future, your future will be determined by others.  If you are not working on your perfect day, then you are working on someone else’s perfect day.

Just as important as looking to the future, you need to spend time looking back. Looking at what you are grateful for. Looking at what you can improve. Looking at what you have accomplished and should celebrate. That is why most games keep score, to see what has been accomplished and to see who wins.

Let people know what you are doing. Let those who are close to you know that you need their help in keeping you accountable for blocking off your time and keeping it sacred. The better you do, the better off they will be. They will know that when you spend time with them, it will be cherished time, because they know you respect time. You will be much more relaxed and rested because you will be in control of your life.  Financially, you will be better off and because of that, they will be better off.

Don’t be embarrassed, uncomfortable, or apologetic; it is your time, your life, and your success.

By doing this you will find that your productivity will explode, your quality will improve, and your creativity will flourish.