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How to Prioritize Your Time When Everything Feels Important
Have you ever looked at your calendar and wondered how it got so full of things that don’t really matter to you? If you’re trying to figure out how to prioritize your time when every opportunity looks like a good one, this episode is for you. I sit down with Kimia Penton, a transformational leader, keynote speaker, educator, musician, and author of Power, On Purpose. Together, we talk about why time management is really identity management, how to plan ahead for your next season of life, and how to decide which yeses are truly worth it.
Key Takeaways
- Treat your calendar as a reflection of who you are, because how you spend your time adds up to the life you live.
- Plant seeds for your next season early, starting small with one or two commitments.
- Weigh the cost of every yes before you commit, including what it will take from your family, health, and energy.
- Take an inventory of your calendar and find one thing you can remove and one thing you can delegate.
- Ask yourself who you’re afraid to disappoint, and whether their judgment really matters in the long run.
Why Time Management Is Really Identity Management
Kimia put it simply: “If you want to show me who you are, just show me your calendar.” Whether or not we’re intentional about it, where we give our time is who we are. After all, we’re the sum of our choices.
When we aren’t intentional, burnout, guilt, and regret creep in. On the other hand, Kimia says her life, relationships, and productivity improved when she took control of her calendar. Now she protects her non-negotiables, like one hour to herself every morning and Saturday mornings at the farmers market with her husband.
How to Plan Ahead for Your Next Season
Kimia reminded us that time management happens in seasons. When her kids were young, she treasured her time with them and wouldn’t have said yes to the commitments she has now. However, as her kids got into high school, she could see a big gap coming in how she’d spend her time.
So instead of waiting, she started small. She volunteered one or two evenings a month to see which organizations were the right fit. Then, as her kids became more independent, she gradually filled that time with things she found meaningful. By the time she had the bandwidth, she already had the experience and network to serve the way she wanted to.
She’s doing it again today, teaching as an adjunct professor on Friday nights in case she wants to teach full-time someday. She takes it one semester at a time.
How to Prioritize Your Time When Every Opportunity Looks Good
The more success you have, the more opportunities come your way. At face value, they can all look aligned. So how do you narrow it down?
Kimia’s answer starts with being pragmatic. We have a finite amount of time, energy, and resources, and every yes comes with a cost. Before saying yes, she asks:
- What will this really cost me in time with family, my relationships, or my health?
- Am I saying yes out of fear of missing out, peer pressure, or because it looks good on paper?
- What does this opportunity really involve once I do the research?
- Is this getting me where I want to be down the road?
In other words, she applies the same long-term strategy she’d use in business to her personal life.
What to Do When Your Calendar Doesn’t Reflect Your Values
If your calendar doesn’t look anything like your values right now, Kimia’s first piece of advice is to approach yourself with compassion. There’s no need for guilt or shame. Things pile up for all of us.
Next, take a private inventory. Look at your calendar and find one item you can remove and one you can delegate. Kimia shared that she once said yes to being a room mom out of guilt. Eventually, she handed the role to a friend who loved it and thrived.
Then go a little deeper and ask yourself: Who am I afraid to disappoint? Who am I worried will judge me? For Kimia, getting comfortable disappointing people was a key turning point. Now she sets aside a dedicated time each week for certain calls, so she can show up for the people she loves without letting it take over her schedule. As she put it, healthy relationships will understand and support your boundaries. If saying no still feels hard, my conversation with Sheryl Green, The People-Pleaser’s Guide to Saying No, is a great next listen.
About Kimia Penton
Kimia Penton is a transformational leader, keynote speaker, educator, musician, and author dedicated to helping people and organizations align purpose with impact. With more than 15 years of leadership experience across healthcare, technology, and enterprise transformation, she currently serves as a senior executive leading large-scale innovation, AI, and business transformation initiatives for a Fortune 10 company.
Known for blending strategy with humanity, Kimia’s work focuses on helping individuals and organizations move beyond performance and expectation to lead with authenticity, courage, and purpose. She is the author of Power, On Purpose, a book that explores how authentic leadership creates meaningful change in careers, relationships, communities, and organizations.
Beyond the corporate world, Kimia is a passionate advocate for creativity, leadership development, and community impact. Through speaking, teaching, music, and philanthropy, she inspires others to build lives and careers that are both fulfilling and influential. Her mission is simple: help people discover their voice, step into their power, and create positive change in the world.
Episode Links + Resources
- Visit Kimia’s Website
- Follow Kimia on Instagram
- Connect with Kimia on LinkedIn
- Listen to Kimia’s music on Spotify
- Get Kimia’s book, Power, On Purpose
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