As I consider the importance of managing “time,” I reflect often on what gets in the way of getting thing done.
An experiment for you:
- Write down 10-30 things that NEED to be done this week.
- Next to each one, ESTIMATE how much time you’ll need for each one.
- In the THIRD column, multiply that number by 2. [If you think planning that meeting will take 45 minutes, write 90. If you think talking with your partner about summer vacation will take 30 minutes, write down 60.)
- Review your calendar, and schedule ONE of those sessions for 2 or 3 days from now. [NOT tomorrow, and NOT more than 4 days out.]
- Email ONE person you can ask to hold you accountable to doing that ONE session.
If you REALLY want to take *this* to another level ( and by *this* I mean your OUTPUT), then do ONE thing at a time…next. Make an effort to do your task - or as much of your task as you can - in one sitting.
Stay with it until completion. Notice it immediately WHEN your attention begins to wane (after after 15 minutes, see chapter three of YourBestJustGotBetter.com). Notice, I say when, not if! When you notice it, calmly relax, and recommit to the task you’re doing.
Keep a piece of paper nearby, and when you think of something else to do (to delegate, think about, to plan), take a moment to write something down. Consider it like a “bookmark” that you can use to save your place. Do that, return to the task you were working on, and stay there for another block of time.
Managing time…It’s really about managing focus. Go, control yours!
First, make an effort to do tasks one at a time. Stick with one item until completion if you can. If attention starts to wane (typically after about 18 minutes), you can switch to a new task, but take a moment to leave yourself a note about where you were with the first one. Then give the new task your full attention, again for as long as you can.
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