Time Mangement, Simply
Do you have too much to handle and not a lot of time to handle it? How did generations before us do it? Life without ‘clap on clap-off’ lamps, remote controls, Internet connection and Starbucks! How could they possible refer to it as ‘good ole’ days?’
Too Much on Your Plate
When I was a little girl we had a family ritual of eating out after Sunday services. Sitting in my pew, I fantasized during the sermons what I would be putting on my plate. As Daddy pulled our ‘59 Chevy Impala into the parking lot of Wyatt’s Cafeteria, the aroma of down-home comfort food greeted me.
At the front of the line, I eagerly grabbed the real cloth napkin, silverware, the plastic tray, and playfully slid it along the ‘track,’ the smiling ladies in hairnets stood poised, at my service:
”I’ll have the lime Jell-O mold, please, chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, with gravy please, I’d like some home fries also, corn on the cob, please…cornbread…and….”
“Whoa! Hold your horses, Mary Frances,” Momma would say. “Your eyes are bigger than your stomach!” Disappointed, I relinquish all my favorite stuff, which just happened to be mostly carbs.
Later as I settled into the meal, I realized Momma had been right. Before I knew it I was stuffed to the “gills.”
Are you feeling ‘stuffed to the gills’ – have you put too much on your plate?
Ten Time Management Tips for Today’s World
- Value Your On-time: When do you do your best work? Are you an ‘early bird’ or a ‘night owl?’ Being aware of your ‘on’ time-frame helps you segment your day in a way that nurtures productivity. Try to schedule your most important activities when you are at your peak.
- Time Flies: Keep an eye on the clock – by monitoring your time you can clearly be aware of and choose how you spend your time. Keep track of your day.
- Confirm Commitments: Have you ever shown up to an appointment only to wonder if you’ve been ‘stood up’ or wrong about the time or place? It takes one minute to email or make a phone call to confirm a meeting, saving energy, anxiety and as a bonus, conveys an image of professionalism.
- Consider “Why” – Before you commit to an activity, ask yourself, “Why am I doing this?” “Does it take me closer to my overall vision?” “Is it congruent with my values?” Learn to say “Let me get back to you on this.” I have a bookmark that I refer to daily - on one side I have listed my roles: wife, speaker, writer, friend – and on the other side my values: connection, peace, freedom and integrity. This is a reminder of what matters most and helps to answer ‘why.’
- Set Limits – Being too available can ‘steal’ your day. Designate time-outs (ideally during your ‘on-time’) and work uninterrupted and distraction-free. Create a little sign that says “Do Not Disturb” or “I’m Having a Time-Out”
- Craft An Agenda – Just as meetings flow more productively with a plan so does your day. Take time the night before or before you start work to structure your day.
- Driving Downtime –Take time to do…nothing. Turn off the cell phone, turn on soft music, and focus on your breathing. Turn your drive time into a calming, connecting experience. You will exit your car refreshed.
- Worst First – Do you have something that you dread doing? Make a commitment that it will be your first agenda item. Cross it off and celebrate.
- No Need to Reinvent the Wheel – Save those letters, notes and agendas that were ‘masterpieces’ at getting your message across. Easily personalize these items for different situations.
- Forget Wonder Woman – Give yourself a break! Do you attempt to master every aspect of your life? Have you raised the bar too high? Rethink your ‘to-do list,’ hire out and let go, repeat a mantra, such as, “I can do it all but choose not to” or “Tomorrow’s another day.”
Building Better Boundaries
In the old days, you could see what needed to be done and just did it. You knew when your job was finished or not finished. Milking the cows, cranking widgets and tilling the soil were each tasks with an end in sight. These days, work is less “task based” and more ‘brain based.”
The new millennium requires when taking on an assignment, we come up with a plan, implement it, enlist the help of others and continue to compete with the market. No longer does work have clear perimeters. On top of hazy perimeters, the tasks are never ending tasks like sifting through e-mails and answering a constant barrage of phone messages. Plates full, no room for dessert!
Consider taking a vacation from your head and engage in a little old fashion productivity. Take a sip of Starbucks – and revel in a simple task. Getting up from the sofa to change channels and cleaning the toilet never felt this good!
Mare Petras is a 28-year certified fitness expert, life coach and professional speaker/spokesperson. She is the author of three Fitness Simply books: Tone Up with Wine & Other Fun Fit Tips and The 7 Habits of Highly Successful Swimsuit Shoppers and Buff Boomers & Beyond. Mare lives and plays in Sarasota, FL and can be reached at www.FitnessSimply.com
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