Time Management Self Improvement

Is having a balance between “work” and “life” a fantasy?
At a time when many people feel fortunate to still have a
job, are we asking for too much when we want a balanced life?

When was the last time you:

• took a vacation?
• went away for a weekend?
• got away from work early to do something fun?
• worked out?
• spent some time on a favorite hobby or sport?

Achieving balance in your life when your work or business is
exhilarating, enjoyable, or demanding can be a challenge.
When you have a family, they can be your reminders. When you don’t,
then you need other factors to remind you to re-align your life.

Sarah had been working from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for many years
at her employer. After getting married and having children,
various relatives helped with childcare when she returned
to work. When their two kids started school, however, both
sets of grandparents moved away to other states. Her husband
started work at 6:30 a.m., so he left the house by 5:45.
Sarah had to leave by 7:30 to get to work by 8:00, leaving
the kids alone for an hour. Since the children were still so
young, being home alone didn’t work, and going to a neighbor’s
house wasn’t an option.

Even though all of Sarah’s co-workers worked from 8 a.m.
to 5 p.m., Sarah decided to ask if she could start at 9 a.m.,
take a half hour for lunch, and leave at 5:30. Her employer
agreed to accommodate her request. That way, she could leave
the house when the kids left to catch the school bus, and her
husband got home in the afternoon just before the kids arrived.
This worked out very well for their family, and soon her
employer began to pursue other avenues to help make employees’
lives easier.

Achieving a work/life balance is a possibility, and I think
it’s reasonable to request it.

Having a work/life balance is often about adjusting your
work patterns.

If your place of employment has not yet adopted changes
to their policies to help employees achieve a balanced
life (and you notice that co-workers seem to be stressed
out), it may be time to start discussions with human
resources and other management about which types of
changes would be do-able.

Why Help People Achieve Work/Life Balance?

More and more companies are realizing that by making it
easier for employees to live a balanced life, the employees:

• have less stress (they stay focused on work when they’re at work)
• stay healthy (they get sick less often, and call in sick less often)
• stay with the company (there is a higher retention rate)

All of these things are great for employers. I know it’s a
clich

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I’m sure that you as a business owner, have discovered the value of using your time wisely. When it comes to running a business, time is money. Your work, time and resources should be directed toward increasing revenue in a balanced schedule. Your time should be spread among the following areas: planning, taking work breaks, celebrating and reflecting. The following list of time-savers addresses each of these areas. These ideas are designed to encourage saving time, by balancing the use of your time.

Write your to-do list. Remember to include no more than five items. You can always remove or add items, as your schedule permits. The purpose of this time-saver is to establish a specific focus for your work day.

Choose the highest priority project. LIst all actions that are necessary to complete that project. Choose one action, complete it and continue through your list. The purpose of this time-saver is maintain the focus of your work day.

Use a timer or other device, so that you can focus on completion of your project. Remember that you can also listen to a tape, CD or a radio or television program. Choose the device that is least distracting to you. The purpose of this time-saver is to keep your focus on completing your actions.

Use your calendar to schedule time for each project (action by action), as well as for your work breaks and other regular appointments. Give yourself ample time to complete your project. The purpose of the calendar is to clarify priorities, direct long-term planning and increase productivity.

Find a work buddy. Call this person, before, during and after you complete a part or all of your project. Share your process and your success.Small business owners greatly benefit from interaction with one another. It’s helpful to socialize, problem-solve and celebrate The purpose of this time-saver is take care of your support needs.

Reward yourself after each task is completed. It’s important for you to give credit to yourself for what you have accomplished. I’ve put stickers on my to-do list. I’ve eaten snacks, made a short phone call or sent an email. I’ve also looked out my living room window, to rest my eyes and enjoy the view. This time-saver is designed to encourage you to care for your individual needs.

Schedule breaks between tasks. Don’t wait until you have finished your project.. Break your project into a series of actions. Schedule your breaks after completing at least two actions. Working without breaks promotes low productivity and increased errors. The purpose of this time-saver is to promote indivdual renewal and balance.

Finally, keep a notepad nearby. Remember to record the following: 1) Actions that you would rather take than working on your project. 2) Reminders, random thoughts or anything else that isn’t immediately relevant to your current project. 3) Any interruptions. 4) Any other distractions. The purpose of recording this information is to look for hidden time-wasters. You can use this information to help increase your productivity and decrease your errors on future projects.

Please note that implementing any or all of these time-savers will increase your efficiency. Choose and implement one for a month. Track your results and see what improvement occurs.

Copyright 2005 Writer’s Eye Advisory Service

Lael Johnson, owner of Writer’s Eye Advisory Service, offers creativity coaching services and additional writing resources. For more information visit: http://www.writerseye.com

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