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Hi Reader,

At a training conference in Europe years ago, I met a wonderful colleague from Sweden. One day, as I was hurrying off somewhere, she gently placed her hand on my arm and said, “Barbara, there is no rush. In Sweden, we like to say, ‘We have all the time we need.’”

So why do we so often feel like we never get anything done?

Perhaps it’s because we’ve never learned how to use the time given to us.

As I get older, I often feel like time is slipping away faster than ever. But what if we truly had all the time we needed? And what if we used this time to get important stuff done?

What would that change for you?

One way to help organize your time is by sorting through your priorities and figure out what’s urgent and what’s important.

Important tasks contribute to your personal or professional goals, while urgent tasks often demand immediate attention, and are usually for someone else’s agenda.

The key takeaway? Make time to focus on important things before they become urgent.

Rocks, pebbles and sand

Stephen Covey, author of the best-selling book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, talks about a “big rocks” productivity jar, which is a metaphor for time management.

We all have a tendency to focus on small simple tasks, instead of prioritizing the more important yet challenging tasks.

In this jar;

• The big rocks represent the important priorities.
• The pebbles are less important tasks.
• The sand is made up of little, everyday distractions.

If you fill the jar with sand and pebbles first, there’s no room for the big rocks.

But if you put the big rocks in first, you can fit pebbles and sand around them.

The lesson: Prioritize your most important tasks (big rocks) first, and fit the less important things around them (pebbles and sand).

Also, getting a bigger jar won’t solve the problem. It’ll just give you more room to cram in extra priorities!

Making time

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the “rocks” and “sand” in your life, maybe it’s time to revisit the Swedish idea that we truly have all the time we need.

Are you filling your days with too many little distractions, or are your most important priorities front and centre?

Remember, time is always on our side. It all comes down to how we choose to use it.

Curious about how to make the most of your time? Hit reply, type “TIME” and let’s chat about finding all the time you need.

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P.S. Since we’re talking about managing time, I’d like to take a quick trip back in time. After last week’s article, "Are You a Healthy Planner?" I heard from many readers that the topic resonated with them, especially my chicken salad photo.

Maybe it was a test to see how many of you are actually reading my newsletter. Judging by the responses, quite a few of you do!

So, for all the summer salad lovers and advance planners, I’ve included the recipe below. It’s a perfect make-ahead meal for those midweek slumps. And in return, I’d love to hear how you are planning your meals in advance!

(I never thought I would include a recipe in my PM newsletters!)

Chicken and Roasted Veggie Salad

Ingredients:

• 1 roasted chicken (store-bought or homemade, shredded or chopped)
• Assorted vegetables (carrots, beets, parsnips, asparagus, or your favourites), cut into bite-sized pieces
• Olive oil
• Balsamic vinegar
• Feta cheese, crumbled
• Roasted pepita seeds
• Spring mix, lettuce, tomatoes, and radishes (or any colorful greens you like)

For the dressing:

• Olive oil
• Fresh garlic (minced)
• Lemon juice
• Dijon mustard
• Maple syrup
• Fresh cracked pepper

Roast the Veggies:

Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Toss the cut vegetables in olive oil and a splash of balsamic vinegar. Spread them on a baking sheet and roast until tender, about 20–30 minutes.

Prepare the Salad:

In a large bowl, combine your lettuce, spring mix, tomatoes, and radishes. Add the roasted vegetables and shredded chicken on top. Sprinkle with feta cheese and roasted pepita seeds.

Make the Dressing:

Whisk together olive oil, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and maple syrup to taste. Drizzle over the salad.

Serve and Enjoy!

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Are You a Healthy Planner? Plan your chicken salad

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