Do you get burned by your time management?
When was the last time you forgot an appointment? Or a todo?
Does your system let you down on a regular basis?
Or perhaps, you create bigger problems for yourself?
Starting Fires
Sometimes we are guilty of creating the fire drills in our life. We bring more friction to our already hectic daily schedules.
When we forget something. Or let a task sit undone. Or miss a deadline.
Life friction results from our own actions (or inaction) and the issues that we bring upon ourselves.
“Life friction is all the little problems and complications that occur due to our own disorganization.“
It really is self-inflicted time management. We create extra troubles and work.
Sometimes it is due to carelessness or lack of discipline.
Or it can be a result of inadequate time management tools.
Is your time management burning you?
Preventing Friction
Maybe you need to look at what is causing the fires in your daily life.
Is it your own actions? Your time management system? (Even, your job or boss?)
Here are just a few ways to minimize life friction with your time management:
- Have a System – Many people want to manage their time, yet their toolset is a hodgepodge of items. Make sure you define your system so you know what is “in” and “out” of your toolbox.
- Use Your Tools – Your time management tools cannot have your back if you don’t use them. Keep your todo list visible, and pick tools that you’ll enjoy using.
- Finish What You Start – One of the biggest sources of life friction is unfinished tasks. Finish what you start and avoid the “57 Things Started and Nothing Finished” syndrome.
- Patch Holes in Your Bucket – It is hard to keep on top of things if you are constantly losing information. Ensure that your time management system has all the tools you need to track appointments, contacts, todos, and notes. The most commonly missing tool is an adequate note-taking solution.
- Avoid Complexity – In our busy society we are constantly asked to take on more and more. Avoid extraneous memberships, activities that you aren’t interested in, etc. Just because someone (or a company) asks you to “sign up” doesn’t mean you must or should.
- Stop What You Are Doing – Sometimes we really do have too many things to do. Sometimes we need to look at what we should not be doing in order to be more productive. It may be bad habits or it may be activities that we need to stop in order to get to what’s important.
Where There’s Friction, There’s Fire
Life is busy and complicated enough. Don’t add your own friction to the mix.
Otherwise, you are bound to start your own fires and troubles.
Staying on top of things is key to avoiding life friction and the other things we bring upon ourselves.
Ensure that your time management reduces your stress and effort, instead of adding to it.
Do you get burned by your time management?
On occasion yes, but I found having a written list of things to do really helpful. It feels great to check them off too.
@lisabuben290 I love marking tasks as “done” on my task manager app (IQTELL)…but before that, a good “x” on my paper to do list would also give me a nice dopamine boost).
On occasion yes, but I found having a written list of things to do really helpful. It feels great to check them off too.
I just discovered Pomodoro. It is really cool! You set a timer for 25 minutes, choosing one task to complete in that time. Then, when the timer goes off – you stop what you are doing and take a five minute (timed) break. I worked really hard all day but felt like I got to slack off the whole day because I kept taking all these breaks! It felt great and I had plenty of energy to keep plugging along.
@amyputkonen Amy, good stuff. Timers are a great way to corral your time. 🙂
Here is a guest post from a while back by Chris Brogan: “My Secret Love of Egg Timers.”
http://tmninja.us/qevBqV
I just discovered Pomodoro. It is really cool! You set a timer for 25 minutes, choosing one task to complete in that time. Then, when the timer goes off – you stop what you are doing and take a five minute (timed) break. I worked really hard all day but felt like I got to slack off the whole day because I kept taking all these breaks! It felt great and I had plenty of energy to keep plugging along.
@amyputkonen Amy, good stuff. Timers are a great way to corral your time. 🙂
Here is a guest post from a while back by Chris Brogan: “My Secret Love of Egg Timers.”
http://tmninja.us/qevBqV
@lisabuben290 I love marking tasks as “done” on my task manager app (IQTELL)…but before that, a good “x” on my paper to do list would also give me a nice dopamine boost).
Craig,
It’s great that you addressed this topic. I have experienced this issue myself.
Doing too much is not good thing – in fact, it causes stress – even if you are feeling productive. Because of that, you schedules should be flexible enough.
Planning your daily schedule in a way that there is enough room for finishing the task and preparing for the next task is one way I have tackled this issue (on ramp/off ramp – like what Eben Pagan teaches in Wake up Productive). Obviously, cutting the amount of tasks is another way of handling issue this too.
Timo
Craig,
It’s great that you addressed this topic. I have experienced this issue myself.
Doing too much is not good thing – in fact, it causes stress – even if you are feeling productive. Because of that, you schedules should be flexible enough.
Planning your daily schedule in a way that there is enough room for finishing the task and preparing for the next task is one way I have tackled this issue (on ramp/off ramp – like what Eben Pagan teaches in Wake up Productive). Obviously, cutting the amount of tasks is another way of handling issue this too.
Timo
Great tips Craig! I’ve found that, in addition to effective time management methods, it’s important to have a tool to implement them. For that, I’ve started using IQTELL, which is a virtual workspace that manages email, contacts, tasks, notes, documents and more. It’s very comprehensive and customizable, so anybody can make it work for them.www.iqtell.com
Great tips Craig! I’ve found that, in addition to effective time management methods, it’s important to have a tool to implement them. For that, I’ve started using IQTELL, which is a virtual workspace that manages email, contacts, tasks, notes, documents and more. It’s very comprehensive and customizable, so anybody can make it work for them.www.iqtell.com