BLOG; Thoughts on the business of life and work

Time on my mind

12/1/2014

Who has the time? I guess it depends who you talk to.... but the professionals, stay-at-home parents, businesspeople and university students I work with say it is almost impossible to properly carve out time for work, family, school, exercise, social time and treasured private time.

At the end of the day or week, there seems to be still so much left undone. People are under pressure to produce, deliver, win, sell, heal, fix and tweet!

The chronic sense of falling behind and being late, the rushing here and there, the missing sense of satisfaction and pride from having done something well, not to mention the endless interruptions and distractions, are leaving people tired, stressed and frustrated.

Being productive, accomplished, successful, competent and fulfilled comes at a high cost.

During the early years of working and raising children, I was preoccupied with how to save time. The second the children were out the door in the morning for school, I tore through the chores of running a home. I prided myself on being efficient and fast. I saw time as a valuable commodity and I managed it carefully.

The complexities and frustrations of the TIME PROBLEM are widely felt. Striking a perfect balance seems out of reach and there is no single fix.

The way we manage our time is shaped by many influences:

personal ideas about time and need for personal time
routines, habits, interests and hobbies
criteria we use to measure success or productivity
personal and professional obligations
health status
energy levels, ability to focus and concentrate
skill-sets for time management - planning, prioritizing, scheduling, delegating, estimating, sticking to the plan
ability to say NO to demands and needs of others
perfectionism and procrastination traits

Here's my simplistic take on how you can better protect and manage your time:

Really think about how you currently spend your time and then, decide what you want to do about it
Challenge anything that is wasting your time, effort and offering very little return on your investment (see blog on ROI)
Make a few choices and commit yourself to what really matters

Or, you can always call me for coaching!

Keep you posted,
Coach Minda

2 Comments

Susan

9/1/2014 08:39:49 am

Another thing that I think is worth looking at is "How much personal time do YOU actually need to feel "healthy"? Some people need a little...others need a LOT.
This difference complicates our sense of how much time we should permit or schedule for ourselves and can create inner confusion when we compare ourselves to others.
Individual perceptions of what is "enough" that vary widely often cause strain in couples and families.
What's more, some people's personal time needs to be spent alone and other people's needs to be spent in company.
Myself, I need something like 3 to 5 hrs a day where I can schedule my own activities... solitary or in the undemanding presence of others. I gather up those hours on the treadmill at the gym, walking to the office, getting up before other family members, in pauses at work where no one is needing my attention or lying awake quietly before sleep. I need time to think, daydream or read every day in order to have the energy to interact and accomplish my other necessary tasks in the world.

Minda Miloff link

9/1/2014 09:22:35 am

Good point.

Knowing how much personal time you need helps one to make sure their
time is protected. I too, need more and more personal time.

As you say, it gives you the energy you need to accomplish your other goals.

For some people, stretched to the max, the real lack of time is very stressful.
Knowing how to use time effectively becomes an important skill. And, recognizing the real (benefit, value, advantage) to doing this increases its value.

So, how to hit deadlines, reduce frustration, lower stress and feel a
sense of control and accomplishment is a good thing for all of us.

Thanks again Susan for your contribution.

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