Time Management for Dummies

Help!  Ever have that feeling you are drowning in your priorities, responsibilities, “things to do”, places to go, people to see” lists?  Do you have too many “to-do’s” and too little time?  Can I get a big “Amen?”!

I haven’t posted since Sept. 28 (in case you haven’t noticed).  Yes, even my time can get overrun by my tasks. 

Time and Trash - the longest lasting challenges for modern society.  Years ago Thomas Edison said, “Time is really the only capital any man has and the one thing he can’t afford to waste.”  So lack of time is at least as old a problem as the invention of the light bulb! 

If this is your challenge, too, don’t allow it to continue.  I thoroughly believe that slowing down is the key to accomplishing more - and with a greater level of satisfaction in doing so.  In this day and age of more choice, myriad options and greater selection of diversions, pursuits, etc we must become masters of choice.  Yes, we must consciously decide what is important to us and what gives our lives the most meaning (read personally and professionally).

Many of us can’t see through the clutter of our lives to determine what is most important to us.  Yet, it’s worth the time to sort it out!  Commit to yourself to take a few challenging, but incredibly simple steps to define “Satisfaction” for yourself.  In an oversimplistic manner, let me suggest the following:

1.  Read The Art of Living by Epictetus; the original and timeless self-help book.

2.  Read The Art of Time by Jean-Louis Servan-Schreiber;  Out of print but worth the search and the best time management “how-to” in my opinion.

3.  Intentionally set aside an afternoon, a day (or longer) with no interruptions and a simple note pad and start outlining what is important to you, what gives you the greatest satisfaction in life.

4.  Distill those notes down to a list of priorities.

5.  Post the list or carry it with you as a guide, a filter for all the choices that will come across your “screen.”

6.  Choose according to your list.  Do so fervently, religiously and never deviate out of tiredness, laziness, lack of consideration.

7.  Revel in a more fulfilling Life!!!