Time Management 101: Start with Reality
April 20, 2010
No one has enough time to do all the things they want to do. No one. Don't believe me? Take a few minutes to list all the things on your mind you want to do or have to do. Think about your list and consider the fact that your list will grow today and tomorrow and the next day. Your list is a snapshot, not a movie.
Great leaders know the importance of time, that every moment in time is unrepeatable.
Time doesn't stop for us to complete our lists and once it is gone we can never get it back. Yet, time is fair. Each of us get the same amount of time to work with - 24 hours a day, 168 hours a week. Do you know where your time goes? Are you investing or spending it?
Today I'd like to challenge you to participate in an exercise I propose to nearly all of my clients interested in better time management. Excellent time management starts with a harsh examination of reality.
Step #1. Monitor your time in 10 minute increments for a two week period.
Step #2. Summarize your findings. Create a list of categories that describe your daily activities.
Step #3. Assess your results. What did you discover about yourself? What would you like to change? How does the way you spend your time align with your core values or top priorities?
Once you honestly complete this exercise you will know your current reality. It is what it is. Then you can diagnose inefficiencies in your schedule and make changes to open up space for what really matters most to you. This could be the start of something amazing in your life. Are you ready for it?
If you try the exercise, come back and share your findings with us. If you've done this before, feel free to share your experiences in a comment. We love to hear from you!