Do you manage your time well? For someone who is as organized as I am, I don’t. I am horrible at it! I waste time. I dawdle. I procrastinate. When I think about all I could get done in a day if I just applied myself, I cringe. Lately I don’t even read during the day. It’s something I need to get back into. So, what do I do with my day? Good question. First let me say, I would really benefit from having a computer that is not connected to the internet. What a distraction! If I’m not catching up with a friend, then I’m browsing websites I belong to. I don’t even belong to/participate in many anymore. There are 4 things I do online daily.
1. Check and reply to e-mails
2. Check Facebook
3. Go to the Absolute Write forums
4. Read and reply to blogs (this actually happenes a few times per week, not every single day)
Shouldn’t take a whole lot of time, right? Yeah, right. Aside from these three things, I might need to do research, other odds and ends related to writing somehow.
I spend much less time than I should writing. And reading, as I mentioned earlier. I spend a lot more time wandering. I can certainly spend a lot of time organizing. I’m definitely into my routines, I just need to fine tune them to work better for me during the day.
For tomorrow, instead of just writing up a to-do list, I am going to write an hour by hour to-do list. Yes, I have tried this before and after 3 or 4 hours I stop following the actual schedule. But if I tell myself I only have to do this for one day, maybe I won’t feel overwhelmed by the prospect of doing this forever. Of course after tomorrow if it does work really well and I feel successful at the end of the day, I’ll be more likely to want to do it on Friday too. One day is nothing, it’s worth the try.
How do you juggle all that you have to do during the day? Do you have your own schedule? Share your tips.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Time Management
Posted by April at 12:24 PM
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5 comments:
I arise from the quick death they call sleep somewhere between five and six in the morning. I stare blearily at the monitor and read private email, LJ and blog comments.
I start work at six (yay, work at home).
In the quiet moments, I do things like check AW and read blogs.
At two in the afternoon, I finish and start on any housework the househusband hasn't gotten around to.
In the afternoon, I try to write.
The only tip I have is to try and stay ahead of the beast that is distraction.
One thing I cannot do is go online first thing in the morning. Once I get a taste of it, I seem to be sucked in for the day!! I really shouldn't come on until at least noon, but I will have to work myself up to that I think :)
I'm a Facebook junkie, too. It's my thing when I need a quick break. I should just delete it, but I love it! :)
April, your honesty is shocking (given that I have similar addictions wasting my time that I won't admit to)! :))
I've found the only real cure for it is to gather up as many projects as you can and fill your days with work. If you can count the dollar signs in your head, you can focus much better!
I have been very organised a few months ago. then just got bored with this routine project I got. I waste a lot of time, similar to what you have mentioned. But I am coming back on track. One thing that worked for me, is I don't try to be too harsh on myself, with a looong list. I create a list and just pick up three tasks that I can do today as a top priority. that takes the pressure off looking at a long list. there will never be enough time for all of us to do everything we want to do, even if we put our whole waking life into it. so just relax - and most importantly, I believe it's the ineer self which is rebelling against me, when I am not kind to myself. I need a break! and I am going to take some time off and reward myself! hope my inputs help!
Regards,
Nish
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