In December, the “Energized Husband” (Josh) and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary. Josh surprised me by taking me to dinner at the W Hotel downtown, where we stayed during the first few days of our honeymoon. There are certain things we do consistently that keep our relationship successful. It occurred to me that some of these actions go hand in hand with time management and productivity. Below are a few basic commitments we’ve made in our relationship that can be applied to how to manage your time, ultimately resulting in a fun-filled, prioritized, and focused life!
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Have a vision and decide what you want your time and year to look like. Looking back, before we started dating, I wrote a list of the qualities and character traits I wanted my partner to have. You may want to write out a list of the way you want your life to look and feel. Have a clear direction and focus, otherwise you’ll be pulled in different directions and sometimes confused about your priorities. Once you’ve outlined how you want your life to look, take small yet significant steps to making it a reality.
Be intentional and plan ahead, otherwise it won’t happen. Who or what is most important to you will be reflected in the ways you decide to spend your time. We enjoy a weekly date night to bond with each other and have quality time. However, if we don’t plan ahead, it slips through the cracks. When it comes to planning ahead, avoid planning the morning of. At the end of each day, plan tomorrow, plus two days ahead. This will give you a 3 day head start so you can stay on top of what’s coming next. Doing this prevents you from being taken off guard. In addition, consider calendaring a weekly “Get Ahead Night” and schedule time to do tasks such as: meal planning, filing, budgeting, setting your kids’ outfits out for the week, cleaning out the car, etc. that are required for maintaining order in your head or environment. You can also schedule a “Re-Energize Date Night” for yourself in which you set aside solitude or alone time to relax, unwind, exercise, do a hobby, or maybe go out to dinner with a special friend or relative.
Remain present and give your full attention. We’ve learned to slow down and take the time to do the extra things that pay off in the long run. They may be small, but they add a lot of value to the relationship and keep things healthy and thriving because they keep us in the present moment together. For example, looking each other in the eye, repeating back what we just heard the other person say, etc. With your time, try not to multi-task. It takes us much longer to complete tasks when we’re switching back and forth between them, versus focusing on one thing at a time. If you aren’t seeing the results you want when it comes to completing projects, then give mono-tasking a try. For example, let the voicemail pick up the phone if you’re in the middle of completing a task or project. Honor the present moment by telling your co-worker you can’t talk at this time because you’re on a tight deadline and need to focus.
Don’t ignore the problems; address them head on--the sooner the better. This goes for interpersonal relationships with others, as well as your physical space and time. A lot of life is wasted when we let problems with others blow up and get out of hand. For example, if you’ve got a friend that’s consistently calling you to verbally dump her problems on you, then it may be time to set some boundaries and have a courageous conversation with her. (Register for the telelcass with the link above it you want to know how to do this!) If you don’t have a weekly or daily routine, are surrounded by endless sticky notes, can’t find what you’re looking for when you need it, don’t have one place to house all your to-do’s, then it’s time to address the disorganization in these areas. Start brainstorming solutions to these problems immediately, so your year can be filled with peace and calm instead of last minute rushing and scrambling.
If needed, make sacrifices. You may have to stay an extra 5 -10 minutes at the office to schedule your next few days and clear your desk, however it's a small sacrifice to make to have a clear mind and productive work environment when you arrive the next day. You may have to stay up an extra ten minutes to put away the clothes draped on your bed or dresser from days before, but you'll sleep better and wake up to a clean room the next day. You may need to schedule in 15 minutes each night to pack your lunch, but over time it may save a lot of money for that vacation you desire. It's worth it!
Fight for it. The Energized Husband and I realize that in today's busy world filled with distractions we have to fight to keep our marriage strong and vibrant. This means keeping our eyes on the goal and avoiding distractions. The same can be said of time management. You have to commit to fighting for and defending your time, as well as maintaining the vision and productivity you want. This may look like keeping things out that don't belong: the time nibblers, limiting beliefs/self doubt/defeating thoughts, items that don't fit into the space’s function or purpose, activities or tasks that really don't belong in your work or personal schedule that you squeeze in just because you always have, but they are eating up your valuable time and energy. Protect your sanity and space by fighting for it and making some changes.
If managing your time is a challenge and keeps you stuck at work, school, in your personal life, or in your business, then decide to make this year different! Give me a call now at (619) 244-8528 to find out if you’re a right fit for my Time & Productivity Coaching Program. You can see what it’s all about here.
Be intentional and plan ahead, otherwise it won’t happen. Who or what is most important to you will be reflected in the ways you decide to spend your time. We enjoy a weekly date night to bond with each other and have quality time. However, if we don’t plan ahead, it slips through the cracks. When it comes to planning ahead, avoid planning the morning of. At the end of each day, plan tomorrow, plus two days ahead. This will give you a 3 day head start so you can stay on top of what’s coming next. Doing this prevents you from being taken off guard. In addition, consider calendaring a weekly “Get Ahead Night” and schedule time to do tasks such as: meal planning, filing, budgeting, setting your kids’ outfits out for the week, cleaning out the car, etc. that are required for maintaining order in your head or environment. You can also schedule a “Re-Energize Date Night” for yourself in which you set aside solitude or alone time to relax, unwind, exercise, do a hobby, or maybe go out to dinner with a special friend or relative.
Remain present and give your full attention. We’ve learned to slow down and take the time to do the extra things that pay off in the long run. They may be small, but they add a lot of value to the relationship and keep things healthy and thriving because they keep us in the present moment together. For example, looking each other in the eye, repeating back what we just heard the other person say, etc. With your time, try not to multi-task. It takes us much longer to complete tasks when we’re switching back and forth between them, versus focusing on one thing at a time. If you aren’t seeing the results you want when it comes to completing projects, then give mono-tasking a try. For example, let the voicemail pick up the phone if you’re in the middle of completing a task or project. Honor the present moment by telling your co-worker you can’t talk at this time because you’re on a tight deadline and need to focus.
Don’t ignore the problems; address them head on--the sooner the better. This goes for interpersonal relationships with others, as well as your physical space and time. A lot of life is wasted when we let problems with others blow up and get out of hand. For example, if you’ve got a friend that’s consistently calling you to verbally dump her problems on you, then it may be time to set some boundaries and have a courageous conversation with her. (Register for the telelcass with the link above it you want to know how to do this!) If you don’t have a weekly or daily routine, are surrounded by endless sticky notes, can’t find what you’re looking for when you need it, don’t have one place to house all your to-do’s, then it’s time to address the disorganization in these areas. Start brainstorming solutions to these problems immediately, so your year can be filled with peace and calm instead of last minute rushing and scrambling.
If needed, make sacrifices. You may have to stay an extra 5 -10 minutes at the office to schedule your next few days and clear your desk, however it's a small sacrifice to make to have a clear mind and productive work environment when you arrive the next day. You may have to stay up an extra ten minutes to put away the clothes draped on your bed or dresser from days before, but you'll sleep better and wake up to a clean room the next day. You may need to schedule in 15 minutes each night to pack your lunch, but over time it may save a lot of money for that vacation you desire. It's worth it!
Fight for it. The Energized Husband and I realize that in today's busy world filled with distractions we have to fight to keep our marriage strong and vibrant. This means keeping our eyes on the goal and avoiding distractions. The same can be said of time management. You have to commit to fighting for and defending your time, as well as maintaining the vision and productivity you want. This may look like keeping things out that don't belong: the time nibblers, limiting beliefs/self doubt/defeating thoughts, items that don't fit into the space’s function or purpose, activities or tasks that really don't belong in your work or personal schedule that you squeeze in just because you always have, but they are eating up your valuable time and energy. Protect your sanity and space by fighting for it and making some changes.
If managing your time is a challenge and keeps you stuck at work, school, in your personal life, or in your business, then decide to make this year different! Give me a call now at (619) 244-8528 to find out if you’re a right fit for my Time & Productivity Coaching Program. You can see what it’s all about here.
"Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time,
for that is the stuff life is made of."
~Benjamin Franklin~
for that is the stuff life is made of."
~Benjamin Franklin~
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