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.
eco-friendly cleaning service Buffalo Grove .."There is never enough time, unless you're serving it." -Malcolm... Read More
One of the issues most often raised by my clients... Read More
Many of the clients I work with in success coaching... Read More
Recently I've experienced a barrage of time wasters. Everything you... Read More
Are you too busy to put yourself first? If a... Read More
"I find it interesting that the very cape I tried... Read More
I am an ordinary man - A middle class high... Read More
Get a grip. Is it possible to manage time? Can... Read More
What does it mean to practice self care? It's creating... Read More
Here's some time management tips to try:1) Set strict office... Read More
Let's say that you have a software project that's under... Read More
Are you working a "day job" while building your home-based... Read More
It's 6:00 a.m. I'm awake. I'm pumped! I'm ready to... Read More
As I sit here in front of the computer... Read More
In this digital age, the importance of being able to... Read More
"Work smarter, not harder" is a clich? that has darted... Read More
An expert in time management was speaking to a group... Read More
In our time-crazed society, lots of time is what most... Read More
To work smarter all you need is the consciousness of... Read More
Vilfredo Pareto's Principle, or The "Pareto Principle," is more commonly... Read More
Do you believe that the best way to deal with... Read More
One of the most common complaints that small business owners... Read More
Not 1 in 10 people can tell you where money... Read More
Show me, O Lord, my life's end and the number... Read More
"It's just been one of those days?I can't seem to... Read More
express cleaning service Arlington Heights ..Show me, O Lord, my life's end and the number... Read More
"Time management" is a myth. Time ticks by, whether you... Read More
Does choosing which time we do an activity really make... Read More
Having a home based business can be overwhelming. When you... Read More
Sounds too good to be true?It really isn't!In fact, studies... Read More
Whether you're a new business owner or if you have... Read More
What would you say to me if I told you... Read More
When do you want to make time for a networking... Read More
How often have you tried to manage your time in... Read More
There are two types of time killers in everyone's life.... Read More
"You will never find time for anything. You must make... Read More
Whenever you have projects that can't be done in one... Read More
Increased productivity, the ability to get more value for our... Read More
To work smarter all you need is the consciousness of... Read More
The most powerful resource that we have is time. Everything... Read More
People always seem to be in such a hurry, everywhere... Read More
Women's health issues often are focused on goals to reach:... Read More
A simple kitchen gadget is transforming my life. I don't... Read More
There is no such thing as time management. You cannot... Read More
Balancing Your Work, Family and Social Life... Read More
Whenever I've worked on 'de-cluttering' my living or working space,... Read More
Recently I was working with a new client who had... Read More
"Slaves to the clock" was the cover story in the... Read More
My job in Chicago began with three months of probation.I... Read More
Your productivity depends on good tools and effective environments, and... Read More
Time Management |