You Don’t Need More Time—You Need Better Priorities

By Cantor Ben, Jewish Wedding Cantor in Toronto

If I had a dollar for every time someone told me, “I just don’t have time,” I’d be writing this blog from a yacht.

Here’s the truth I share with my students—whether they’re preparing for their Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah, or even for life as newlyweds:

Time isn’t your problem. Priorities are.

You don’t need 25 hours in a day.

You need clarity. You need discipline.

And you need a system that puts the important stuff—first.

At CoolCantor Hebrew School, this is one of the core life lessons I teach alongside Torah Portion study and Online Bar Mitzvah Lessons. Because what good is learning Hebrew fluently if we don’t know how to manage the time we’re given?

And honestly? This same lesson applied when I met Max and Candice—an inspiring Jewish couple from Toronto—whose wedding I had the honour of officiating.

What a Jewish Wedding Taught Me About Time

Max and Candice weren’t just planning a Jewish Wedding Ceremony—they were designing a life together. And just like in Bar Mitzvah preparation, the pressure to “get everything right” can get overwhelming quickly.

Between juggling careers, family obligations, and all the details of a Traditional Jewish Wedding—from choosing the perfect Jewish Wedding Venue, to hiring the right Jewish Wedding Photographer, selecting their Jewish Wedding Ketubah, and even practicing the Jewish Wedding Hora—time was tight.

I remember Candice saying, “Ben, we’re just so busy. We barely have time to breathe.”

But instead of letting the stress win, we reframed it.

“Let’s stop chasing more time,” I said.

“Let’s get clear on what matters most.”

We focused on what truly made the day sacred: their vows beneath the Jewish Wedding Chuppah, the blessings, the music, the community, and the love.

Because when you know your values, you know how to schedule your life around them.

That’s what time mastery is.

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The Scroll Trap: What I Teach My Students

Whether you’re a couple planning a wedding or a kid prepping for their Bar Mitzvah, time management is everything.

I tell my students:

Every “yes” is a “no” to something else.

• Every mindless scroll? That’s a no to studying your Weekly Torah Portion.

• Every binge-watch session? That’s a no to practicing your blessings for your Bar Mitzvah Classes.

• Every time you say “just 5 more minutes”? That’s 5 less minutes invested in becoming who you want to be.

At CoolCantor Hebrew School, our Online Jewish Education is designed to build more than just knowledge—it builds habits. It develops leaders.

Whether you’re enrolled in our Virtual Bar Mitzvah Lessons, Adult Jewish Education, or even Bat Mitzvah for Adults, you’ll learn what I call “The Time Muscle.”

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My Top 3 Time Mastery Habits (You Can Teach Your Kids Too!)

🕰️ 1. The Daily Big 3

Each morning, choose 3 priorities for your day. Not 10. Not everything. Just the 3 that matter most.

📵 2. One-Minute Rule Before Opening Your Phone

Before you unlock that screen, ask yourself:

“Is this helping me become the person I want to be?”

This is one of the habits that transformed Sam, one of my students in the Online Bat Mitzvah Training program. He went from distracted to deeply committed—all by mastering that one question.

📓 3. Weekly Reflection: “Where Did My Time Go?”

Set a 15-minute meeting with yourself every Friday. Look back and ask:

• What drained me?

• What fueled me?

• What will I say “yes” or “no” to next week?

These same tools helped Max and Candice stay focused during the chaos of Jewish Wedding Planning—and they’ve also helped dozens of my students prepare confidently for their ceremonies.

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Time Lessons That Last a Lifetime

One of my proudest moments as a Jewish Wedding Officiant is watching couples like Max and Candice not just say “I do,” but step into their roles as intentional life partners.

Their Jewish Wedding Celebrations included beautiful Jewish Wedding Traditions, heartfelt Jewish Wedding Vows, and even music that reflected their roots in Jewish Wedding Music and modern beats. But what stood out most was their presence. They weren’t rushing. They were savoring. Because they chose to master their time.

It’s the same wisdom we carry forward into Jewish Baby Naming Ceremonies—which I also officiate. As new parents, time feels even more fleeting. But again: it’s not about having more hours. It’s about choosing what matters most.

Whether it’s a Jewish Newborn Ceremony, a Bar Mitzvah Training module, or a wedding rehearsal, I tell every student and couple:

“Be where your feet are. The rest will follow.”

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And Yes—This Also Comes from Torah

Jewish wisdom teaches us that time is holy. That’s why we sanctify Shabbat. That’s why we study the Torah Portion. That’s why we pause at moments of celebration and reflection.

I was mentored by a great Jewish Wedding Rabbi, and from him I learned that the most powerful ceremonies are the ones that honor time—not just with a clock, but with intention.

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Final Thoughts from Cantor Ben

So here’s your challenge for this week—whether you’re planning a Jewish Wedding in Toronto, preparing your child for a Bar Mitzvah, or trying to reclaim time in your daily life:

• Write down what matters most to you this week.

• Block time for it.

• And guard that time like it’s sacred—because it is.

Want a free guide I created called The 5 Laws of Time Domination?

DM me the word TIME and I’ll send it your way.

You don’t need more hours.

You need better filters.

Let’s build them—together.

With gratitude,

Cantor Ben

Your Jewish Wedding Cantor and Life Coach