Since my last blog I’ve seen quite a few different articles around the similar topic of using time effectively. Today I thought I’d share my thoughts and ways that I balance what I have to do with what I want to do.

I know that structure helps me; sometimes it’s a timetable, a list or a calendar that helps me see what I want to achieve today. At one time it was a monthly wall planner, a really big one because I was doing so many things. Each group of activities was a different colour and I found that a really quick visual that helped me see what I was doing with my time and give myself enough time to wrap up and get ready for the next activity. The white spaces were my free time, to read, to walk, to do nothing. Last weekend was free time. Ah! to sleep in, to catch up with family and friends sharing the ups and downs of their lives. Last weekend I caught up with old James Bond movies I hadn’t seen in preparation for next weekend’s free time (Skyfall on Imax). I still did heaps but it was doing stuff that filled me, that re-charged me, that reminded me that it’s not all about what I have to do. There is time for I want to do as well.

Some days it’s about acknowledging that I don’t want to do anything, actually I really need to do nothing.   At these times I’m tired or stressed or just want to be focused and I just need to take myself away.   I’ve learned that it’s best for everyone that I just disappear quietly and do what I need to do.   This way I don’t get involved in the heavy energy that I bring with it, the seemingly automatic argumentative responses that come out of my mouth for every little comment that has pushed a button too easily and I don’t have to listen to my own complaining.

I’m learning that the timetables, the lists and the calendar are great for an overview that help me stay focused on the big picture. It’s when they hinder me that I need to make some adjustments, to check the balance of what I’m doing and the pressure I’m putting myself under. This is when I need to check what’s important (and what’s important to me) and do things differently. After that today’s workload gets done easier.   With the pressure gone it\’s often surprising what can be done and even what can be left until tomorrow.

 

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