Tired? Do you look forward to the weekends? Monday through Friday can be busy. It’s a struggle to get everything done. Many people try to make up time by sleeping less, probably a bad idea. Why aren’t 24 hours a day enough?
We all get the same 24 hours a day Monday through Friday. How are you spending yours? In my time management seminar, participants fill out a worksheet and reflect on where their time goes Monday through Friday.
The questionnaire is broken down into 3 sections: Utility time, employment time, and discretionary time.
Utility time includes, sleeping, bathing, dressing, eating, commuting and traveling.
Employment time includes working, taking breaks, waiting for others, and socializing with staff.
Discretionary or leisure time includes athletic and health activities, television or multi-media viewing, hobbies, housework, family and social activities.
This is what I have discovered. I often have seminar participants trying to squeeze 27 hours into a 24-hour day. Many say they make it up by sleeping less. I would not recommend this strategy. Instead I recommend that we make minor adjustments in our behaviors to get back in balance.
Answer these questions: What can you do 5% less of? Now with that new available time, what could you do 5% more of? What 5% can you stop doing? So, you now have 5% to start doing something new. If my math is correct, that’s a 20% difference in behavior. That’s a day a week. This minor adjustment will have a major impact on your work and life balance.
Invest some time to adjust your behaviors to enjoy your life. Dial in your life like a combination lock: 5% less, 5% more, 5% stop, 5% start.
Here are some ideas. Become more efficient by creating systems for routine tasks. Consider tasks you can delegate to others and let them go. Stop participating in activities that are truly a waste of time. Invest your new-found available time in more valuable activities. Your time is precious. Please treat it that way.
If you or members of your organization are struggling with time management, contact me at kit@welchlin.com and I will provide a presentation packed with time management strategies that work.