Do you feel like you’re juggling 100 balls in the air, wondering if you’ll ever have enough time to do everything?
It’s a fast-paced world we live in, and it seems there are always more things pulling on our time … more stuff to do, and less time to do them in. There are deadlines to meet, projects to complete, unfinished things that need doing. Yet there’s not much satisfaction found in the rush and stress of doing things at the last minute (or missing deadlines).
Has time sped up? No – but it sure can feel like it.
Sometimes we burn the candle at both ends. We try to run our businesses; keep our personal time in check with stuff we love and need to do. There’s often a partner to consider; family and other special people we need and want to take care of.
- How can we do it all and not leave anything out?
- What’s the cost to our wellbeing and to those we love?
- Where do we find a balance … can we do it all without a major meltdown?
3 Small Things That Will Make A Massive Difference:
You may have heard these before – but don’t dismiss them and think “I already know that”. Read them anew. Even just one new insight could make the difference in setting your goals, planning your day, or your life.
1. “Time Management” Is A Misnomer – The challenge is not to manage time but to manage ourselves.
The Time Management Matrix (below) identifies 4 ways we spend our time. The two factors that define an activity are Urgent and Important.
Urgent means it requires immediate attention. It’s NOW! Urgent things act on us. Urgent matters are usually visible. They press on us; they insist on action.
Important on the other hand has to do with results. If something is important it contributes towards your Life Vision, your values, your high priority goals.
Urgent | Not Urgent | |
Important
|
1. Activities “Manage & Produce”Crises. Pressing problems. Deadline-drive project. |
2. Activities “Quality”Prevention, production capabilities activities. Relationships building. Recognising new opportunities. Planning, recreation. |
Not Important | 3. Activities “Deception”Interruptions, some calls. Some mail, some reports. Some meetings. Proximate, pressing matters. Popular activities. |
4. Activities “Waste”Trivia, busy work. Some mail. Some phone calls. Time wasters. Pleasant activities. |
(from Stephen Covey – 7 Habits of highly successful people)
2. Use The ROT/EI Method
What’s going to give you the greatest Return On Time and Energy Invested (ROT/EI)? Use this method to prioritise your to-do lists: (This is NOT based on what needs to get done).
- A is highest priority – these items usually cannot be delegated, might be uncomfortable to do, and stick out like a sore thumb.
- B is in between.
- C is lowest – these usually could be delegated. They are the day-to-day routine type items, the “if they don’t get done the world won’t stop” kind of things.