I have mentioned several times in my posts that I would like to write one about time management. How do you manage time as a parent, an employee, and a freelance designer/photographer. How do you still squeeze in "me" time and art! Since I've decided to take on these endeavors I've been struggling to make it all fit comfortably. I'm going to tell you how much I've found out and what I still need to know!
As with anything that Amber Nation questions she does some research! Here I am reading lots of articles about Time Management... including clinic studies. Questions like: Are you Overwhelmed by work needing done each day? Do you feel like you can't get it all done because unexpected tasks pile on? Maybe you can't get it all organized? One thing I did find out... you're aren't going to learn what works best for you in a day!
I've tried several things like PLAN EACH DAY! I put down every minute of my day until after dinner time into my Google Calendar. Set it so that it gives me reminders via email and text messages all day long to keep on track. It didn't work. Some of the reminders are useful, but those sneaky unexpected tasks are not accounted for. So if you're going to try this method... leave yourself room! You're going to have those scheduling conflicts and last minute things come up that destroys your whole day. Also when you sit back and reflect on your planned day, and it didn't go as planned... be understanding of yourself.
I have told myself over the past few years I had to learn to say NO more often. That surely would help my planned day run smoother... just tell everyone NO that isn't on the plan. Well, I have learned to say NO more often, but I am not 100% great at it either. Sometimes it just isn't going to work. That is why I said plan for those, they are going to happen! I call this Dave Ramsey's Emergency Plan, you know those things are going to come up when you least expect them, leave some room in the schedule for it.
How do you go about limiting distractions? This is the one I cannot conquer! My place of work I am a manager and I should always be available to my employees and boss for the things that can come up. So I can't bring myself to turn off my phone. My home office is not located in an ideal spot. It is currently in my living room... no doors to shut. My husband was nice enough to have his days off be with my days off so that we could have time together. My dogs think when I am home that I want to hang out with them. My little girl thinks that because I am in the living room this is the family room and we should play and answer 100 questions. I'm not complaining about any of that. However, I do see what I need to do to get through this one. To manage my time here on this given dilemma I need to have an office/studio space. I can't wait to buy a house... that is a whole other story. I will make it so that I have an office space so I can put my time into this business. I truly love it, and this is just a bump in the road.
Time Management always is mentioned with the word STRESS! That word should always be mentioned with Sleep Management, Healthy diet, and exercising regularly. Wait... Exercise Regularly?! Who has time for that in their schedule? Just kidding, for the longest time I though there is NO WAY I can find time for that. I didn't, but I did make it happen. At the end of the day with all of my health issues this year I decided it was important. It was more important for me to be healthy doing what I loved then dragging my body along doing what I loved. Hubby decided to join me on the exercise challenge and we get it done a couple times a week. Which is way better than none at all. I do feel slightly better. I don't think it helped with my Time Management... but I guess you have to give a little to get a little.
Last but not least the one thing I have MASTERED! Take a BREAK as needed! When the things pile up on my desk and my mind starts to wander in 20 directions to try and get it all done... its time to set it down. While I set it down I should take a moment to not think about it at all... take a walk, take a shower, read a chapter... just leave it alone for a moment. When you come back to it decide what you're going to do by re-prioritizing it. Decide what needs done first, and down the line. Sometimes you can't just take a moment either, sometimes it gets to be so much on you mentally and physically... you just need a day! I currently try to make sure that I take one whole day for my family every week. I don't have anything planned but to relax and enjoy my little girl and husband.
As with any questions with Time Management constantly EVALUATE. You should evaluate yourself, your work load, and how you're spending your time. I don't keep a diary of exactly what I did when and where. I do however, take a moment at the end of every day and see where I could have used time a little more wisely. My goal is to do what I love every day and make time with my family happen. Time is invaluable when it comes to life, remember my Golden Birthday I reflected on that. I'd give anything for more time with my Son. So I'm going to use my time the best I can now.
Good luck on your Time Management goals. I know that I haven't got hardly any of mine done, but I am working towards it, and I understand what I need to make it happen. Even part of the way there you'll feel better than you did.
My goal is to do one other post this week... Thanksgiving.
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