Simplifying A-Z: T – Time
T – Time
Time is the one things everyone wishes they had more of! Time to spend with family and friends, time to do fun things, and time to actually get things done! So, since we can’t have more time, we need to figure out how to best use the time we have. For many people, time management just does not come naturally. Even those of us who help others with their time management find ourselves in time-suck activities and feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day! For example, instead of writing this blog, I spent 20 minutes reading “The 10+ Most Hilarious Parenting Tweets of the Year So Far”…and I don’t even have children (you got sucked into it to, didn’t you?).
Time flies or drags depending on what you’re doing. Two hours at the DMV can feel like 12 years. However, a long weekend away can be over in the blink of an eye.
The following techniques will help you become the master of your own time:
- Carry a schedule and record all your activities for a week. This will help you understand how much you can get done during the course of a day and where your precious moments are going.
- Any activity that’s important should have a time assigned to it. Schedule appointments with others and yourself and create time blocks for high-priority items.
- Schedule time for interruptions. Plan time to be pulled away from what you’re doing.
- Take the first 30 minutes of every day to plan your day. Don’t start your day until you complete your time plan. The most important time of your day is the time you schedule to schedule time.
- Practice not answering the phone just because it’s ringing and e-mails just because they show up. Disconnect instant messaging and block out social media. Don’t instantly give people your attention unless it’s absolutely crucial to offer an immediate human response. Instead, schedule a time to answer email and return phone calls.
- Outsource or get assistance with anything that you can. There are services that can help with everything from grocery delivery to virtual assisting to Professional Organizing!
Time, unlike money is something you can never get back or earn more of. Figure out your priorities and then budget your time according to those priorities.
