Manage my time effectively

Okay, I don’t suck. But this has not been a stellar year for me, in terms of time management. I have bought next year’s planner refill AND the Franklin Covey PlanPlus software; now, all that’s left is to use both effectively and make this goal a top priority.

Unfortunately, I’m stuck on “no more procrastination” – how do I turn that around and phrase it in positive, affirmational terms that pack more punch than “manage my time more effectively”? (Maybe I should just start by taking the word “more” out of THIS goal.)

Suggestions are always welcome.

I’ve downloaded Mozilla Sunbird and have started using it to plan my time. First I mark the times of all of my classes, the things that I consider essential, like going to the gym, and time for my translation job. After that, there’s still a lot of white space left over that I can fill in any way I like. Seeing this really made me realise how much time I waste sitting in front of my computer really not doing anything. So now I’ve started devoting one-hour slots to my other goals, like sitting down and studying French grammar, or working on my secret project or writing letters for AI. And I’m getting so much more done – I never realised that many of my other goals were affected by this goal. I mark the deadlines for assignments and exams, so that I won’t end up panicking a few days beforehand, and also the dates of events/things I want to do so that I’ll know when to buy tickets for them (I learned this lesson the hard way with the French Open – I missed the deadline for buying tickets online and now have to go queue at 6am to get tickets).

I still have a long way to go with this goal, but I feel like this is definitely a step in the right direction.

Decide on reasonable deadlines, then meet them gladly. (I don’t miss deadlines, 99.8% of the time, but I can drive myself utterly nuts, waste more time, and risk missing them when unforeseen problems arise, by creating artificial deadline pressure through procrastination when I allow too much time to do a thing.)

Do things on or ahead of time. Remember, it’s okay to get done early, when that’s feasible.

Only take projects that are reasonable and important and match my values and long-term goals – not every mildly intriguing thing that catches my eye, like a magpie.

S – List and prioritize the day’s objectives in light of importance, need, and larger, long-term goals; do what needs to be done, when it needs to be done; savor the unplanned time and use it for renewal. In other words, it’s okay to waste time, sometimes – so long as it’s a conscious choice to do so.
M – How much of what needed to be done got done when it needed to get done? How much time was wasted practicing avoidance? Record success in the planner, daily. Tell someone else, weekly. (Hahahaha…yes, the boss wants my weekly letter and not just “now and then.”)
A – Prioritize carefully; keep the to-do list minimal. Say “no” to non-essentials and projects that are not needed or truly wanted.
R – Accomplish more in every day, simultaneously finding more free time. Recording and communicating accomplishments serves as a reminder of how much I accomplish (I actually do tend to forget, and chalk it up to “all in a day’s work”). It helps during performance reviews! :)
T – Starting today, record objectives and accomplishments in the planner, daily. For professional objectives and accomplishments, write and send weekly letter each Friday. For personal objectives and accomplishments, update blog at least once weekly.

It’s February and I am listing down three to six priorities that really matter. That’s it. There are four sources that I am using and it’s only fair that I mention them: “First Tings First” by Patrick Forsyth, “Living the Simple Life” by Elaine St. James, “Time Power” by Brian Tracy, and “Write your own Magic” by Richard Webster. Without these authors, I will have a hard time organzing my thoughts. Check them out!

I have to start managing my time better if I want to get through the next few months! My main priority right now is my exams in May – it will take a lot of hard work between now and May if I want to get the results I’m aiming for.
But I also need time to:

• organise myself for going away this summer – plane tickets, insurance, vaccinations (I thought I was done with vaccinations after last summer but apparently not!).
• take care of the paperwork regarding my exams and for studying abroad next year (in Paris, hurrah!).
• go shopping for and cook healthy food so that I have no excuse for going to the greasy restaurant near my house.
• help out around the house when I’m home at weekends.

And of course I need to spend time with my friends and family, and (maybe if I can fit it in!) to do something fun every once in a while. OK, I think that’s it! No problem…