Many of the clients I work with in success coaching can relate to the following example.
If you have ever been to the circus, you have probably seen the side show in which a clown or juggler puts a plate on a stick and spins it. Then he puts another plate on a stick and spins that one, and another, and another, etc. A neat trick, but then he has to constantly run around to keep all the plates spinning.
Now there's a metaphor for modern life if I've ever heard one.
In order to talk in a useful way about time management, we need to call it what it really is, which is life management. Each of us is given twenty four hours each day in which to manage our lives. That's why I call my time/life management seminars "24 and No More."
In order to manage your time and therefore your life, well, a very important distinction needs to be made. Do you organize your life around work or do you organize your work around your life? A key distinction to be made is that if you are part of a family, your most important job is not at work, it's at home.
Having said all that, let's put some hands and feet onto this idea of time/life management, and provide you with some solutions you can take home.
Get organized. That's step one. So much time is spent and wasted looking for something or doing something over and over again, when a little organization can allow you to organize once and be done with it.
If you are at all like me and don't come by organization naturally, either hire or borrow someone who has the gift of organization. Or you could get lucky like me and marry someone with this gift.
Create systems. Creating systems for doing things is a great time saver. In fact, an acronym for system is:
Saves
You
Some
Time
Energy and
Money.
Prioritized To Do Lists. Remember, a to do list is a tool that you use to work for you, not you for it. A prioritized to do list is divided into three categories, A tasks, B tasks, and C tasks. A tasks are things that must be done today, B tasks are things you would like to get done today, and C tasks are things you can get done with any extra time. If you have items left over at the end of the day, simply put them behind you for the day and move them on to the next day's list.
"But what if all my tasks are A tasks?" That's a question I often hear. Here's a two part answer to the question. Part one is to go back through the list and ask this question, "What will happen if I don't get this task done today?" If you can live with the answer, it may not be an A task. Part two is, if all your tasks are really A tasks, then the key is to.......
Delegate. That's a fancy way of saying ask for help. It's amazing to me how willing most people are to help. Just about every time I've gotten over my pride and asked for help with something, I've been pleasantly surprised by the outcome.
Block Scheduling. For those of us who have multiple projects and multiple daily demands, block scheduling can be a real life saver. Block scheduling simply means to set aside blocks of time on a daily, weekly, monthly basis in order to do certain tasks. Barring a true emergency, nothing is to interfere with the task scheduled for this time.
There are at least three clear benefits to block scheduling:
a time is set aside to accomplish key tasks
lower anxiety knowing there is time set aside
you get more done.
Visit secretsofgreatrelationships.com for tips and tools for creating and growing a great relationship. You can also subscribe to our f*r*e*e 10 day e-program on how to enrich your relationship today, from relationship coach and expert Jeff Herring.
disinfecting cleaning services Arlington Heights ..Riding the subway home yesterday, my typically silent car was... Read More
Work life balance is the new Holy Grail; that search... Read More
Friends, colleagues, and clients are all telling me that one... Read More
Balancing a family's varying schedules can be near impossible. Soccer,... Read More
So What Then Is The Opposite Of Procrastination? Urgency is... Read More
I used to think video game addictions were a joke... Read More
Ever feel that you spend too much time shoring up... Read More
Setting goals is the easy part -- but sticking with... Read More
An expert in time management was speaking to a group... Read More
Isn't it amazing that some people can produce huge results... Read More
The most powerful resource that we have is time. Everything... Read More
Fitting an education into a busy lifestyleMany people have aspirations... Read More
We all face decisions that involve doing things that affect... Read More
How do you manage your time? Or is the more... Read More
Would you describe yourself as extremely busy? Do you often... Read More
Choose to be HappyHappiness is a choice. You can choose... Read More
"It's just been one of those days?I can't seem to... Read More
What are the most important things you should accomplish today?... Read More
In this world there is something more precious than gold.... Read More
Many of us spend long hours at our desk. To... Read More
Time is money in your online business, just as in... Read More
One of the most challenging situations people face when planning... Read More
Why Read?It's been said that there are three kinds of... Read More
"How do you DO it?!" If I had a dime... Read More
A year and a half ago I was introduced to... Read More
bathroom cleaning service Mundelein ..Balancing a family's varying schedules can be near impossible. Soccer,... Read More
Do you feel guilty about all the publications you purchase... Read More
How many times have you remarked to someone that there... Read More
"If you control your time, you control your life" -... Read More
Recently I saw an advertisement for a time management booklet:... Read More
1. Do tasks less frequentlyClean house every 10 days rather... Read More
It's easy to waste time on things that seem urgent... Read More
Do you have plenty to do, but don't have enough... Read More
A new client recently admitted to me sheepishly that she... Read More
Number Yourself: Count yourself as an important individual. You are... Read More
Many of the world's most driven and successful people sleep... Read More
"Because there will always be something more to do, we... Read More
Many of the clients I work with in success coaching... Read More
One of the issues most often raised by my clients... Read More
Why Read?It's been said that there are three kinds of... Read More
Whether you're a new business owner or if you have... Read More
Looking out through my picture window during a recent winter... Read More
How many people do you know who are so busy... Read More
Handle small emergencies fast: When a small emergency does pop... Read More
If you are like most moms I know you think... Read More
Get a grip. Is it possible to manage time? Can... Read More
One of the most challenging aspect in life is time... Read More
If you feel like your life moves faster than a... Read More
I keep a fossil on my desk at all times.... Read More
There are two ways to start your day. The first... Read More
Time Management |