Time Management

Does it ever feel like there is never enough timecan focus all my time on the things that are my
in the day? Are you always rushing? Do you feelpassion but until that time, there are still things I
stressed at the end of the day? Do you believedo to move myself forward that I don't totally
that you are not accomplishing what you hoped?love. However, I try to get them done as quickly
Better time management may be the answer.and as painlessly as possible.
Dr. Respect at says we must "protect, organizeThe second category would be spending time
and prioritize our time". If you are having any ofwith people I care about---those people who
the above listed difficulties, then my guess is younurture me. I protect time for the special man in
are missing at least one of those elements.my life, my sons, my extended family and my
Protecting our time is important. We all have thefriends. There are some people whom I avoid
same amount of time in a day. It's what we dowhen I am protecting my time. They are the
with it that is critical. Do you find yourself doingones who generally take more than they give. Do
things you really don't want to do or spendingyou have people like that in your life? If they can't
time with people who take more than they give?be totally eliminated, at least minimize the time
These are examples of not protecting your time.you give to these people.
Your time is your gift to spend, as you will. YouThe third category would be simply things that
can spend it wisely or you can waste it. It's yourbring me pleasure or joy. There are things I do
choice. However, one thing you can't do is get itthat I can do alone or with others when I need
back to do over again.relaxation. I like to read a good book, watch a
Sometimes we all do things that we don't reallygood movie, horseback ride, canoe, ski, walk in
want to be doing but when we do, it should be inthe woods and something I got to do this
furtherance of a bigger goal that we have. Maybeweekend---swim. Protect your time so that you
we don't want to be going to work today but weget to do the things that bring you joy.
want to collect our paycheck at the end of theOrganizing your time has to do with having a
week, so it's something we choose to do to getgood time management system. Don't wait until
to the bigger payoff.something is due tomorrow to start on it. Have a
However, there are things that we do that justgood plan and systems in place so you are in
aren't important, don't lead to anything and wastecharge of your time instead of your schedule
our time. Can you think of any activities that fallbeing in charge of you. Learn more about time
into that category for you? Do you know thatmanagement systems in our Time Management
the average American watches on average threeteleclass.
hours of television each day? How is that for aAnother aspect of organizing one's time is
time waster?maintaining laser-like focus. Did you know that the
I know when I first got my computer, one of theaverage person's mind wanders around seven to
things I unwisely spent my time on was computereight times a minute? Developing good work
games. I don't mean an occasional game here orhabits that include staying focused until the job is
there. I'm talking about an addiction, andone is critical to organization.
obsession---playing solitaire until 2 AM. If I didn'tPrioritizing your time has to do with deciding
get that under control, I would have not onlywhat's most important. I said I have three
been wasting my time, but I would have beencategories---goal-oriented actions, time with
wasting my life.important people and time doing enjoyable
I have three general categories for which I like toactivities. They don't necessarily prioritize in that
protect my time. One is for making progressorder.
toward my work/life goals. These are the things IThere must be a balance. I know that when I
do to move me forward in life. These arespend too much time working, I start to feel on
generally geared toward helping people in someedge and tense. This is generally a strong indicator
way, generating more clientele, and increasing mythat I need to switch my focus to one of the
revenue streams.other areas. A person cannot be in control of
In this category, it is my sincere hope that onetheir time if all they do is goal-oriented activity. A
day I will have enough income to hire out all thosehealthy balance is necessary for good time
necessary jobs that I don't love to do so that Imanagement and a healthy lifestyle.