It is a fact…there are 24 hours in a day, 7 days in a week. It is up to us on how we use that time. I am doing a lot of coaching these days on time management. Here are some key points:
1) I believe in a 15/7/2 approach. We should all get at least 7 hours of restful sleep…and spend at least 2 hours per day focused on our own fitness (physical and spiritual). That leaves 15 hours each and every day to do what we want to do. Some of that will be focused on work…but there is still time to focus on play if we manage our time correctly.
2) Folks should play to their strengths. Some of us are morning folks (like me) and others are evening folks (like Sarah). I am up at 5am daily. The time from 5am to 8am is protected time….time when I do my best thinking. Sarah is still in bed at that time, and it is just me and the two labs…and they don’t ask any questions. Protect your most productive time.
3) Take time throughout the day to think. Too many folks run from one event to the next without allocating time to think. My rule is 30 minutes between events….the time to pause and reflect on what we just accomplished, and to prepare for the next event.
4) Learn to say no. Many folks attend meetings, etc that they don’t really need to attend because they want to appear to be a team player. In some cases folks attend meetings because they don’t trust others to relay to them the information. Either way it is a waste of precious time.
5) Make work-life balance a priority. Ensure you schedule things that are important to you and your Family. Get those on the calendar first, and protect that time.
As William Penn said, “Time is what we want most, but what we use worst.” Let’s all work to get better.