Time Management Avoidance -- OnlineOrganizing.com

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	Time Management Avoidance

	by Edel Jarboe

Let's begin by examining why you are so busy. If you are in the habit of REACTING to your day instead of planning it, at the end of the day you won't feel as if you accomplished anything. So, the next day you work even harder and end up feeling even more tired and even more frustrated. What's going on here? You are letting life HAPPEN to you instead of directing and shaping your life.

PUTTING AN END TO THE MADNESS

How can you stop this cycle? By making the commitment to yourself to spend 10-15 minutes a day, either in the morning or at the end of the day, to PLAN your day. Clearly defining your tasks, creating deadlines for projects, and focusing on the more important tasks not only helps you get more done and feel as if you accomplished something but it gives you a greater sense of CONTROL over your time. Daily planning keeps you focused on what's important and helps you to be more effective. Isn't it worth a few minutes of your time to take control of your life?

I ALREADY KNOW WHAT NEEDS DONE

If you already "know what you have to do" you are probably referring to the ROUTINE tasks that make up your day. From dropping off the kids to returning phone calls and emails, we all have a general idea of how our days will go. But what about the stuff that is IMPORTANT in your life? Have you made time for your goals? For fun? A lot of us are actually trapped by our routines- watching too much television, eating breakfast in our bathrobes, sleeping an extra 20 minutes, etc.-- and spend a lot of time doing nothing. In other words, we spend a lot of time not pursuing what is important to us. We are usually so busy going through the motions that we forget about the non-routine tasks that are the key to realizing our dreams. Plan your time so that you do have time for what you want out of life.

TIME MANAGEMENT WILL NOT WORK FOR ME

Is your schedule hectic with a lot of last-minute stuff popping up? Are you convinced that this is how things must be, so time management won't work for you? Interruptions, shifting priorities and last minute emergencies can all throw you off track, especially if you aren't even on track in the first place. How can you learn to cope with these time bandits? Practice time APPROPRIATENESS. In other words, identify the source of your time wasters and come up solutions to either limit or eliminate them. Pinpoint what must be done and allocate a reasonable amount of time to complete these tasks. If necessary, break them down into smaller tasks. Then, work on getting things done in-between these interruptions. In other words, plan FOR and AROUND time derailments.

I AM ALLERGIC TO LISTS

Does the idea of having a long "to do" list make you feel overwhelmed? You are not alone. Faced with a long list of what must be done, anyone would feel discouraged and would want to give up. What should we do in this situation? Divide and conquer. Make your "to do" list meaningful and manageable by CATEGORIZING tasks by function and by identifying what must be done and WHEN. Which tasks are necessary in order for your work, home, family, and personal life to operate at maximum efficiency? What can you streamline, delegate, or eliminate from your "to do" list? What can you put off for a day, a week, or a month? Go ahead and schedule these items on your calendar ahead of time. In other words, take the time to decide what you can control in your life and let go of the rest. Also, be sure to follow a guideline. What goals are you trying to achieve? Which actions will take you closer to your goal? Which actions have no value in your life? Don't make a commitment unless it is important to you. Remember, you are in control of your time and of your "to do" list.

WHERE DO I START?

Are you at a loss as to where to start when it comes to planning your time? Are you confused by the different planning systems (Day Runner, Franklin Planner, etc.) available? Are these the reasons why you have been procrastinating? Relax. There is no one way to manage your time. The most important factor of successful time management is the COMMITMENT to planning and using your time more effectively. In addition, be sure to schedule the time to regularly re-assess your time management effectiveness. Is your system working for you? Creating your own effective time management system and finding out what works best for you may take some time, but it is definitely worth it.

Edel Jarboe is the founder and editor of Simpler Living -- an online magazine helping women balance work, family and life. This is a place for working women and mothers to come and get practical insight and inspiration to help keep their busy lives in balance. Visit her website at www.simplerliving.com.

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