Don't remember who said this but here it is anyway. We always seem to put great thinking and efforts into time management. We schedule a bunch of things and try to track them to completion. However, what I have come to realize that it always is not a time management problem but a PRIORITY management one. If you consider a task more important than others, you'd find the time to do it. If you consider a person more important than others, you'd do what's required to keep that person happy.
About 10 years ago while researching market trading ideas, I stumbled across a 1960's transcript of testimony to a congressional hearing by a long time NYSE market maker. While the tone of the entire testimony was mind blowing in its honesty about the actual market making processes, especially given the era, a single quote really changed the way I think. The quote from the trader was simple enough; the price is used as a worm. But coupled with the entirety of the testimony regarding stock and flow management it changed my world view especially the fractal nature of the price action and the fact that left unchecked I am basically biologically programmed to respond to price movement. I was literally walking around for weeks mumbling that the price is a worm. I have been unable to find the transcripts again. I compare these old time market makers to today's supposed liquidity providers and can't help but think, those old timers were heros compared to todays laser riding quant jockeys.
Read in a book: "If you spoke to your friends like you speak to yourself, would anyone ever want to be your friend?" ("Living with a heart wide open").
The line instantly changed my self-talk from negative and dystopian to compassionate and constructive i.e. things like scolding myself when I missed a freeway exit while driving. Turns out my case is not uncommon - most people call themselves stupid 8-10 times a day.
I was told, "You are not responsible for the happiness of others". It sounds like a selfish thing unless you are the type of person who feels responsible for the happiness of others. It changed my perspective and has made me happier by freeing me from the crushing responsibility I was putting upon myself.
Slowing down to simply observe my thoughts instead of "owning" them right away and acting on them.<p>Some people practice this by meditation. I too, meditate sometimes, but I just try to be mindful in general.