It’s All In the Balance
When life is hectic, especially right now with the holidays, time seems to slip from our hands and balancing life, work, kids, and other things is hard to do. Yes, I can tell you to take a breather but that might make you hyperventilate. So instead, I am going to ask you to stop and take a moment to read these seven tips on how to balance everything.
1. Don’t overbook.
This may seem unusual to people who try to crowbar as much as possible into every workday. The problem is things rarely go according to a prearranged agenda. That means a lot of time falling through the cracks chasing down appointments, unreturned phone calls, and other items that simply are not going to happen. Instead, keep your to do list as simple as possible but productive.
2. Prioritize.
The secret to booking your time effectively boils down to knowing what is important and what can wait. However, it is critical to use the sharpest knife possible in trimming the essential from the secondary.
3. Learn how to say no.
One of the biggest land mines to effective time management is recognizing you do not have to agree to everything and with everyone. Use your priority criteria to identify requests that simply are not worth your time.
4. Organize.
Bringing your time in line is not just a matter of scheduling. The mechanics of how you operate can be every bit as important. That means organizing most every element to allow as smooth a workflow as possible.
5. Use technology.
Although personal habits and practices can do wonders for time management, do not overlook technology yet another weapon to make the most effective use of your workday.
6. Nothing is Perfect .
Try as we all may; time management is not an exact science. Do not stress out—and waste time in the process—by obsessing over every second of time. Do what you can and enjoy whatever time you spend more pleasantly or productively.