When I list all the things I do to someone they usually remark, “Wow, you must be the queen of time management.” As my face shows sheer surprise as my eyebrow lifts and I move back taken off balance by such a statement I laugh and reply, “Uh, I try.” I then chide myself for such a lie. I may try from time to time to manage my time but most of the time I am fail and my time is wasted on silly tasks like wondering how many times I can say “time” in a sentence. Is there any help for a person like me? I have four children, I homeschool, I have my own business, I write freelance, I have a blog, I have a husband and a dog. I have more hats than Liza Minnelli and Elton John put together. I also have a terrible habit of getting sidetracked. My “to do” lists are pages long. As I write them I know I will never get all of it done thus knowing before I begin I will fail. Not a great way to start the days, I mean put that in your Cheerios every morning. I am happy to report that I am currently recovering from poor time management. It is a necessity as adding in a new business to my list of ventures required it.
After purchasing several date books, more planners than I know what to do with, and color coded folders for some time management project I no longer remember the purpose of, I realized that tools and things were not the answer. I did not realize this on my own as I attempted to implement one more tool called Tell Your Time by Amy Lynn Andrews. I found this was not a tool at all but a time management makeover from the attitude standpoint and not a new way to use a planner standpoint. I now recommend it shamelessly to anyone expressing a need for time management. Since I have exhausted all those who will listen to me I am telling you about it. Seriously, this is a wonderful resource which caused me to examine my day and how I spend my time. While much of it will seem logical as you read, you will be enlightened on how to run your day and not let your day run you. My favorite part of this book was that it was short. No time for long manuals or motivational speeches. Who has that kind of time? This eBook is concise, easy to read and easy to implement.
Oh! I have to share the words that caused me to take notice and keep reading. She speaks of the “secret” of time management and calls it a formula. She compares this formula to other common ones such as “if you want to lose weight, the number of calories you consume should be less than what you burn.” So, if you want to manage your time your total hours of activity should not exceed 24. She also explains how our pitfall is thinking we have no control over our time when in fact we have full control. Simple, right? I felt at ease reading this and implementing it was even easier. However, I often go back for a refresher as I am not an easy student. Now, if I tell you this changed my life, I know you will not believe me. So, let’s just say my days are running smoother and I feel more in control. I have simplified and work on my priorities. When you are in business for yourself it is essential you master time management.