#46 - How to Make Time for What Matters

By Armaan Athwal

Today's Overview:

• You can’t just “Find Time”

• Start with the end in mind: Plan backwards

• Quote of the day

The Illusion of Finding Time

We’ve all been there. You’re staring at a packed calendar, trying to figure out where the day went. You tell yourself, “I just need to find the time.” But here’s the truth: You’ll never find it. Time isn’t lost, and it doesn’t need to be discovered. It’s already there, quietly ticking away whether you’re looking for it or not.

What most people miss is that “finding time” is a reactive way to live. You’re at the mercy of the day, hoping for gaps that magically appear between meetings, chores, and endless distractions. The real shift comes when you stop searching for time and start making it.

Making time is a proactive decision. It’s about taking control. It requires forward-thinking — the kind that asks, "What really matters this week, and how do I carve out space for it?" The successful know that you don’t stumble upon hours; you build your day around them. It’s the difference between being a passenger and taking the wheel.

But making time doesn’t mean you’re squeezing every last second out of your day like a lemon. It’s not about hustling from dawn to dusk without a breath. It’s about being intentional with your energy. When you shift your mindset from finding to making, you begin to see time as a resource you mold and shape, rather than one you chase.

Start Backwards

If making time is about taking control of your day, backwards planning is about designing it with purpose. Most of us plan forwards, starting with what’s directly in front of us — the immediate tasks and the urgent meetings. But when you start with the end in mind, everything changes.

Think of backwards planning like crafting a map. You pinpoint the destination first, then you chart the course to get there. Instead of asking, “What should I do next?” you ask, “What needs to be done to achieve what I want?” It’s a subtle shift but a powerful one. This mindset allows you to strip away the noise and focus only on what moves the needle.

For example, if your goal is to run a marathon, backwards planning would start with the race day circled on the calendar. From there, you’d work in reverse to identify key milestones: the number of miles you need to be running each week, the strength training sessions to incorporate, and even the recovery days to avoid burnout. It’s like reverse-engineering your fitness journey. And because the path is laid out so clearly, it’s easier to see where your time for training needs to be made, not found.

By doing this, you shift from the vague idea of "I need to run more" to a concrete plan that tells you exactly what needs to happen and when. You’re not scrambling for time to squeeze in a random jog; you’ve already carved out that space in your calendar with intention. This way, each step feels purposeful, aligned with the bigger picture of crossing that finish line.

What if you approached your week this way? Imagine defining the outcome first — perhaps it’s a major project at work, getting back in shape, or even deepening a relationship. You map out the critical steps backward from that point. Suddenly, it’s not about squeezing time for random tasks but strategically placing them in alignment with your ultimate goals.

Backwards planning helps you avoid the trap of endless to-do lists and the illusion of productivity. It forces clarity. It forces focus. And it teaches you to make time for what matters most.

Time will never magically appear, and the future won't arrange itself. But you don’t need to be at the mercy of the clock. Start making time! The results? A life that feels less like a scramble and more like a deliberate creation.

Quote of the Day

“Time is a created thing. To say ‘I don't have time,’ is like saying, ‘I don't want to.’” - Lao Tzu

If you want to, you will.