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.
professional maid services Park Ridge ..PROCRASTINATION: You've known about it since high school or college,... Read More
When I sit down with a client to work on... Read More
In this world there is something more precious than gold.... Read More
Here's a smart system for doubling or tripling your daily... Read More
"The bad news is time flies. The good news is... Read More
How much time do you spend on Mastering Your Time?... Read More
Sounds too good to be true?It really isn't!In fact, studies... Read More
My husband and I recently returned from a trip to... Read More
There are the golden rules that apply to time. If... Read More
We all get overwhelmed from time to time, and sometimes... Read More
This past Friday I was asked to speak with a... Read More
Let's say that you have a software project that's under... Read More
This may not sound like a big deal. But it's... Read More
"Time is what we need the most and what we... Read More
Tring ? Tring the alarm rings?but did you fail to... Read More
Still awaiting the birth of my baby (I am overdue),... Read More
We are constantly inundated with routine (often boring!) tasks around... Read More
Many of us get so caught up in day-to-day pressures... Read More
It's amazing how many sayings there are in our culture... Read More
Why waste your precious time working on tasks, which are... Read More
What would be your reaction if someone said to you... Read More
Determine Your Procrastination PersonalityBrook Noel is the author of The... Read More
As a business owner, wouldn't it be great if you... Read More
41 practical and quick ways to get on top of... Read More
All too often we can feel overwhelmed by the amount... Read More
cleaning lady near Lincolnshire ..Still awaiting the birth of my baby (I am overdue),... Read More
Many of the clients I work with in success coaching... Read More
Whether you're a new business owner or if you have... Read More
When is the best time to plan your day? Well,... Read More
The ability to be able to set priorities and deal... Read More
Nowhere is the line drawn more clearly between 'Industrial brains'... Read More
Friends, colleagues, and clients are all telling me that one... Read More
Are you too busy to put yourself first? If a... Read More
When I sit down with a client to work on... Read More
Do you believe that the best way to deal with... Read More
Time management consultant Stephen Young claims that the average time... Read More
If you work from home, you know the kind of... Read More
When do you want to make time for a networking... Read More
My husband and I recently returned from a trip to... Read More
Do you have plenty to do, but don't have enough... Read More
Almost everyone in business knows the balancing act between the... Read More
Do you manage your time or does your time manage... Read More
Despite the best of intentions, most of us don't use... Read More
I'm sure we've all had the experience of having a... Read More
Riding the subway home yesterday, my typically silent car was... Read More
If you're like most people, you want to get better... Read More
Many of us get so caught up in day-to-day pressures... Read More
I would like to touch upon a subject that it... Read More
Are you working a "day job" while building your home-based... Read More
Our daily lives are inundated with a crammed to-do list.... Read More
Time Management |