Take Charge of Your Time, Part 1
February 9, 2008 Life choices, managing your time No Comments
It always amazes me to hear folks say “I didn’t have time,” to explain their failure to get something completed.
The truth is we all have time: 168 hours a week to be exact. It’s fascinating that one person can complete a sculpture, compose a song, or send off a book proposal in the same time frame that others will complain wasn’t enough time.
Don’t get me wrong. Using your time wisely doesn’t mean working nonstop or meditating all day.
On the contrary using your time wisely means balancing your time to get the things done that matter to you.
- Taking a nap is a very good use of your time to rejuvenate your body.
- Spending several hours to write a business plan is a very good use of time to ensure the success of your business.
- Singing a lullaby to your baby is an investment of your time that will pay off in immeasurable ways.
Evaluate your use of time by keeping track of what you do for one whole day. Then decide which of those actions advanced your business or your personal life. Those that didn’t may need to be eliminated.
Now take charge of your time:
1. Set short and long-term goals.
Work backwards from your goals to see what tiny steps need to be done. If you want to gross $5,000 per month in your business, for example, how many $1oo product or services do you need to sell to reach this goal.
If you want to finish your 60,000 word novel by the last day of the year, how many words do you need to write each day from now until then.
2. Create a weekly schedule for your standard activities.
If you’re a woman balancing family and career, you need to schedule fun and relaxation on your calendar first. Then make a promise to yourself to keep these appointments. (Many men already know to do this. You see them jumping around the basketball court every Saturday.)
3. Be flexible and sensible.
You can reschedule and rearrange activities, but you can’t keep piling more and more things to do into the same 168 hours without eliminating something.
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Coming tomorrow: more ways to take charge of your time.
