The Clock and The Calendar
“I wish I had more time”
“When will this day be over?”
“I just ran out of time”
“Someday, I will make it”
How we perceive time is a very telling thing. We think a lot about time, even if subconsciously. Quite often our thinking leads us to mostly consider the limitations of time. Sometimes time is our friend, sometimes time is our enemy. Time can be looked upon as a gift or an evil taskmaster.
In the world of self-employment, it is vital to understand the management of time. While we cannot control all our circumstances there are ways to “manage” this exacting yet seemingly unruly beast called time.
“Time just got away from me”
“I’ll get to it when I find the time”
“Time is money”
For the self-employed, time management amounts to discipline. Discipline to get out of bed and face the same 24 hours that everyone gets. Discipline to say no to that distraction lurking just around the corner. Discipline to prioritize all the tasks that need to be done to ensure our success.
“Time well spent”
Must I spend time to organize my time? Short answer, yes!
“To fail to plan is to plan to fail”
Sometimes routine can help us to stay focused. Some will use day planners. Some will make a point of sitting at a desk to work rather than an easy chair to encourage themselves to use their time more productively.
Take a moment (I know, more time!) to share with everyone any strategy you use to “manage” time in your business. What you share could give someone else an idea that could greatly affect their productivity.
I try to get out of bed earlier than I have to so I can get a task or two done before my "day job". I find I’m more fresh and creative first thing in the morning while I have a cup of coffee.
I also discipline myself to write, connect, etc., after "day job" hours and on weekends.
There are times I miss out on connecting with the WA community because I’ve disciplined myself (or planned) to get some website tasks done.
If you can’t take the time to read or respond to this blog, we understand! It takes discipline to do what needs to be done in our businesses. Carry on!
Here’s to “satisfying the clock and the calendar”.
All the best to you, WA family!
~Bob
Recent Comments
23
Wonderful!
Time is my, friend, quality, takes, time...
We are building a base! Cheap construction...let's cut out half the re-bar!! ...who will, know, anyway, and cheaper!
Check, fountain..in 5 yrs...
Determining, factor, in business, loans...
Has it been one , train-wreck,, again and again??
Or, pits and successes, with steady, improvement!?
Many sheep follow the easy, for a fast, buck!
Have you been ask to check out a site for someone...?
Not, only, a glowing review...haven't seen, him around!
Next, time "out" !...of our sandbox!! No, explantion!
Bad, press, is, still press!!
Later, Bob!
Barb
Right, Barb... let's build s solid foundation. People will come and go. Successful builders will see results that last.
See you around the sandbox!
~Bob
it is such a treat , seeing, all my network with all
Playing in each others @laces..i'm not sure, but we can pretty much tell, who popping around.. Great! When - go visit, I like, unless I don't ..not, follower and not out prospecting...isn't like are usually reciprocated...not a numbers followings.. But you know our group... and like your group, increasing our strength, puts us out as a ...notice that?? Creates...a buzz, !
Just , little, surprIse...an observation!
Monday..you're on notice... ..Maslow's pyramids be sure, back to the Sandbox!! Done, with vacation!!
BTW...I know where to find you!!!
Barb
Thanks for a great post! I am working this as my only job. I get up in morning early to get my son up for school. I will go through my email while he is getting ready and my husband an daughter are getting ready for work. Then I get up and get ready for my day.
Before I get down to it, I plan out my day in my FUEL Journal. I find this helps me immensely. Then I make sure I am working by 10:00. I take regular breaks and I take a lunch break at the same time each day. I work until my husband gets home at 6:00pm..
In the evenings I try to keep up with my email...blog posts, question, follows and so forth. I will save trainings for the following day. If I have to stop because of an appointment or migraine, I will try to make up that time on the weekends. I also keep up with my email on the weekends.
Planning out my work in my FUEL Journal helps a lot. I keep everything organized that way.
Anita
Awesome! That's what I'm talking about!
Thanks for sharing this. Your setting a great example for us and your planning strategy may be just what someone needs to hear about today.
Is FUEL an acronym or is it a brand of day planner?
I know you've posted about it before, but I can't remember.
Thanks again, Anita and have a great weekend.
~Bob
FUEL stands for Focused Unlimited Extraordinary Life. It is a brand of planner.
It has places for your goals and your dreams. Each day there is a checklist that encourages you to look over your goals to make sure you are on track. It asks you to fill out the top 10 things you are grateful for in your life as well as the top 10 things that you want to attract to your life.
It also asks you to write down what you want to manifest that day. Oh and it has a place to write down the top three things you want to get done that day.
For me, it gets me in the right frame of mind to work. There is a blank grid page to use as you wish. I keep my To-Do list there. I also write my article ideas there. I really love mine. I got it at Amazon.
Thanks for asking about it!
Ah! Excellent, thank you, Anita.
I'll look it up. I may need a tool like that to help me stay focused.
~Bob
Thanks for taking the time to write this post Bob! I am way too flexible with my time frames and get distracted easily, so I am afraid I can't give good advice for time management...BUT, I surely appreciate all the good points you make here and I need to do a better job of disciplining myself in regard to my time for sure!
I use a 1 hour timer. I work in 1 hour blocks of time so I don't end up spending all morning on something when I have 4 things that need to be done.
Having the timer to tell me it is time to move on has helped me get more done in a day.
Hey Bo, great to hear from you. Thanks for reading and commenting.
That is a great strategy! I might use that myself, especially on the weekend days when I have larger blocks of time available.
Thanks again for sharing,
~Bob
See more comments
Thank you for this post. It is well said.
Bev
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment, Bev.
I love to read especially when it's good!
BIG SMILE!
Bev