The good life is built, it's not handed to us. Time "management" is more discipline than organization:1. Manage Your Priorities
- #1 source of stress for humans is when their ACTUAL values and the DESIRED values are in conflict.
- Desired Values of what we want for ourselves and how we want others to see us as.
- Actual Values are where we really are: as indicated by our day planners, checkbooks and credit card statements. Where we spend most of our time & money is where we actually are. What do we want to be involved in? Are we on purpose or drifting? Are we engaged or "plugged in and tuned out?"
- Evaluate your calendar: how are you spending your day, your week your month, etc.. How do you spend the $ hours?
- If your boss, mentor or #1 client were to shadow you this week, would they be impressed or baffled about the way you spend your day?
- Ask yourself "why are you doing this?" on each task, it helps the prioritizing, because the answers to each "why" defines the importance and the order.
2. Manage Yourself (because time is actually not managed, rather we invest our activities into our available time to achieve a result.)
- Manage your energy. Work in 90 minute blocks, then take a break. You need to recharge the batteries throughout the day. Your day is a series of sprints, not a marathon.
- When your at work be at work during your "making money hours" with making money activities. Guard your schedule from the time bandits. "B" and "C" activities during "A+ & A" activity time (money hours) equals missing your child's game, or not being able to take Sunday off, etc. Thinking of it this way helps place the importance on your activities.
- When you are home be at home. Engage your family, your pets, your personal interests...this is the recharge.
- Get sleep-7.5 hours is the minimum recommended for proper health & rest. You owe your clients to be healthy and to be alert. You wouldn't go to a brain surgeon that only sleeps 4 hours a day, your clients have those same concerns of you.
- If you are taking a day off (and I recommend you take at least one each week) commit to it. Shut off the work phone & e-mails and have a true day off.
- If a client wants to "invade your recharge time", make them exhaust their schedule before violating your evening or day off. If you are managing your time at work, this becomes a guilt free policy because "you gave at the office". By the way when my bank is closed, I never call the manager at home to ask him to open up.
- Understand the heightened value of a single day: What does the structure of your day look like? Does it fit your life? If you set out to win the day, you don't have to win the whole day to win.
- What is your plan and when do you plan it? The night before, the day of or as you go?
3. Adjust to A Lower Stress Life (Staying Up In a Down World).
- Your day off is fun time, not bonus work time. I have a marriage & a son that deserve me in the evenings and one day per week. Any client that feels otherwise, I simply ask them to contact my bride and tell her I need to work Sundays. Hasn't happened yet! If someone ever did challenge me, I'd simply refer them to someone with less guarded Sundays and make some money of the referral fee while protecting my recharge time. Celebrate a great work day by having an evening off with your family (or alone-quiet is nice). Celebrate a great work week by having a day off as a reward.
- Golf, Kids, Garden, Movies, Books, Church, etc.
- Quiet Time, Rest Time, Fun Time, Family Time...
- When your batteries are recharged, your performance is consistent. You can be in a big hurry, but if you neglect your gas tank gauge or the regular maintenance of your vehicle, you'll eventually spend some time on the road side.
- Have written goals, they help you focus on your priorities.
- When you find a gap in your schedule, don't rush to fill it, enjoy the gap! Read, nap, go for a walk-great way to recharge mid day.
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