Archive for the ‘Organized Time’ Category

Can we manage time?

Monday, February 4th, 2019

Time

Stephen Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, states that “Time management is a misnomer, the challenge is manage ourselves.” Yet, we have this obsession to learn “time management?”  Time is a commodity.  How do you spend time?  Can you make time? When the day is done, what have you accomplished?  We can’t get it back.  That ship has sailed.  Did you feel good about what you do did today?

We often hear ourselves, or others, say, “I don’t have time.” What then, do we have?

We have too many commitments, too many choices, too much food, substances and distractions.  We can’t decide.  We can’t say no.  We can’t diet.  We can’t quit habits that aren’t good for us.  And, we don’t accomplish the tasks and goals that we hoped.

Maybe we can’t manage time, but we can work at managing all the components of our lives and manage ourselves.  We can plan ahead, budget our time, set a target and commit to a schedule  like you would a vacation.  We can select a task, set a timer and accomplish a small assignment.  We can break down a large project into small pieces, and little by little, whittle away at it.

We can manage our expectations, set boundaries, and learn about planning and estimating.  We can examine our schedules, write down our priorities and schedule them.

How do you handle interruptions?  Do you get caught up in major distractions?  Do you try to start too many things at once, and end up finishing nothing?  Do others’ priorities absorb your day?  Have you examined ways to make your life easier? Can you delegate a task to someone able, willing and mutually accountable?

Learn about how you approach new things.  Do you instinctively jump in like a bull in a china closet, or procrastinate until you find the perfect way to do it?  Linda Sapadin’s book, It’s About Time: The 6 Styles of Procrastination and How to Overcome Them is eye opening and life changing.

Stuff happens….emergencies, illness, demands of others.  But, we can’t abandon our dreams.  We must get back on track, and schedule our priorities.

Let’s recap how we can manage ourselves by learning about:

  • How we spend time and handle interruptions
  • Setting boundaries: physical, mental and emotional
  • Focusing
  • Budgeting
  • Planning
  • Estimating
  • Scheduling
  • Setting goals and priorities
  • Delegating
  • Avoiding multitasking
  • Managing distractions
  • Managing expectations
  • Managing lists

Plato said “the beginning is the most important part of the work.”  Let’s begin.

Do you want to learn more about time and managing yourself, contact me.

Organizing Options for Care-giving and Care-getting

Monday, August 29th, 2016

balance-1372677-1024x682I heard it said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. The other day, I received a call from a client who confidently exclaimed When I get stuck, I ask myself What would Marcia do?” Wow!!!! I was flattered and glowed with pride. I pride myself in setting a good example by practicing what I preach. Managing time, for instance, is self management. If you had a brief 20 minutes to get something done or started, what would you choose to do? The following are options for accomplishing something in 20 minutes from which this Veteran Professional Organizer would choose.

Enrichment Creative
Learn something new Draw, paint, craft
Practice a skill Cook, Garden
Read Play Music
  Photograph
Social Write, Visualize
Catch up on Social Media De-Clutter/ Organize
Call Someone  
Write a note Well-Being
  Snuggle your pet
Tasks Meditate, pray
File, Put stuff away Yoga, Exercise
Clean/clean out Healthy snack
De-Clutter/ Organize Personal hygiene

Did I leave out any choices? One cannot say there is nothing to do, unless your choice is to do nothing. We have to capitalize on downtime, if not create it.

We all enjoy having choices, but we often fritter away precious moments. What can you accomplish in 20 minutes? What do you need? Is it an urgent need, or a plan for some future important event? If you’ve thrown away precious time in the past, start new. Set a timer. Eliminate distractions such as silencing electronic alerts (except for emergencies).

Life is full. We’re so busy as care-givers to ourselves, our families, our businesses and our loved ones, that we forget to “care-get.” We’re filled with obligations to others, demands from new life, and expired life, let alone our own deadlines. And because we care-give so much, there are more demands on us to organize. We can’t properly help others unless we help ourselves first. The flight attendant’s announcement before every flight includes “In the event of an emergency, make sure your oxygen mask is securely tightened before assisting a child.” Ask YOURSELF, “What do I need to help myself?” Should I write another post on how to ask for help?

Take heed this quote by Amelia Earhart, “Courage is the price that life exacts for granting peace. The soul that knows it not, knows no release from little things.” Have the courage to organize, grant yourself peace of mind, and ask yourself, “What would Marcia do?”