Alright kids, so last week I decided to implement some time management tactics or goals to my daily routine. I would say in some ways I have been unsuccessful and in others quite successful. I am still growing accustomed to the limited amount of time I’m actually allotted each day. So there have been a great many opportunity costs that have gone along with the new implementations. For example, I love exercising when no one is around, when I have the house to myself. It’s just nicer that way then I don’t have to worry about interrupting a roommate’s living room time. Well, my previous workout routine was fantastic, totaling 3-5 sessions per week. Now, with the addition of school, having to commute to a computer that carries all the magic required for webbery, and of course homework I am down to twice per week. No worries, it’s just a little something that needs to be tweaked. Changes lead to real adjustments,
One thing I did not plan for would be variables. Variables in this instance really mess up a good plan for work time. Today, I experienced a variable I had not planned on. I had confused the Open Lab times for Monday afternoons with that of Tuesday. So, I rushed to school, thinking I could get a computer in the library capable of all the magic I desired, I was wrong. Well, not to fear – an Open Lab would be available in 20 minutes. Yeah, wrong. There wasn’t an open lab Monday afternoon there will be, just not yet. So, back to the library I headed, I had a really hard time not getting upset with the man who I have seen in the library at a Macinstosh many times, a man who sits and looks at realty listings online. Part of me desperately wanted to walk up to him and scream “Hey! Those Pcs over there, they can handle your important work, but they cannot handle mine - GET UP! MOVE IT!” I of course resisted that desire. I just waited and e-mailed a friend on one of the Pcs venting my frustrations, eventually a Mac, fully loaded with all of the magic I need to perform webbery.
It was a nice lesson though, sure one can prioritize all they want but there are some things that one just can’t control, like who happens to be using the one thing you need that doesn’t belong to you. Happy Time Management Y’all!
Monday, February 8, 2010
Monday, February 1, 2010
Time management is just a myth.
That’s right, I said it. Time Management is a total myth ~ pure hogwash. I've never been very good at time management it’s something that has caused me ample frustration for the past 20 years. I thought about it today, recalling the sense of terror I experienced at the age of seven when I just quit doing my homework, I stopped focusing in school, the seeds of procrastination had been planted. The sapling that would later grow roots deep within my mind later constructed limbs that would push tasks away only to leave me completely overwhelmed by the crunch of time. The shadows would move across the landscape, time passing my getting little done. As a seven year old, I was bribed with a permanent orange marker to finish up all my work, and I did. I never again procrastinated so severely as I did as a child, but now I'm finding I really need that bright orange marker.
I decided it was time to learn how to manage time. I Googled ‘Time Management’ finding an interesting article titled “11 Time Management Tips”. This article had me from the get go, part of me rejoiced, I began to dance a bit. The article’s first tip was, ‘realize that time management is a myth’. How exciting, time management isn’t real. That was a relief as I had deemed it impossible. Then, I read on my happy little dance ended when I read: “No matter how organized we are, there are always only 24 hours in a day. Time doesn’t change. All we can actually manage is ourselves and what we do with the time we have”. Oh crap, it is, once again all about me and what I do with my time. I knew it was all too good to be true, but I read on. As I read, I decided that I would place myself on a time management diet, a new regimen of sorts to whip myself up into an organized, well managed productivity machine.
Time is time, I’ve just got to learn how to use it. I have been able to admit many times that I am an easily distracted person, the real problem is that I continue to allow the behavior ~ now, it’s time for a real change. Perhaps this can help you too!
Firstly, as stated above, one must realize that it’s not time that needs to be managed it’s behavior. Time Management Is A Myth.
Secondly, one must find out where they waste their time, Identify Time Wasters. Oh boy, now that one is tricky. For me, I would say I waste the most time cleaning my house, oh how I can get sucked into a cleaning frenzy. I have also known for quite sometime that I unconsciously use housework as a procrastination tool. Additionally, the internet & e-mail help me waste mass amounts of time. I have learned to temper that one a touch.
Then, one must Create Time Management Goals, the article gives a good idea on how to pose these new goals. “I will (goal + performance measure) BY (specific actions)” So, for example, “I will streamline my work schedule by prioritizing what is due when and working at it a little at a time”. Yeah, I really need to do that.
The fourth tip is to Implement A Time Management Plan, create some goals, work on them, keep track of time spent and see if the accomplishments are being made.
Fifth, we have Use Time Management Tools. Wow, I have one of those that I sometimes utilize, sometimes not. Well day planner, get ready for a lot more ink!
Onward, we have Prioritize Ruthlessly. Oh man, that is a challenge but it can be done. Just take a couple of minutes each day and decide when, what and how long your tasks will be. Then simply proceed.
The next step doesn’t really apply to my situation, Learn To Delegate and/or Outsource, now this may work for a small business, but I am one girl with a lot of dreams. I would just restate the above that one must PRIORITIZE. It truly cannot be recommended enough.
Moving forward, Establish Routines & Stick To Them. Whoa, I know all of this sounds so simple but for me routine and consistency have been like dreams to me, but just like any dream one has to work hard to attain it.
Time Management Tip #9, Get In The Habit Of Setting Time Limits For Tasks, one thing I know I often do is over estimate the amount of time something will take. With that over estimation comes overwhelm and further procrastination. So, sitting down and breaking tasks down into workable time periods would really give me a preemptive strike against frustration.
We’re near the end, 10th on the list would be to Be Sure Your Systems Are Organized, oh yes this is something I could pat myself on the back for. I am fairly organized, everything has a place and that place is stored in my gray matter easily retrieved. So, maybe check out your filing system, I think I may just to be safe.
Lastly, Don’t Waste Time Waiting, any time you have to wait for something you can do something else to assist you in any goals or tasks. It’s true! I went in for an oil change last week, I brought my concept book, and a magazine loaded with fresh designs to inspire me just in case my mind needed to wander.
So, there you have it. There are some great ways to manage your behavior out there. I don’t know about you, perhaps you are especially gifted in this area, but as for me I think I am going to start with time management goals. And go from there. This will be a new personal project, I’ll be updating my blog weekly letting you know of my progress. I wish you luck in your pursuits of Time Management, I can’t wait to master myself, which will result in my mastering time!
I decided it was time to learn how to manage time. I Googled ‘Time Management’ finding an interesting article titled “11 Time Management Tips”. This article had me from the get go, part of me rejoiced, I began to dance a bit. The article’s first tip was, ‘realize that time management is a myth’. How exciting, time management isn’t real. That was a relief as I had deemed it impossible. Then, I read on my happy little dance ended when I read: “No matter how organized we are, there are always only 24 hours in a day. Time doesn’t change. All we can actually manage is ourselves and what we do with the time we have”. Oh crap, it is, once again all about me and what I do with my time. I knew it was all too good to be true, but I read on. As I read, I decided that I would place myself on a time management diet, a new regimen of sorts to whip myself up into an organized, well managed productivity machine.
Time is time, I’ve just got to learn how to use it. I have been able to admit many times that I am an easily distracted person, the real problem is that I continue to allow the behavior ~ now, it’s time for a real change. Perhaps this can help you too!
Firstly, as stated above, one must realize that it’s not time that needs to be managed it’s behavior. Time Management Is A Myth.
Secondly, one must find out where they waste their time, Identify Time Wasters. Oh boy, now that one is tricky. For me, I would say I waste the most time cleaning my house, oh how I can get sucked into a cleaning frenzy. I have also known for quite sometime that I unconsciously use housework as a procrastination tool. Additionally, the internet & e-mail help me waste mass amounts of time. I have learned to temper that one a touch.
Then, one must Create Time Management Goals, the article gives a good idea on how to pose these new goals. “I will (goal + performance measure) BY (specific actions)” So, for example, “I will streamline my work schedule by prioritizing what is due when and working at it a little at a time”. Yeah, I really need to do that.
The fourth tip is to Implement A Time Management Plan, create some goals, work on them, keep track of time spent and see if the accomplishments are being made.
Fifth, we have Use Time Management Tools. Wow, I have one of those that I sometimes utilize, sometimes not. Well day planner, get ready for a lot more ink!
Onward, we have Prioritize Ruthlessly. Oh man, that is a challenge but it can be done. Just take a couple of minutes each day and decide when, what and how long your tasks will be. Then simply proceed.
The next step doesn’t really apply to my situation, Learn To Delegate and/or Outsource, now this may work for a small business, but I am one girl with a lot of dreams. I would just restate the above that one must PRIORITIZE. It truly cannot be recommended enough.
Moving forward, Establish Routines & Stick To Them. Whoa, I know all of this sounds so simple but for me routine and consistency have been like dreams to me, but just like any dream one has to work hard to attain it.
Time Management Tip #9, Get In The Habit Of Setting Time Limits For Tasks, one thing I know I often do is over estimate the amount of time something will take. With that over estimation comes overwhelm and further procrastination. So, sitting down and breaking tasks down into workable time periods would really give me a preemptive strike against frustration.
We’re near the end, 10th on the list would be to Be Sure Your Systems Are Organized, oh yes this is something I could pat myself on the back for. I am fairly organized, everything has a place and that place is stored in my gray matter easily retrieved. So, maybe check out your filing system, I think I may just to be safe.
Lastly, Don’t Waste Time Waiting, any time you have to wait for something you can do something else to assist you in any goals or tasks. It’s true! I went in for an oil change last week, I brought my concept book, and a magazine loaded with fresh designs to inspire me just in case my mind needed to wander.
So, there you have it. There are some great ways to manage your behavior out there. I don’t know about you, perhaps you are especially gifted in this area, but as for me I think I am going to start with time management goals. And go from there. This will be a new personal project, I’ll be updating my blog weekly letting you know of my progress. I wish you luck in your pursuits of Time Management, I can’t wait to master myself, which will result in my mastering time!
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