What is time freedom?
Freedom of time is the ability to choose when and how you want to work without being restricted by a schedule.
This means you can work whenever and wherever you want as long as you get the job done.
One of the hardest shifts for most entrepreneurs is getting over the mindset they have "no time" and having the ability to focus only on the meaningful things that serve them.
Time freedom means you work smart. You stop working long hours in your business and stop feeling the need to justify stopping.
It allows you to change your life so you can spend your time on more purposeful work, stepping out of the business to enjoy life. Pursuing time freedom doesn’t mean you don’t do the work, it just means the work you do is more focused and you make more efficient use of time and resources.
Time Freedom as an entrepreneur means you work smart
Colin Scotland
The Benefits of Time Freedom
There are many benefits to being an entrepreneur, but one of the best is freedom of time. As your own boss, you can set your hours and work when it suits you.
You have complete control over your work hours, what a typical week looks like, and how much free time you allocate to other interests.
This can be a great way to achieve a work-life balance and avoid burnout, spending time on the things you love.
Of course, achieving time freedom as an entrepreneur takes some planning and discipline.
You need to be organized and efficient with your time, and you also need to be comfortable with not allowing other people's lives to encroach and steal time away from you.
If you can manage your time well and take advantage of opportunities as they arise, you can enjoy the freedom of time as an entrepreneur.
Freedom of time allows you to:
Balance your work and life commitments and take care of yourself and your family.
It allows you the flexibility to choose the hours a week you put into your business.
It gives you more time to pursue your hobbies and interests.
It can improve your health and well-being as you have more time to relax and exercise.
It can reduce stress as you no longer worry about working long hours.
It can increase productivity by focusing on tasks when you are freshest and most alert.
What does time freedom look like?
This is personal to each individual, but as a general rule, it looks like being able to choose when you want to work and how many hours you work.
It means having the flexibility to take time off when you want or need to and not having to ask for permission.
It can also mean working from anywhere in the world, as long as you have an internet connection and a device to work from - my personal favorite!
More time means you can do all the activities you dream of doing. It means your family sees more of you.
It means you can live a happy life and full life, based on your terms.
Why is time freedom so important?
One of the greatest joys in life is having the freedom to choose how to spend our time.
The freedom of time is important because it allows us to pursue our passions, spend time with our loved ones, and live on our terms.
When we have time freedom, we are not beholden to anyone else's schedule or agenda. We can decide how to spend our days, which is a very empowering feeling.
It can also help us achieve a better work-life balance, which is vital for our mental and physical well-being.
So why is time freedom so important? Because it gives us the power to control our lives, which is priceless.
Do you know the difference between time management and time freedom?
There is a big difference between time management and time freedom. Time management is all about controlling your time and using it efficiently.
On the other hand, time freedom is about having the flexibility to use your time as you please.
With time management, you might have a schedule you need to stick with to get things done. However, with time freedom, you can be more flexible and spontaneous with how you use your time.
For example, I may allocate several hours a week to focus on my biggest priorities for the business, setting specific tasks to achieve during this time.
This is managing my time, but when I choose to do those hours is where freedom comes into play.
I can prioritize my leisure time and choose when I do certain activities and the time spent on the business.
How do you reach time freedom?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the amount of time required to achieve time freedom will vary depending on individual circumstances.
However, some tips on creating more time freedom may include creating a side income stream, automating personal finances, and learning to work smarter rather than harder.
Time freedom means having the ability to control one’s own time and schedule. For many, this boils down to having time for the activities they enjoy outside and on top of work.
However, true time freedom also means not being bound by financial pressures or obligations that prevent you from pursuing your passions.
For some people, this might mean having an income stream that pays all the bills so they can choose when they want to work.
For others, it could simply mean being able to take vacations whenever they want without stressing over the cost or finding someone to cover their shift at work.
The definition of time freedom may vary from person to person, but ultimately it comes down to having more control over your life and schedule than most people do.
It is about breaking free from traditional societal norms that dictate how you should live your life and choosing your own path – even if that requires a bit of extra effort upfront.
Get greater clarity on where you're spending your time
One of the most important things you can do to be productive is to get clear about where you're spending your time. Track your time for a week or two and see where it's going.
If you're spending a lot of time on activities that aren't productive, try to find ways to cut down on them.
For example, if you spend a lot of time browsing the internet, try setting a timer for yourself and only allowing yourself to browse for 15 minutes at a time. Try different techniques, such as time-blocking, and one of my personal favorites, the Pomodoro Technique to get more done in less time. I can work like a demon for three or four Pomodoro sessions and get a day's worth of creative work done in just a few hours, leaving the rest of the day wide open to go for a walk, read, or whatever takes my fancy.
Make constant adjustments to ensure you're spending your time not just the way you want, but in a way that is more efficient. This involves regular review and planning time, so you can course correct it as you go.
In order to achieve time freedom, you must become a master of time management.
Colin SCotland
Forget perfection. Focus on progress
It's easy to get caught up in the pursuit of perfection. We compare ourselves to others and see all the ways we fall short.
But the comparison is a thief of joy and will never lead to true happiness. So instead, focus on making progress. Every day, strive to be a little better than you were the day before.
It’s not about how fast you go or how high you jump. It’s about consistently making minor improvements day in and day out. That’s how you make real progress.
You're on the right track as long as you're moving forward.
Focus on creating more time all the time
We all have the same amount of time each day, but some people seem to have more freedom when it comes to how they spend that time.
If you feel like you're always busy and never have enough time for the things you want to do, it's important to focus on creating more freedom in your schedule.
This may mean saying no to some commitments, delegating or asking for help with tasks, and taking some time each day for yourself.
When you commit to creating more freedom in your life, you'll be amazed at how much better you feel and how much more you can accomplish.
What's More Important - Time or Money?
There is no easy answer to this question. It depends on what is most important to you. For example, if you value time more than money, you would probably say that time is more critical.
If you value money more than time, then you would probably say that money is more important.
However, let's think about this a little deeper. Isn't time more valuable than money?
Making money is essential. Of course, you want to earn enough money to live comfortably, but life is filled with so much other stuff that truly brings us joy. Relationships, nature, purpose.
Whether small business owners or leading large empires, if you don't have the freedom of time, your working life will supersede your enjoying life. And that is never a good thing.
What does financial freedom mean?
Financial freedom is having enough income to cover your basic living expenses without relying on others or worrying about money.
It means being able to live your life without financial stress or worry.
Financial freedom can be achieved through various means, such as earning a high income, living below your means, investing wisely, and having a sound financial plan.
We often associate significant earnings with the path of finishing college, getting a high-earning job, such as a mortgage or insurance broker, and joining the rat race, where you'll put in the hours and get a juicy pay packet at the end of it all.
There's nothing wrong with this path, but you rarely achieve time freedom in a job like this. This is why the entrepreneurial world has such appeal.
As an entrepreneur, earning your biggest revenue isn't down to how many hours a week you spend in the business, it's about choosing wisely how you spend your time, so your time spent in the business is effective.
Take Control of Your Time
You can’t be everything to everyone. Prioritize your time and activities based on which ones you enjoy most and which will contribute the most to your overall well-being.
Make a list of things you want to do each day, then put them in order of importance. Then stick to that plan as closely as possible! Don’t let anyone else take control of your time.
Learn to delegate work that doesn't serve you and steals your time. If you build the right team, you should be able to hand over work such as writing sales copy, administration, and other tasks that would be better managed elsewhere.
A virtual assistant can be a quick fix for an entrepreneur who has the bad habit of getting lost in the day-to-day admin of their business.
Create Time Freedom
If you've got yourself out of the rat race and genuinely desire more time freedom, you need to ask yourself tough questions.
Most people fail to create more time freedom because they are not honest about how they spend their time.
What's the big obstacle getting in the way of your freedom of time? It's probably you.
Be honest with yourself now, how much time do you lose scrolling through social media, doing menial tasks that could be outsourced, or watching YouTube?
We're all guilty of thinking we have all the time in the world, only to feel pressured by it.
Here are some ways I've created freedom of time which you may find works for you:
Note down what's important to you. Family, hobbies, activities. These are areas of your life you want to make more time for.
Block out purposeful time in your calendar to work on your business and set specific tasks so this time is well spent.
Allocate time for your clients and stick to it. Don't let them dictate your time. (By doing this, I've condensed my client work into three days per week).
Outsource work that either doesn't bring you joy or is better left to a professional in that field, leaving you free to focus on what you're passionate about.
Want your time to be yours?
I've worked with many entrepreneurs to help them find their work/life balance. Allowing them to create a life of purpose, joy, and abundance.
They are discovering what's important to them and how they can better manage their time to create more freedom.
I introduce my clients to tools and technology that take day-to-day tasks off their to-do lists, giving them back several hours weekly.
I work with them to create systems and processes to streamline their work, literally gifting them time and leaving them free to spend their time doing what they love.
What would you do with it if only time weren’t an option? What magic would you create?
If you'd like me to help you to find out, take a look at my Thrive and Serve Commnunity, where we'll find your clarity of purpose, and help you create the life and business you want, all while giving you back your time.
