If you have already come across this inspirational and truly accurate perspective of how to manage your time, then you probably don't need to read this.
But, this is such an awesome analogy to how we all really should live our lives, and therefore I wanted to write about it and introduce it to those that may have never come across this.
The idea is to get you thinking about what is most important to you in your life.
The idea is to also help you stay driven and focused so that you can live a life so fulfilling that you'll never look back with any regret.
The idea is to drive stress down and happiness up.
After all, isn't that what most of us strive for in our current life? To be happy? Well, this pertains to effective time management, but I also look at it as an entirely new way of living my life.
So, with that said, let's get into the logic of the rocks in the bucket.
The Rocks in the Bucket If you take an empty bucket and fill it up with big rocks, do you think that bucket is full? What if you added small pebbles to that bucket? You should see the pebbles fill in the gaps of the big rocks.
With the big rocks and small pebbles, is that bucket full now? Nope.
Add sand to the bucket and watch what happens.
The sand fills in the smaller gaps left by the big rocks and small pebbles.
At this point, most people believe that their bucket is completely full.
But in fact, you can still add one more element to your bucket: water.
The water fills in the tiniest of gaps left by the rocks, pebbles, and sand.
So at this point, your bucket is full.
So what is the significance of this? Well, the bucket is a representation of your life or time in general.
The big rocks should represent the most important things in your life.
This could include your family, your children, holidays, big business projects, whatever it is that you deem to be your most important priority or task.
My big rocks include my children, reading them books, playing with them, being involved in their school, as well as my husband (i.
e.
date nights).
Big life goals would also fall into this category, which include running a successful home business, achieving that successful life balance between work and home, on top of raising two healthy and successful individuals.
These are things I should always make time for first and foremost.
The small pebbles represent important tasks, but not as important as your big rocks.
Think about some of the important tasks that you can not overlook, but could compromise if it meant focusing on one of your big rocks.
My small pebbles include spending time with my friends (i.
e.
having a moms night out on occasion), shopping at the grocery store, and paying bills.
Sand represents the less important tasks of your life.
Things like doing laundry, or cleaning the house, washing your car, etc.
Water represents everything else that may or may never get done.
I would include things like reorganizing my pantry, or setting up my DVD collection (does anyone have those anymore?) in alphabetical order into this category.
Would I like to accomplish these tasks...
? Sure.
But I could really care less if I never get to them.
Now of course, everyone will have a different perspective on what's most important to them.
But that's the point.
Categorizing your life in this manner can truly open your eyes to how best you can manage your time.
You are prioritizing your tasks in such a way that you will feel much more accomplished.
Imagine if you put water in the bucket first.
You would never be able to fit in the big rocks or small pebbles.
If you put in the sand or small pebbles first, again, you are compromising your big rocks because you no longer can fit those into your bucket.
Here's the point.
The point is, you truly can fit in a lot more into your time if you play your cards right.
Focus on the big rocks first.
You'll be amazed that by doing so, you will always find the time to accomplish the less important tasks as well.
You'll feel a bigger sense of accomplishment and fulfillment, thus allotting you the opportunity to achieve some of the more mundane and boring tasks...
like organizing your DVD collection in alphabetical order.
Don't sweat the small stuff as they will naturally fall into place at some point.
Don't allow the water tasks to take you away from your child's soccer game (big rock), otherwise you may end up with a life full of regrets.