FIVE HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED MINUTES.

Catchy tune. Thought-provoking subject.

When you break down a year into minutes, it may seem like there is so much time. In reality, time seems to go by faster every year, and each year we are baffled that another 365 days has gone by.

Time is the only element in the world that is irretrievable when it is lost. So, while you can never get more time, you can make the most of your time in 2017. As you begin the New Year, use some of those 525,600 minutes to determine your focus, plan each day, unplug, and make memories.

Determine what you want to accomplish, and where you will focus your time.

If you’re an entrepreneur or small business owner, ask yourself: How can I best use my time? Where will I make the most impact? What areas of my business do I need help with?

If you’re trying to build your company, and you spend 1,200 minutes every week on administrative tasks… STOP.  Ask for help. You most likely have talented individuals waiting for you to rely on them. Find the right people you can trust to help you build your company. Focus on what matters most to you, and use your strengths to drive the results you want to see.

If you are a parent, ask yourself: What is most important to me? What is most important to my family?

If your kid takes two 3-hour gymnastics classes each week, and that is really important to them, think about what is the best way you can spend that time. Most likely, they won’t care if you are not there the entire practice watching them. They will be happy to see you were there to watch their floor routine in the last 10 minutes of practice. Instead of wasting 360 of your minutes each week, use the extra minutes to get your grocery shopping done, or study for that class you’ve always wanted to take.

ARE YOU SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME ON ACCOUNTING IN YOUR BUSINESS? TAKE THIS QUIZ TO FIND OUT HOW MANY MINUTES YOU WILL SPEND ON ACCOUNTING IN 2017

Take time every morning to plan out your day.

Yes, you will use up some of those 525,600 minutes, but by doing so you will be more productive and get the most out of each day.

If you know you will have downtime between meetings and appointments, don’t waste 15-minutes getting sucked into Facebook. Instead, bring a book to read. Or, bring your computer and start on that blog post you’ve been thinking about writing.

Plan an hour (or more) of time each week to think about your business. Think about what goals you want to accomplish in the future, and make a plan on what you can do to achieve it. You may find you benefit more out of that one hour than you ever would spending 10 hours checking of the tasks on your to-do list.

Make time for your personal health. Decide on a day and time that will fit into your schedule, and stick to it. Don’t assume your daily workouts will find its way into your schedule.

Put the phone down. Turn off the computer. 

It’s becoming a cliché, I know. But, we waste SO many of our precious minutes getting sucked into technology. If you’re waiting in line for your Chipotle, fine. 15 minutes while you eat your lunch, great! 20 minutes after you get your kids to bed, that’s fine too. However, if you find yourself picking up your phone every 10 minutes because you feel you might miss out on a major life happening, then just don’t. Setting aside a couple hours after work to disconnect from all your devices will do volumes for your mental health and the mental health of those around you. Think about how you can use those minutes to unplug and make the most out of your year.

We all know we are all guilty of this. So I won’t waste any more of your minutes telling you to put your phone down. Because my next point is the most important.

MAKE MEMORIES.

Don’t get to the end of the next year and realize you haven’t taken any time doing something for yourself that makes you happy. Don’t feel defeated because you missed an important event or family gathering because you couldn’t make the time for it.

Instead, use the extra minutes in your day for things that make you happy, and make memories with the ones you love. When you catch a nice day in the early spring, try shifting your day forward a half an hour so you can take your kids to the park. Go on a quiet bike ride, take a walk, or go for a run after work. Buy a ticket to that concert you have been dying to go to. Call an old friend you haven’t seen in a few years and make plans for dinner. The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.

The most exciting thing about a new year is that it is full of possibility. The good news is, you haven’t screwed anything up yet!  Set goals, plan, and dream about the possibilities the next year can bring.  If you do, chances are this time next year you won’t wonder where those 525,600 minutes went. Instead, you will sit in awe of what you have accomplished.