This post is almost like a MeMe in that it is sort of revealing about me. I just finished with my monthly time budget for those things that are essential to my life and well being. I delegate my time in 12 categories. The last one is a catch all for anything. I need that category to be there, but there is not a lot specifically included there so I have to be careful if I want my time budget to be effective.
First let me say, like all of you I do a lot of multi-taking and today we need to be able to do that more effectively than ever but we can take the quality away from those other tasks if we try to accomplish to many things at one time.
Here is my weekly budget of time and how I spend it. I made this determination after tracking my time for a two week period and discovered how I utilize my time. My Business plan is also detailed and not included here. I posted once about how to create one in 4 parts on ActiveRain and I think I got only one looker :-)
As I became more aware of my time and how best to use it, I also realize we don't live in a perfect un-interrupted world. So, when the unexpected happens, I know something else has to be traded. By understanding where I utilize my time, I have the option to trade it for other things that I want to do. The area of a time block least affected or at least traded last is my work priority. Everthing else is a bit flexible.
I noticed that on certain days of the week, Saturday and Sunday usually, I actually sleep only 5 to 5.5 hours.
Real estate work- 8 hours per day x 6 days 48 hours total
I am hiring a VA to do my marketing and hope to save 4 hours a week, in addition to having the marketing done in a timely manner. But for the most part, the total time for work is not too felxible.
Sleeping- 6 hours per night x 7 42 hours
This is somewhat flexible as my body seems to reject the idea that I should sleep 8 hours a day. Can't remeber a time that I did. I know I should but can't. When I wake up, I get up, no issues of ever wanting to sleep in. I do not use alarm clocks, as I find them disruptive on my nerves. I prefer to waken peacefully.
Blogging on ActiveRain- 4 hours per day x 5 days a week 20 hours
Since becoming a blogger on the last of day of March this year, I wasn't sure what I traded for it, so that is why I made a more careful evaluation of my time.
Personal Time and Grooming 8 hours
This may seem excessive but good grooming habits and caring for my body are important to me. This is one area in which I usually will not compromise.
House Cleaning/Laundry 6 hours
I do have help but having a clean and an orderly home is almost obsessive/compulsive with me. I find living in as nice of an environment as possible helps me to keep my head clear and be creative.
Grocery and Personal Shopping 6 hours
I make lists continually and try to handle this task with great care. I have several weeks planned ahead so I pretty much never run out of anything. If I am near shopping after working with a client, I keep my lists on my Q phone so I always know if I need anything. Laundry is always handled in conjunction with my tanning appointment as it on the way there.
Eating Out 2 nights a week with friends 6 hours
I am pretty consistent with this. I have a cushion of time built in to my personal travel time so if I need extra time, I have it. I usually keep to my budget of time allocated.
Preparing meals at home ( all Kitchen Time ) 10.5 hours
Preparing my own food and food for my Yorkies ( no can food used-it is cooked fresh ), kibitzing on the phone, keeping the Kitchen organized, dishes and preparing meals all fits into the multi-taking I am proficient at. My Kitchen and Family room is where I spend the bulk of my free time. It is where Life seems happens for me. When people visit, this is we we seem to spend the time.
Yardwork (tending the Flowers and Plants) 5 hours ( I employ a yard groomer)
I spend my first waking hour, 5 days a week, tending to my collection of plants and flowers. I drink my morning coffee looking at sheer spender. On rainy days, very few or very cold days, also very few, I am still there, as my plants count on my attention and reward me graciously.
Personal Transportation ( not work related) 5 hours
This is a buffer time I allocate to local errands not already accomplished in their respective slots. Most of the time, it is just bonus time that can be utilized in visiting neighbors, walking or just sitting in the grass somewhere with my Yorkies.
Power Nap 30 minutes a day 5 Days 2.5 hours
I am religious about this and rarely miss doing this. It is important for my physical well being and I notice that I have trained myself never to over sleep. I can set set my watch to the 30 minutes.
Once Weekly Tanning Salon Appointment .5 hours
I don't lay in the sun anymore but I like looking tanned and healthy. I have been doing this appointment for almost 15 years.
I no longer use the tanning beds as I prefer the safer spray tan. It reacts with my skin well and I always look fit and tanned.
Miscellaneous ( TV or News programs, Reading, seeing a movie, play with the 8.5 hours
dogs, read newspaper, etc. )
This is my catch all for everything we deal with that does not fit elsewhere. It is the time I have left over that I can utilize pretty much the way I want. I am not a big TV watcher but I do listen to it with my headset when I am blogging or doing computer work. I much prefer my Ipod though and love listening to music that keeps me grounded and de-stressed.
This all totals 168 hours. It is what we all have, 168 hours, none of us can stretch it out but we can manage it. How do you spend your 168 hours per week. How one spends their time is also how one prioritizes life. I am still enjoying mine and so far like the allocations. The nice thing is by understanding how I am using my time (trading it for other things) I have a keen awareness of my life and how I am living it. It is by no means perfect and by recoding it for you, I open myself to some criticism perhaps, but it is my life and I am loving it ad the encounters I am having in it.
Doctor Visits, Vacations, unexpected travel have to be allocated. They are more of a seldom occurrence that I do not budget for specifically. I trade whatever resource of time that is needed to accomplish them. Be assured they are not ignored.
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