TIME MANAGEMENT MOMENT

I have been reading a book called "Time Management from the Inside Out" by Julie Morgenstern. I thought I'd share some of my notes with you all.

First things first though.... WHAT IS YOUR MOTIVATION?

What are you missing from your life?

I want to have a balanced life….time for work, home, social, physical, spiritual, etc.  I want to feel content and not feel anxious every day. I want to feel caught up and not always feeling one or two or a million steps behind.  

WHAT’S HOLDING YOU BACK?

What is throwing you off?

Level 1 Technical Errors - Maybe you never learned a particular skill or technique.

1- You haven’t set aside a specific time in your schedule to make it happen.  Put it in your daily schedule.

2- You set aside the wrong time to do something.  Recognize concentration and energy levels, as well as sunshine, time of year, life circumstances, etc.

3- You miscalculated how long tasks will take.  Need to plan a realistic workload.

4- You’re the wrong person for the job.  Delegate. Someone else might be able to do the job faster, better, and more efficiently than you.

5- The task is overly complex.  Figure out a way to simplify the task.  When you break down a project into smaller steps it becomes more manageable.  

6- You can’t remember what you have to do.  Consistently record your to do lists and appointments in one place.

7- Your space is disorganized and you can’t find things.   Organize your physical space.

8- There is an absence of planning time.  Take a step back, evaluate your priorities, and plan how you’re going to get things done.

9- You have an unrealistic workload.  Reexamine your workload, be kind to yourself, get rid of non-essential tasks, and delegate.

Level 2 External Realities - Sometimes environmental factors beyond your control interfere with your ability to manage time.

1- A health problem limits your energy.  Make sure you’re getting enough sleep each night.  Go to the doctor if needed and take care of yourself.  Prioritize your to-do lists by starting the day with your most important tasks, leaving smaller tasks for later in the day.

2- You are in transition.  Transitional situations can throw your schedule off...getting married, job change, illness, moving, etc.  Find activities that anchor you (exercise, sleep, time for loved ones) and build times for those activities in your schedule.

3- You are in a an interruption-rich environment.  Being a teacher is an interruption-rich job that requires me to be extremely responsive to others.  Leave time for the interruptions and create time for yourself that is under your control.

4- Other people’s chaos.  Working with someone who’s disorganized ways interferes with your plans.  Use good communication and come up with a solution together.

 

Level 3 Psychological Obstacle - It could be internal forces and fears that prevent us from achieving the life we desire.

1- Unclear goals and priorities.  You might have general goals, but haven’t taken time to write them down or think through them.  Specifically define your goals and determine what your biggest priorities are.

2- You love being in crisis mode.  Maybe you like pulling it off and being a crisis manager.

3- Fear of failure or success.  Might be easier to avoid making the efforts, rather than risking real failure.  Maybe you fear the reactions of the people around you. Everyone deserves success.

4- Fear of downtime. Maybe you feel guilty for taking time off or take pride in being constantly on the go.  You may keep your schedule packed to avoid thinking about larger, more difficult issues in your life. Fill your time with a set of balanced activities that are meaningful to you.

5- Need to be a caretaker.  We all like to be needed, but we can’t say yes to everyone.