Managing Time

I recently started a new coaching assignment that requires me to be on site three days a week for the length of the contract. Time management is now a challenge for me because my time is usually committed to being outside of my office in much smaller chunks. I read somewhere that it is easy to be a good captain in still waters. I have given talks and coached many of my business clients on time management. Now, it’s my challenge. You could say this is a case of “Coach, coach thyself’.

So here are the steps I’m taking to meet the challenge of time management:

1- De-clutter
I’m heeding the words of someone much smarter then me. Albert Einstein had three rules of work:
Out of clutter, find simplicity.
From discord, find harmony.
In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity
So I de-cluttered my desk. I took all the things that were on my desk and decided which ones had to be acted on, which ones needed to be trashed and which ones needed to be filed. De-cluttering was also one of the first things I did in the office I’m using at the company for which I have this contract.
Clutter is a time and energy drain. The amount of time that you have increases as the amount of clutter, mess and distraction in your environment diminishes. When your space is cluttered you spend extra time looking for items that you need. It could be right in front of you and impossible to see because it’s surrounded by clutter. The extra time that it takes to find things can add up very quickly.

2- End Procrastination
I writing this now instead of later!
Procrastination is something that we all do sometimes. Ask yourself why you are procrastinating. The most common causes are feeling overwhelmed or finding a task unpleasant. Waiting for the “right” time or mood, fear of success or failure, poor organizational skills and perfectionism are some other reasons.
Once you’ve identified why, you can take action to get over it. You can promise yourself a reward, make yourself accountable to someone to whom you can talk about obstacles, strategies and wins, or just get started and don’t think about all that the task entails.
As soon as I finish writing this I’ve having a nice walk in the park with my dog on this beautiful day.

3-Say No
Once I accepted this contract I had to take a serious look at my calendar and say no to some things. There is no tool or system that will enable you to do too many activities in too little time.
When it comes to time management the word no can be your best friend. Saying no is good for your health and those around you. It reduces your stress and allows you to spend quality time on the things that you say yes to. You feel less grouchy, empowered and can try new things by saying no to old things.
Some of the things that make saying no easier are being assertive, remembering that no is an honorable response if it is authentic, starting your sentence with the word no, accepting that your time is valuable, and being firm
Practice by saying no several times every day, it’s good for you.

So those are the tips that I’m following to manage my time. Now, I can go out for my walk and really enjoy the day!