The most vital resource we have is time.

The reason I work so hard is so I can spend time with the people I love, doing the things I want to do. But this desire to be successful can be the one thing that gets in your way in the first place.

When you become a hustler and want to build your own business or just create wealth outside of having a 9-5, you can quickly find that you are working 10-12 hours days just to keep up.

Especially in the beginning.

In this article, I will share 3 tips for creating more free time while also becoming more successful in what you do. So you don’t have to cut your earnings to spend time with your friends and family.

Let’s get into it.

#1: Plan

I’m a savage to do maker. I go through 1-2 (recycled) legal pads a month. Planning, and crushing it.

You need to know exactly what to do and how to do it. Or else, you will be aimless, unproductive and scatterbrained. This will lead to overwhelm, low productivity and therefore more time to get shit done. Which equals less free time to do other things.

All you need to do is have a grand plan, and a daily plan. Plan each step for that day and simply cross one off at a time. Don’t stray from the list. Don’t get distracted.

I’m a pen and paper guy, but if you’re a phone guy there are lots of task manager apps which can help you do this effectively.

#2: Delegate

Delegation is a must.

You cannot do it all, and if you want to grow you need to learn to be a master delegator – one of my weaknesses.

I do try to do it all, and I suck at getting help. But this year I made it happen.

Here’s how:

a) Utilize freelancers

I recently hired a VA from Upwork to do my promotional content outreach. Amazing.

She has taken 2 hours of work a day off my hands for $10.00/hr. She lives in the Philippines and her English is perfect.

On top of that, she submits all her hours directly in Upwork and is paid automatically through their system which saves me even more time. I really cannot recommend this platform enough.

b) Use corporate solutions

I was recently visiting a friend in Texas and helped him offload some of the tasks surrounded by running his multiple rental units (yes, he is a baller). I got him set up with a property management company that now covers all the hard work.

This can include collecting rent, performing maintenance services, and being the main line of communication. All kinds of industries offer this kind of service, such as landscaping and car mechanics. Delegating work to different people will open up a lot of time, particularly on weekends and nights.

#3: Learn how to say “no”

If I had a dollar for every time I had to say no to somebody on Menprovement.com, I would be able to give you all the programs on Menprovement X for free.

I get dozens of emails everyday because everyone wants something. Everyone is on their own grind, and it’s easy to give into it all. But if I did, I’d be working 20 hour days helping other people move forward drastically while I get small gains. I live by the rule that Tim Ferris taught me many years ago – If it’s not a fuck yes, it’s a no.

But, that doesn’t make it easy.

We live in a society where it can be hard to say “no.” You may feel guilty about turning down a request or worried that others will take offense and stop asking for help.

However, learning how to politely decline requests is an important part of setting boundaries in your life.

Here are some tips for saying no:

a) Be polite and respectful

It’s not about the person making the request; it’s about what works best for you and your family! If someone asks a favor that doesn’t fit into your schedule, explain why it won’t work out this time around (and maybe offer another time when they could ask again).

b) Have a good tone

Your tone says a lot. It could result in some detrimental relationships or missed opportunities if you come across as offended about being asked to help with a task or take on a new responsibility. A bad tone could also shut doors down the road that would have been beneficial.

c) Know your limits

You need to know when your plate is already full. By already knowing your limits, it can make the discussion and decision much easier than saying “let me get back to you” or “I think I can, but let me check something real quick.”

#4: Sleep Like a Champion

One of the main reasons why people aren’t productive during the day is because they are tired from a lack of sleep. Despite the fact that an extra hour of sleep may seem counterproductive, studies have shown that people are 19% less productive when they sleep six to seven hours as opposed to seven to eight.

Over a 12-hour period, that comes out to 2 hours and 16 minutes more production in a day – much more than the hour lost by getting extra sleep.

So hit the pillow like a pro and listen to this podcast we did with sleep expert Shawn Stevenson if you need some help in this area.

Conclusion

That’s it guys. It’s that simple.

Know what you need to do. Delegate people to do it for you. Say no to almost everything else. And sleep deep AF. This will allow you to be productive, successful and full of free time to use that money well. Take your niece horseback riding. Do yoga on the beach. And make the hours you do spend working fun, because you should love what you do.

If this doesn’t work and you still feel overwhelmed, consider a drastic change in life, such as downsizing a home, finding a new career, or changing your daily routine.