- http://www.geog.ucsb.edu/~jeff/115a/jack_slides/
I’ve had more staff around me in the last 3 months, than the last 3 years! I worked solo (with the help of MANY great volunteers) or had one other person employed at SCVRJP. The last few months have included 2 staff and an intern. Great dedicated helpful people.
Yet I feel like I have lost my footing, the ground under me has slid away. I’m disorganized, missing appointments, finishing tasks just under the wire. WHAT? From the woman who was running the entire show!? It’s not like I haven’t delegated, believe me I’ve delegated. One of my coworkers pointed out she can’t complete certain project, because of the assignments I add-on each day.
Realize that despite your skills, connections, talents and abilities, if you fail at managing your tasks or your time, you can fail in general. Let me just use this example: I can write a grant that ROCKS! Makes ya wanna get out your checkbook and donate right now. If I don’t get it in by the deadline, NONE of that matters. No matter how rock solid my reputation is, if I ask to be on the agenda of a meeting and I don’t show up, DING. I’ve lost points, I’ve lost credibility. My time management, my management of self in general has not been very good lately.
Yesterday I got a stomach ache so bad I left the office. I am lactose intolerance. Eating dairy causes an upset stomach and . . . well rhymes with gonorrhea. (It’s easier to use a word of something that you don’t have, than to admit you’ve had something else). Over the weekend, I made a swiss cheese Quiche, a cheesecake and a homemade chocolate cake. The chocolate cake required 3 cups of butter, homemade frosting, completely from scratch. So if I had lactose issues, go figure. What person with dairy issues makes all that food in a weekend? I didn’t lose ground, I’ve lost my mind. When feeling like you’ve lost your mind, its time to take control of your time!
That is what I did yesterday. I came home, focused a little, played around a little. Then from about 3 until 10 pm, I was working. It felt good to be productive. I got more organized, I hadn’t taken time to get organized, time management tip 1 - schedule time to work on your schedule. I do so much better when Sunday evening includes a review of my week. A mental structure and focus. I had forgotten to schedule in some of my tasks. For example the board report, due the 2nd Monday of the month requires stats on the previous month. I used to schedule my stats day right around the first. I failed to do that, and was scrambling yesterday to get my stats done. Solution - manage your time like a budget, account for all income and expense. Time you need for everything, we only have so many hours/income, and can only spend that amount. I made a list of all the items I need to schedule time for each month. Only 12 major items to schedule around.
My time management tip #2 – structure to your strengths. This is from a favorite blogger, Penelope Trunk she provides a list of 10 tips, I’m using a combo of 1 & 6. The changes I am implementing, to structure to my strengths, include structuring my email time. My ADD, causes me to say yes to everything. I say yes, then look at my calendar. If I answer emails, which are usually requests, in a structured, sit down, have my calendar time, I can more easily see what I can say yes and no to. On the fly, I say yes. I have superwoman complex, I think I can, and I want to be all things to all people.
Another structure to strengths example involves meeting my own needs. I have a need to feel productive. Spinning my wheels is extremely frustrating to me. I am getting up, and getting on the computer first thing. Enjoying my cup of coffee, getting something, anything done, before getting dressed and heading into the office. I am SURE this sense of achievement and productivity will help me.
How can you structure your time to your strengths? Do you spend time planning your time? I think these two tips can help all of us. Now if I can just structure what I make in a weekend . . .