This week we discuss ways we can use our time productively and make more time for what matters most. Making the best use of our time can help to increase productivity, reduce stress, and challenge our minds Time management is a traditional component of how we think about productivity. Although we can’t “manage” time in the sense of creating more of it or banking it or moving it around, we can manage how we use our time--what we do with the 24 hours we have in each day--and we can learn to be more effective in how we do that.   We all get to choose what we do with our time, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Each of us can decide how to make the best, most effective use of our time given our circumstances: our age, stage of life, personality type, relationships, and so on. There are, however, certain universal concepts when it comes to using our time--some uses are more productive, others are less. Planning  What should we plan and why? We should do regular planning for our day and week, as well as planning for projects and events. Planning increases awareness. Make sure you’re clear on what you’re doing and how it lines up with your intended outcome. Planning also helps to avoid lost time due to oversights, such as missed steps or missing materials. Learning  What should we learn and why? We should focus on learning new skills, both personal and professional, and new information. Learning is always something that can contribute to our productivity, both in the sense of getting things done that matter to us and making a life that matters. Learning leads to personal growth because it can boost self-confidence. Learning something new can reignite our motivation and widen our perspective and expand our understanding of the world. Learning can lead to career advancement by making ourselves more useful. According to an article from Walden University, “Only 25% of hiring managers say job seekers have the skills their company needs. If you want to increase your chances of getting a good job, you’ll want to take the time to acquire the skills employers are looking for.”   Learning can keep our brain healthy. Many studies show that continuing to challenge your brain by learning new things can help keep your mind sharp as you age. (Check out Harvard Medical School’s Harvard Health Blog post: Back to school: Learning a new skill can slow cognitive aging.) Creative pursuits  What creative activities should we pursue and why? It can be anything you might enjoy - writing (fiction, nonfiction, poetry, screenplays, letters, journals), painting, singing, playing an instrument, needlework, gardening, dance, bullet journaling. I’ve bought a Cricut (cutting machine) and have been having fun learning how to use it to create greeting cards, labels, and tons of other things. I've never been artsy or crafty before, but I'm really enjoying it. Creative pursuits can lead to personal satisfaction and happiness. “You’ve probably heard of flow — it’s the state you get in when you’re completely absorbed in something. Have you ever been working on a project and completely lost all sense of self and time? That’s flow. It reduces anxiety, boosts your mood, and even slows your heart rate.It’s not just being in flow that helps your happiness. Repetitive creative motions like knitting, drawing,