Time Management Jelly Bean Style
For many of us, time is the holy grail. We never have enough time. We can't seem to find the time. There are days when trying to get a grip on time is like trying to get a cranky toddler to go to bed. It's a fight to a finish that is often less than spectacular. (Unless, of course, you're an outsider looking in.)
One of the fabulous female marketers that I follow online is so good at managing her time that I can count on a special Friday email every week - an email full of helpful, interesting and informative information. Some way, some how, she delivers a power packed roundup in spite of deadlines, holidays, family and all that stuff.
While enjoying her latest missive, I came across a video that puts time into perspective. I vaguely remember seeing it previously but this time I bookmarked it.
The Time You Have (In Jelly Beans)
I've heard of several people who have taken the jelly bean idea and incorporated it into their business routine. One man puts a month worth of jelly beans into a jar. He uses only 3 colors: they represent great, okay and craptastic. At the end of each day, he chooses the color that best represents his business accomplishments for the day.
Sitting side by side on a shelf are the four jars: the month's ration of jelly beans, a jar for great days, a jar for okay days and a jar for those days you'd rather forget. At any time during the week (or month) he can take one look at those jars and see a visual representation of what he is or is not accomplishing.
Has he been spending too much time loafing and not enough time working? Has he had an all work and no play week? He noted that sometimes, if he's having a not so good day, he is suddenly motivated just to avoid having to choose the "yucky" day" bean come quitting time.
While I think it is an interesting idea, it wouldn't work at my house. I'd eat the jelly beans. I'd have absolutely nothing to show for my time spent working. And I'd have four more things to load in the dishwasher.
I watched the jelly bean video a couple of times. It's both interesting and depressing - especially if you have been on earth long enough to have already used up more than half the beans.
What do you think? Is your jelly bean jar half-full or half-empty?
Recent Comments
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Hilarious. Just as I was scrolling down past the jelly beans, I was thinking this wouldn't work for me, I'd eat the jelly beans and low and behold, it's just what you said. I like the concept though. I thought I've heard them all, but this is unique. I'll never see jelly beans the same. LOL. Debbi
Me neither. Pretty sure I'll be seeing them as "days" for a long time. All this talk about jelly beans has me craving them.
Great idea! I was thinking that you could possibly use coloured marbles or beads instead of jelly beans, but I guess the idea is to reward yourself at the end of the month by eating them, and marbles are a bit hard to chew...
Alternatively, you could drop money into each of the jars, $3 for a great day, $1 for a good day and 10c for those crap days. At the end of the month you treat yourself as a reward.
You could use the crappy day jar like a swear jar and fine yourself for too much goofing off.
I think I'm going to make one of those paper thermometers and range it from $ 0 at the bottom to my monthly $ goal at the top. Then I can color in that red line whenever money comes in. (I will, of course, reward myself with chocolate whenever I reach one of the $ goals.)
I've never heard of the jelly bean Idea! I'm gonna check it out on Youtube. Thanks for sharing.
You're welcome. I thought it was both a fun and a sobering video. Certainly encourages us to make the most of each day.
I guess I could spend a day taste-testing jelly beans then use flavors instead of colors. Considering the number of available choices, it might take awhile. I could choose the 3 that taste the worst. : )
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My jelly bean jar is always half full because I have a sweet tooth. Haha...
My realization to the meaning of time came from my very lack of it. Hence, the birth of this website - http://timerichworryfree.com/
Love the "real reasons" to work from home post. Since we are in total control of our workspace (as much as pets, kids, spouses allow) we can have jelly beans in a jar if we want to. : )