Are you struggling to effectively manage your time at home and at work?
The #1 trait for successful leaders is effective time management
BACKGROUND STORY
Let me tell you a story about someone I used to work within a high-level leadership position whom I believed was not effective with their management. Every time this person would jump on the phone with our group or me, she would says things like, “I am on calls all day,” “I wish I had time,” or this is my favorite, “you booked this meeting”.
Then she hardly ever had time to meet or talk with me. And if she did, it had to be been quick because he has to go to the next call or meeting.
POOR TIME MANAGEMENT=POOR LEADERSHIP
So, is this a product of poor time management, or is it an actual reality of hers? My bet is poor time management. Ultimately, I decided she was not the type of leader I wanted to work with.
EFFECTIVE TIME MANAGEMENT = GOOD LEADERSHIP
I chose not to let this be my reality. I believe in effective time management by answering phone calls, texts, emails, and visiting my staff regularly so they neither alone or unsupported. Yet, somehow I can still complete my work on time, work out, enjoy my family time, and spend time on my hobbies.
HOW DO I ACCOMPLISH THIS?
I prioritize and manage my time to achieve maximum efficiency.
WHY YOU NEED TO MANAGE YOUR TIME
It seems everyone is talking about how important work-life balance is to them these days, so we know in order to be able achieve work-life balance time management is necessary. Without effectively managing your time and your work-life balance, you will start to head towards unhealthy behaviors such as poor eating habits and sleepless nights. You will suffer from stress and anxiety.
POOR TIME MANAGEMENT AFFECTS EVERYONE AROUND YOU
You will be unhappy; your negative aura will affect everyone around you at home and work.
DON’T GET PARALYZED BY LACK OF TIME MANAGEMENT
I love my husband very much BUT…(insert your own words) sometimes he has so many things he wants to do he can’t figure out how to prioritize, so he gets paralyzed. Don’t get paralyzed. First make your to-do list with everything on it. Now identify what needs to be completed today, and what can wait.
DETERMINE HOW MUCH TIME EACH TASK WILL TAKE TO COMPLETE
Next determine how long it will take you to complete each task, and how you want to tackle it. Should you start with the item that requires the shortest amount of time or with the longest? Prioritize your list so you don’t get paralyzed!
EFFECTIVE TIME MANAGEMENT MEANS PRIORITIZING YOUR LIST
Not everything on your list is going to get done today. Some items can be moved to tomorrow or next week but think about what must be done today? if you struggle to make your list and prioritize, I recommend you read the book Get Your Sh*T together by Sarah Knight. Sarah teaches you how to break down overwhelming task into small manageable pieces.
SUCCESS
Let us be honest. If you get one thing completed on your list today, you have achieved SUCCESS.
EFFECTIVE TIME MANAGEMENT MEANS MAKE THE TIME
Prioritize when are you going to answer emails? When are you going to make those follow up phone calls? I know these items have to be a priority; however, can they be done at certain times of the day, i.e., 8 a.m., 11 a.m., and 2 p.m.? Manage your time!
I sometimes find myself paralyzed by the thought of waiting for another email to come instead of working on my list. I then stop myself from staring at the computer screen and move to tackle my to-do list.
PLAN AHEAD
How important are family meals to you? Effectively manage your time by planning your menu, so you aren’t looking for ideas at 6 p.m. when everyone is starving. Need help? click here
EFFECTIVE TIME MANAGEMENT MEANS DELEGATING TASKS
It burns a hole in my stomach to come home after a long day at work only to see my kids sitting on the couch watching TV while the dirty dishes are still there, and the house is a mess. Well guess what? Cleaning the house today was NOT on my list, but it will be on theirs!! We cannot do it all and have to enlist OR delegate to others.
ENLIST HELP
I am famous for letting my clean laundry pile up, yup, you read it right. My husband and I have a system, one person washes and dries then the other one folds and puts it away.
EFFECTIVE TIME MANAGEMENT MEANS HIRING OUT TASKS
Take the time to hire out what you can afford, such as house cleaning once a month, or ordering your groceries to be delivered to your door step from SHIPT or Instacart.
Did you know you a lot of dry cleaners will pick up and drop off at your home?
Ask someone at work to help you manage a project or task.
I have NEVER balanced a checkbook. But guess what, with the help of Mint.com, I do now!!! I manage my time by paying for someone-else to balance my checkbook for me.
EFFECTIVE TIME MANAGEMENT MEANS IMPLEMENTING
A FAMILY CALENDAR
Oh my gosh, my family would be lost without our google calendar. Everyone’s schedule is there, and everyone has access to it on their cell phone. This is probably my number one tool for managing my families time. When we try to plan out rides for kids or dinner plans, we use the calendar app to determine where we need to go or who has to start dinner.
FIND A TOOL THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE
Engage your family to help manage the calendar. Maintaining a family calendar is an excellent tool for everyone to be involved in. They, too, need to learn how to manage their time well.
EFFECTIVE TIME MANAGEMENT MEANS NO LONGER BINGING ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Well, not altogether because then you would not be reading this. However, maybe you should spend less time scrolling social media and more time managing your where your time should be spent and completing your list.
SCHEDULE DOWN TIME
Schedule your social media time by setting aside time for your binge. Perhaps you chose to scroll through social media from 7 p.m.-8 p.m. or 6 a.m.-7 a.m.
Whatever works for you is excellent.
Just do not let it be a time-waster.
Help take control of your life, instead of it taking control of you. Planning and prioritizing your time will help you achieve more time!