Time is a resource that becomes more important the older you get. You realize when you start running short of time that you must manage it.

Listen, you're reading this because you are a high-achiever seeking success. Knowing this means you are very busy doing what you do to get there. This also means that it can feel like you don't have enough time to get to those goals because life is getting in the way.

If you decide not to do something different, to create time in your schedule, nothing will change. We are not going to do that, right?! You will keep making progress on your goals, so it's essential to have the time to focus on what matters.

Let's keep it 100%; you know what really happens. You make a few commitments to change your schedule or block out some time, and then life gets busy again. The challenge of time in your day is consistent because, day-to-day, your schedule changes based on the needs of others around you. Those needs can not be predicted.

I experience the same as a family man, a busy executive, and a servant of people. I struggle with time, just like you. I have found a few systems that work to free up time if you are willing to make a few feasible adjustments. You can do this!

Adopt this focus-90-minute routine, and you will change your life.

These are simple concepts you've heard of before. We'll review the following and discuss unique ways to make it stick.

• Choose a repeatable block of time
• Build your toolbox for deep focus
• Accomplish "one" task, with a few possibles
• Finish strong and rate the session

Right now, you may be reading this article on the go and may not even finish it because life is lifin'! There are just so many distractions that creep into our days. You must intentionally manage your time, or it will not happen.

Here is a method that you can deploy as a better way:

I have implemented this process to go HAM on my workout routine, maintain a 559-day Mandarin learning streak, and start my writing journey. It works.

Let’s get down to business here, step-by-step:

Step 01: Choose a repeatable block of time

Picking your preferred time to start is a critical step in this process. My preferred time is 5 a.m. I wake around 4:30 a.m., rise around 4:45 a.m., and can reach my desk in 15 minutes.

This time works for me because there are no distractions. My family is asleep, no one needs anything from me, and my mind is fresh. I have a physical restraint system, so my dogs don't wake up the rest of the family, but you should get the idea here. You need a repeatable system and time that works for you.

Are you a night owl? Your time could start at 9:30 p.m. or later. The time of day is variable. Setting a repeatable time each day is the crucial part.

There is a method to the madness. Many people have embraced a morning routine because it saves time. I will leave you with a few books that hint at this 5 a.m. cadence.

5 a.m. Routine Books

• Own Your Morning Reset Your Routine To Unlock Your Potential
• The 5 a.m. Miracle - Dominate Your Day Before Breakfast
• The 5 a.m. Club - Owning Your Morning. Elevate Your Life

Morning, afternoon, or night - choose a time of the day that gives you the best chance to repeat a routine with minimum distractions.

Step 02: Build your toolbox for deep focus

You've made it to your designated time but need the tools you need to be successful in focused, deep work.

Not having the right tools available when needed is a failure point. It creeps up often if you are not intentional about your setup. You could not have your favorite notebook handy because you left it at the office. You could be making your morning coffee or tea, but notice you have run out. You could be preparing for focused work, but the dogs have woken up and must go for a walk now.

You must establish an optimal system for focused, deep work in any environment.

Here is my bare-bones setup to ensure that I have success:

1. A quiet environment or noise-cancelling headphones
2. iPhone in Do Not Disturb Mode
3. The ability to journey thoughts (pen and paper)
4. Water

Make a note of this setup as your minimal viable deep work toolkit.

Now, here is my typical setup for writing and deep work:

1. A quiet environment or noise-cancelling headphones
2. iPhone in Do Not Disturb Mode
3. A clean stand/sit desk
4. Access to my iPad for journaling
5. Access to dry-erase markers and a whiteboard or my glass whiteboard desk
6. Water and Coffee are both prepared before 5 a.m.
7. iMac or Macbook Pro setup with minimal tabs for focused work
8. Access to a snack or protein shake

To make this real, I have created a checklist of my ideal deep work setup. Using this checklist, I have everything available when it is time for deep work.

It may take you a few attempts to get it right. Write down your optimal setup checklist that will become your typical environment. Whatever doesn't work as you start this journey, adjust until it does work for you.

Step 03: Accomplish "one" task, with a few possibles

You are now set up for success -- but you need to figure out what to work on. Why are you doing this in the first place? Yes, not having a clear plan of what you need to accomplish and what is next can derail your system of deep work.

Let me give you hope and flexibility here. You are winning even if you sit still in your designated environment, staring into your journal or computer screen. Stay encouraged if you are not as productive as you desire for 60 to 90 minutes of deep work. The goal is to build a consistent time for the work.

Enlist a minimalist system that allows for a to-do list aligned to your goals. I assume you have goals, milestones, and a to-do list of activities for each milestone. If you still need to get this, start here.

You will have a to-do list of one-task activities that you can focus on with possibilities in your backlog available in your toolkit.

What you will focus on for the deep work session is one of the tasks.

One task.

Focus on accomplishing one task.

If you do not finish the task, no worries here. But focus on one.

If you happen to finish before your set ending time, move on to the next "one task."

Remember, the goal is to do work. Make progress.

Step 04: Finish strong and rate the session

Congratulations. You took a step toward your goal. One step forward is an accomplishment. When added together with all the moves you will make, that progress will turn into a milestone met. You are on your way.

To finish strong, take 5 minutes to reflect on what you accomplished during that time. How do you feel? What comes to mind? What would you change about your deep work time?

In your journal, log your sessions by rating them using whatever system works for you. I prefer emoji faces that give me various options to express my feelings. I can then follow that up with any feedback I want to track. A sentence or two. No more.

Find your closing routine that allows for a proper ending.

Pro Tip: Want to take this time up a notch? Find an accountability partner who is on the same journey as you. You can nudge each other when you start or end your routine. It is a shoulder tap, letting each other know you're in the zone.

Your Homework: find a time that works for you and put it into your calendar. Make a reoccurring event and start.

You now have a process that magically created time in your schedule.

TL;DR

01: Choose a repeatable block of time

02: Build your toolbox for deep focus

03: Accomplish "one" task, with a few possibles

04: Finish strong and rate the session

Have a great week. Until next Saturday!