I have a depressing challenge for you. I say this only with love because the first time I did it over a year ago I was so disappointed in myself. It is, however, the best way to begin to change your life. Today we are talking about PRIORITIES!

For the next couple of days, account for every hour of your life. In a little notebook, write down how long you spend on each activity you engage in. Examples: working, sleeping, drinking, reading, writing, commuting, cleaning, Instagram, checking e-mail.

You don’t need to get it down the single minute, but get as close as you can without losing your mind. After the couple of days is up, total your numbers. How many hours did you spend scrolling through Instagram? How many at the gym?

With this snapshot you’ll easily begin to see where all your time goes and what your priorities are. I know, I know, you want to argue that commuting isn’t a priority but a must. But I must ask, are you using that time productively? If you’re on a train or bus, are you writing or reading? If you’re driving, are inventing characters in your head? Testing out dialogue in their voice? It sounds crazy, but it works!

Now that you’ve recorded your time, go about trimming off excess Facebook time and turn it into productive writing time! Little by little, you’ll see your priorities change. Do this every 6 months or so to see how you are doing. Remember… only YOU can change your life!