We all know time is money. But like money, we only have a certain amount of time in a day. Managing this, and being flexible with the changes that can happen along the way, is a topic I’ve been reflecting on.
Time Flexibility
Winter is hard, and if you’re anything like me it’s easy to slip into work mode. Next thing you know, other areas of your life start to be neglected. A friend calls to catch up and you realize your life has been consumed by work.
So how do you stop yourself from slipping into the haze of work mode? Ironically, I’ve found scheduling time for myself and time for hobbies has been the best balance.
Setting and enforcing work boundaries has also been a help. Mainly setting specific work hours – and sticking to them. If I find I can’t complete my work during those set hours, I find a way to work more efficiently.
And finally, I try to have a long-term mindset. It would be nice if I could everything done at once but that is not only unrealistic but a one-way ticket to exhaustion.
Time Management
Another trick I’ve been trying is scheduling each hour of my work day (breaks included). My process is simple as writing my daily-to-do list on a post it note; looking at my calendar, and filling in what needs to be done. I spend leftover time furthering my education or planning long-term projects.
Supposedly this tactic helps to save your creativity bank, and so far I’ve found that to be true. Plus, it’s helped me be more realistic with how long certain tasks take and enforces not spending too much time on one thing.
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