When I was going to my office every day and working 50-70 hours a week, it seemed to be easier to schedule my time. Even with staff members popping in to get my opinion on an issue, it seemed easier. Today, during the ‘practicing retirement’ phase of my life, management of my schedule seems so much more difficult. I have more commitments these days – trade organizations, some old business duties, networking mixers, volunteering, family, friends, my personal life and my small consulting business. The articles and books I would like to read are still in a pile like they have been for many, many years.
I diligently use MS Outlook Calendar to record meetings and appointments. At the end of each week, I review the next week’s schedule. At the end of each day, I review the next day’s schedule. I think I am doing what I should be doing.
BUT, I never seem to find enough time to read and answer my e-mails and finding enough ‘desk time’ to complete reports and properly prepare for all those meetings. What do you do? Do you ‘squeeze’ these items into a few minutes here and there, without really giving them the time and attention they deserve? Do you get so far behind you end up working most weekends getting caught up?
This solution may not work for you but, it might be worth a try. I have begun to schedule my ‘desk time’ as 30-60 minute blocks of time in my MS Outlook calendar. Each day has a 30 minute appointment to manage e-mails – it reads ‘manage e-mails’. I have a weekly management meeting with a client and I schedule a 60 minute desk time appointment the day before to prepare for this meeting – it reads ‘prep for meeting’. If my work load is going to have openings in the near future, I schedule a 60 minute appointment – it reads ‘marketing’. Great idea, you say, but…
Like anything else, this will take commitment. Try it for a week. If it works for a week, try it for another week. Keep it up for four weeks, it may become a habit. Good luck and be safe.
Linda Harris, CCA
Sounding Board LLC
www.soundingboardlv.com