The Mirror - Management
Self-Management Versus Time Management?
So, I have been off-traveling the world for the past couple of weeks, and I decided to do a complete reset for April 1st and fully commit to the next three months of a health transformation. Blogging is a weekly goal of mine, but daily I write - As ideas come to me, I start a draft page and then return to the ideas later to explore and develop the thought. Just a draft I started in January of this year focuses on management. The key concept is the difference between time management and self-management. Time is an infinite idea, and how we manage our time has nothing to do with our success. It's the way we manage ourselves.
Are we entirely committed to managing ourselves to accomplish our goals and recognizing the independent variables that stand in the way we create through our demise?
My self-management journey started about 2 years ago after reading Atomic Habits by James Clear. The book greatly impacted me and my ability to achieve desired outcomes. I thought everyone who reads it would have a life-changing experience similar to mine, but I found that not to be the case. In fact, most read it and toss it aside like it is a Sunday paper. This inattention to making lifestyle changes fascinated me, and I wish I could say I only noticed this with friends. My family and even my husband fell victim to this inability to recognize the power of daily moments to shape their future.
Self-management is exactly that—how you manage yourself, daily steps that shape who you want to become. The content in this blog will focus on daily habits and time usage, but self-management touches every aspect of our lives. Relationships, professional and personal, finances, integrity, and motivation are a few others. As a society, we are constantly on the hamster wheel of time, complaining there is not enough time in an hour, day, week, or month to complete things or accomplish tasks.
This blog is meant to challenge that thought process of time being the barrier and think - MAYBE you are the barrier! Just take a moment and think about how you continue to create excuses why there's not enough time in one day. For example, you want to make it to the gym, but you feel that each day, you are limited with the amount of time. Everybody has something going on, from children to dogs to busy work or even caring for an elderly family member. The point is you have 24 hours in one day and should be able to focus on accomplishing what is important to you. That is where the difference between time management and self-management comes in. With daily habits it is not a matter of IF but WHEN.
So, as I reset and recommit to my personal goals this April, I'm reminded that true progress doesn't come from squeezing more into our calendars—it comes from showing up for ourselves with intention. Time is not our enemy. It doesn't need managing—we do. The truth is, we make the time for what truly matters. And if we don't, we need to ask ourselves: Why not?
This journey of self-management is not about perfection. It's about awareness, discipline, and owning our choices. The next three months are not just a health transformation for me—they're a reminder that I am in charge of my effort, habits, and, ultimately, my life.
Let this be your invitation, too—to stop blaming time and start leading yourself.
Because when you master self-management, time will always be on your side.
Disclaimer:
The content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified health professionals with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition. Never disregard or delay seeking professional medical advice based on information you have read here.
