Time...Is It Really On Your Side?

One thing we can be sure of is there will never be more than 24 hours in a day. Time doesn’t discriminate, no one has more or less than you, however, some may utilize it better.
*Do you have enough time to do the things you really want to do? *Do you get enough sleep and regular exercise? *Do you feel in control of your daily schedule? *Do you have trouble deciding what to do next? *Do things tend to pile up? *Do you feel that you are always working and never seeming to have fun? *Do you often give up because things overwhelm you? Maybe you can get some of your time back with just a few adjustments.

If you aren’t afraid of a little free time try some of these tips for time management. First, there is the calendar, ah, the great keeper of dates, use only one! That’s right, toss out all of those cutie petutie little pocket calendars and the big desk blotter to invest in a portable calendar that has enough space for multiple daily entries. Enter all appointments both personal and work related, all birthdays, all kids’ soccer games, picnics, PTA meetings, etc. Everything on one calendar, in one place, with you. No more missed deadlines, no more over booking yourself, and no more rescheduling.

The To Do List, I love the To Do List! The satisfaction of crossing off completed tasks is invigorating. Try not to misuse the list as a device of procrastination; simply jotting it down does not relieve any of the sense of urgency to get the job done. There will be tedious items as well as huge projects on your list. Break down the large items into smaller chunks, it makes them less overwhelming to tackle and before you know it, the whole thing is over. Another note of caution, don’t get bogged down in the easy stuff, note your priorities and go for the biggest payoff first. The greatest tip I have is to schedule time, literally, on your calendar to complete these big tasks. You will always go to that massage scheduled for 2PM on the 18th, so use the same routine for working out, cleaning the basement, whatever you have To Do.

“My time is not my own”…everyone feels this way now and again, and in fact it’s true. All day long you share your time with co-workers, family, and even the clerk at the Post Office. We don’t spend that much time alone. So, here are some thoughts to make this shared time better spent. Good communication is key. Be courteous and concise, be sure you are listening carefully to what the other person is saying and respond accordingly. Long emotional stories, not answering or asking the right questions makes the interaction last twice as long wasting two peoples’ time. If you are delegating either at work or to your children, remember to be clear about your objectives and give a realistic deadline. Invest in future delegated projects through generous praise and moderate criticisms. Always remember that just because you delegated it, you are still ultimately responsible. Delegation will usually save you time and always strengthens another’s abilities.

Avoiding distractions may seem impossible, I say this because as I write, the FedEx guy just dropped a package on my stoop and I, of course, had to stop to open it. My new boots, fabulous! Now, back to what I was saying, distractions are everywhere. At work there is the colleague that wants to talk about last night’s episode of Survivor while your deadline looms over your head. It’s okay to say, “Can we chat later? I have to finish this”, it’s not rude, it’s just business. It’s harder with your kids, but if you remember that putting them off for a half hour while you finish something important will yield more quality time with them later, you can do it! If you need to discuss something with a colleague, or even your child, go to their office or room. You can leave when you want; this is a surefire tactic to getting you back to what you need to do faster.

Your calendar and To Do List are your allies in the war against wasted time. Wage on!