Time…Rolls
The photo above depicts the inexorable nature of time. It never stops running. We chase it…and it always slips away. It’s a scramble to contain it. Calendars, agendas, appointment books, alarms…there are plenty of tricks we use to give the illusion of controlling time. All futile.
I am interested in how others manage the illusion of control. How do they fit it all in? So much pulls at us: Family…Job…House…School. Those are just the obvious time sucks. Within each are HUGE demands on the measly 24 hour chunks we have to work with each day. Take a look around you, and you quickly see what people sacrifice in order to fit it all in. Health…how do you find time to sweat?
Work Around Clock Time
I focus on REAL time vs. CLOCK time. I find that demands on my time rarely happen linearly. I can’t schedule MUST events…emergencies happen and require response. I try to anticipate when things are likely to happen, and align my schedule around that. I do this with work and home (family events, school events, etc).
I make myself available beyond “work hours”…because we don’t live in a 9 to 5 world anymore. I still encounter folks who live in that world and I admire the tenacious grip on this concept of the past. I just don’t find it realistic because the DEMANDS on our time has been altered by technology. We may only have a single phone — handling work and personal contact…it’s likely our personal MOBILE device and it is always in our pocket. (Some follks have TWO of these…but I find it too complicated). So what is more realistic…cutting off your work world at a specific time, or merging your worlds together?
There needs to be compromise…not sacrifice.
Below are real times that help me manage my day.
- Sleep Time. Get sleep…If you get up early…go to bed early. You need sleep time.
- Note Taking Time. I write things down all the time. Always have a notebook or use an app to jot things down. I have a bad memory…this helps me during task time. Use this time plan tasks for the day.
- Work Time. Do your job. You work to get paid…you get paid to live. No work, no life. Establish obvious work time — and make those hours count so you don’t play catch up during the obvious personal time…or worse…sleep time.
- Prioritized Task Time. Spend your time doing the tasks that matter…learn how to distinguish NEED from DESIRE. Do not get pulled into activities that waste time. See Point number 2…refer to this when tackling tasks. Ask yourself…does this NEED to happen?
- Exercise Time. Sweating gives you time to think about your day, and allows you to mentally focus on solving problems…almost by default. It energizes you and you WILL feel better.
Shift your view…don’t let time control you.
m-
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