Archive for Time
Getting to the Root of Procrastination
Posted by: | CommentsI have a project I haven’t touched in two weeks. Why? I don’t know. I have forgotten to ask.
One of the main reasons I don’t procrastinate as much as I used to, is that I’ve gotten into the habit of asking why.
We often know we are procrastinating. But, instead of getting to the bottom of it we make excuses like, "Well I’m just a procrastinator" or "I’m just lazy".
Firmly held beliefs about yourself are usually easier to deal with than, "I don’t want to be judged harshly with the finished result, so I’ll do it last minute knowing it wasn’t my best work." Or, "I’m scared I don’t know what I am doing." Or, "I am overwhelmed by the scope of it."
Instead of telling ourselves the truth we lie to ourselves when we only admit we procrastinate.
Until we get to the why, it’s harder to overcome procrastination.
Next time you realize you are procrastinating, ask yourself why?
Then you can talk back to your fear, ask for help, break down the project into smaller pieces or try making the task more fun.
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You can find other ways to deal with Procrastination in my Procrastination eCourse.
Put Down the Phone and Listen
Posted by: | CommentsAre you reading this while talking on the phone or listening to your kids or surfing in another window?
Are you still trying to multi-task?
Multi-tasking is really inefficient – only making us think we are getting more done. But for many of the tasks, they end up taking longer and not done as well.
It takes time to get back into working mode on something.
Say you are writing something, then the email beeps. You hop over to check it out.
Now back to writing. Where were you? Your brain stalls a few minutes getting back into writing mode.
Or you bring your laptop into the meeting. You thought you were listening as you did some research online. But, whoops you missed the last 10 minutes and have no idea what is going on.
Or you are annoying someone you are talking with on the phone because they hear click, click, click of you typing.
Some things are fine multitasking – go ahead what the treadmill while watching TV or reading. (Though they say you walk better without those. But, if it’s the only way to get you on the treadmill, go for it.)
You can fold laundry while watching TV. Or wash dishes while chatting with the kids.
But if you need concentration to do something, it’s not helpful to be doing something else. How many times have you tried to multi-task only to find the work longer or you lost one of the things you were multi-tasking.
Take a look at how you are multi-tasking today and see how it’s working for you. Or not working for you.
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Photo by Carbon NYC
I Wonder as I Wander
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A Winter Hike
I used to wander all the time. Exploring what us kids called Monster Lake. Flowing through the Illinois prairie. Taking long walks along the sidewalk with no destination. Looking for new places. Taking hours at the browsing the shelves. Talking through the woods with no fear of getting lost.
It gave me a chance to think or just be.
I remember a few years ago when I was at a conference, wandering the streets of Chicago and spending hours at the Art Institute.
I rarely wander anymore. At least not alone. We often take the kids for hikes and other exploratory adventures.
But, not by myself. So I lose the inner exploration that happens with outer exploration.
Now it seems there always needs to be some sort of destination. Errands are bundled to save time. I am longing for the freedom to wander.
OK, down on my calendar for Saturday, Wander Time.
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This post was inspired by the GoVenture at I Love Life and was originally a journal piece. Photo by me.
It’s also about time to Plan Valentine’s Day.
Take some wander time at Jen Louden’s Virtual Retreat [Affiliate Link]
When Life Isn’t Simple
Posted by: | CommentsOK, I have to admit, all of the sudden my life is not so simple.
Opportunities came and I took them. So now I am working on a couple speeches for a couple groups, planning a spring retreat, working with the declutter club, building a web site for someone and helping someone launch their book.
And for some reason Feb is the month we have dentist appointments all over the place, I need to go to the DMV, I’m making dinner for 28 robotics teens, and selling flip flops for my son’s all nighter. Someone mentioned planning for their graduation party in June and I started panicking. I’m supposed to start that already?
Then there is my work, family, friends, home and volunteering of normal.
So I have been doing lots of planning and thinking this weekend and came up with some ideas to prevent overwhelm:
- Remember that most of "too busy" is all in my head
- Keep the vision of why I want to do the things I decided to do
- Make easy meals and have my teens cook some
- Use something I did for a teleseminar for the speeches
- Get my haircut the day of the first speech so I don’t have to worry about my hair
- Make sure quiet time and exercise are first things of the day so my self care doesn’t fly out the window
- Take lots of breathing breaks
- Scheduled some fun/downtime
- Make sure I do my weekly and daily planning
- Keep deciding on the next right step to take
- Ask for help
- Let go of perfectionistic ideals
What can you do to prevent overwhelm this coming month?
Photo by Shawn Zlea
Hurry is a Habit
Posted by: | CommentsI try to stay away from hurry as much as possible. I am completely clumsy. Hairbrushes go flying, dinner gets dropped, and turns in the car get missed. I’ve found it’s best for me to at least pretend there is no reason to hurry.
Some people are more talented then I am though, and they find they can hurry well. Next thing you know everything they do is hurried. Leisure walks are rushed. Getting the kids ready for Grandma’s is just as frantic as getting the kids ready for school. And rarely is anything done one at a time.
Have you ever been in the car silently saying nasty remarks to the slow car ahead of you, only to realize you are actually early?
Or heaven forbid have to wait in a line – any line. The heart rate goes up and you clench your teeth. Do you really want to live this way? Hurrying yourself, your co-workers, your kids, your pets constantly? That can’t be good for anybody.
Take a look at your pace today. Is everything hurried? Does it need to be?
And if it does need to be hurried, is there one thing you can take out of the schedule in the future so you can live your life at a more sane pace?
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Photo Credit: The Sea
Lost Time
Posted by: | CommentsWhen you think of "lost time", what do you usually see? For many people it’s unproductive time – waiting or zoning out or doing things other than what you intended. Strict schedules make lost time a tragedy. Any ounce of that sort of time and your schedule goes out the window.
But, what is we redefined lost time? What if lost time became a good thing? In that waiting time we started a fascinating conversation or daydreamed into relaxation.
In our zoning out, we let go with our mind so it could rest.
A wander through our yard renewed us.
Seeing someone with our eyes, ears and heart instead of as an interupption connected us deeply.
And then it turns out when we went back into the "real," productive world we hadn’t lost any time at all. For we are clearer, more focused and happier.
Wishing your some lost time today.
I’ve lost quite a bit of time lately watching our little bunny in the yard
Rhythm of the Summer
Posted by: | CommentsI had been getting up later and later. Which mean working later and later. And playing less.
Our eating here has been sporadic. I haven’t felt my best and neither has the rest of the family.
I let go of any schedule it seems since the kids have been out of school. Perhaps I needed to relax them for awhile.
But I felt I needed to add a bit of rhythm to my days and came up with just a few things.
Mornings
Now at 7 am I wake up and do exercise.
Then it’s breakfast, a few morning chores and planning for dinner.
Some quiet time before getting dressed.
Work
I’m at my desk for work by 9:00. I plan my work and begin with the most important work.
I’ve limited email to 10:00am, 1:00pm, 3:00pm and 7:00pm.
Meal Times
These will help me from grazing all day. Or notice as I am working that it’s 2:30pm and I haven’t eaten lunch yet.
Breakfast is at 7:30
Lunch at 11:30
Small snack at 2:30
Dinner at 6:00
and fruit or something small for dessert at 8:30
Evening
And I reimplemented an evening routine an hour before bed of journaling, taking a shower and reading or snuggling.
And this rhythm will leave us more time to play, explore and relax.
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Photo Credit: Lepiaf Geo
Simple Time Management System
Posted by: | CommentsI’ve been using Mark Forster’s new Autofocus time management system since the beginning of the year.
What I love about it:
- It’s intuitive
- It’s extremely simple
- You don’t need a bunch of new tools
- You can start it immediately
- It cuts down on procrastination and resistance
You can read the instructions here:
Let me know if you try it out.
Get Back on Track with Post-Its
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I am not a fan of post it notes for to do’s. Layering them on desks, computer monitors and planners seems scattered. I like having my todo’s in one space. (Even if I change up the space once in awhile).
But, I love post its to keep on track.
One of my clients is in a job where answering the phone is a must. So every time she was done with a phone call, she spent precious minutes getting back into her work.
Now before she answers the phone, she jots a quick note of the next step and sticks it on her file folder. After the call is done, she picks up her note and starts working right away.
These work for any interruptions. If someone comes in, hold up a finger and say just a sec as you finish your thought on a post it with your next action. Then you can give them your full attention.
Before your next break, write down the action you need to do when you get back so after your break you can get to work easier.
And for project files, when you are done for the day write down what you need to do when you next work on the project. You are less likely to get stuck with where to start.
Photo Credit: Adactio
The Unexpected
Posted by: | CommentsYou are barely getting things done, feeling a little behind, but then you get sick, or your kids gets sick or the car breaks down. All of the sudden you are panicking.
When there are no margins in your life, if the unexpected happens it feels like things are falling apart.
We tend to think life should go smoothly. We can make a terrific plan that will fit what we need to get done.
But have you ever noticed that something unexpected happens just about every day. You may realize you are almost out of gas, or the cat needs to go to the vet, or you can’t find your keys or the printer won’t work or a friend needs to talk or your computer gets a virus or you get a distressing call.
In reality, the unexpected is to be expected.
Things are more likely not to go as planned than to go as planned. And you are kidding yourself if you think a scheduled day with no room will go just how you want it to.
So what can you do about it?
Margin
Do you have margin in your life? When you map out your day, do you add time for traffic, uncooperative kids and the "unexpected?"
Do you have space in between your tasks to re-evaluate your priorities or just check in with yourself?
Are you being realistic with what you can accomplish each day?
When there is no margin, you feel rushed and frazzled. One snag and anxiety rules.
Urgent Hour
One of my clients added an urgent hour to her work day after keeping track of her time for a week. She discovered about an hour of her day was handling urgent tasks that came in. If she had planned every minute of her day, she would be behind just about every day. Now whenever something urgent comes up, she moves what she had originally planned to her urgent hour.
Lateness
Traffic is always a big unexpected. So, how about leaving 10 minutes early for all your appointments? And stop what you are doing in time to gather what you need, get your shoes and coat on and grab your keys. Picture how relaxed you will feel if you know you are getting someplace on time.
Dinner Time
Meltdown time for many families. People are hungry and tired. You can try to start preparing dinner earlier instead of after sorting mail, etc. Make a menu plan for the week, so you know what you are going to eat and whether you have the food on hand. Defrost the meat the night before.
Activities
If you can’t find any extra space in your schedule, you can either continue to rush and feel strained or you can eliminate activities. Let go of a class, duty, meeting, leadership position, TV watching or kid sport. Your health and well-being is worth it.
Not only do margins create less stress, they allow you to be more present in your life and connect more with the people in your life.
How will you create more margin in your life?
