How you spend your time is critical to creating an exceptional life. Have you dedicated copious amounts of time and attention to your work and your life to maintain high personal standards? Has your passion for excellence driven you to go the extra mile, never stopping, never relenting until you’ve done it right? What happens when we get carried away with perfectionism? We become disgruntled and discouraged, even depressed, when we fail to meet the impossibly high standards we set for ourselves, making us reluctant to take on new challenges or even finish tasks we’ve already started. The real world doesn’t reward perfectionists. It rewards people who get things done.

Are you a control freak? Have you wasted time and emotional energy on things that are beyond your control? This is a recipe for frustration and misery. Some forces are just out of our control. Consuming yourself with the negative aspects of a circumstance is a waste of time. However, if you look at the circumstance productively and positively, coming from the standpoint of “What’s my next best move?” you put yourself back in the driver’s seat.

In his book, The 4-Hour Workweek, Timothy Ferriss says…

“Slow down and remember this: Most things make no difference. Being busy is often a form of mental laziness – lazy thinking and indiscriminate action.”

Busy people are rushing all over the place, and running late half of the time. They are heading to work, conferences, meetings, social engagements, etc. They barely have enough free time for family get togethers and they rarely get enough sleep. Their busy schedule gives them an elevated sense of importance. However, it’s all an illusion. They are like hamsters running on a wheel. Have you been guilty of busyness?

Friends, family, coworkers, colleagues, even acquaintances can eat up your time, especially if they are toxic people. Toxic people drain you. Be smart when it comes to spending your precious time with other people. In creating an exceptional life, start associating with people who are like minded, focused, and supportive. Socialize with people who create energy when they enter the room versus those who create energy when they leave. Reach out to connected, influential individuals who are aligned with your dreams and goals.

Seth Godin wrote an excellent book, Tribes, on finding a tribe and working together to make a difference in all of our lives. We are the sum of the people we spend the most time with. If you hang with the wrong people, they will negatively affect you. However, if you hang with the right people, you will be enriching your exceptional life.

Gale O’Brien is a cancer survivor, motivational speaker and the award-winning author of Transformation: Creating an Exceptional Life in the Face of Cancer now available in both English and Spanish. Transform your life each month with timely tips on food, health, fitness, relationships, and work. Subscribe to the Transformation monthly newsletter or order her book by visiting: www.GaleOBrien.com.