Do you spend your days juggling numerous unrelated tasks while working at a job, as well as managing life on the home front? This hectic business and personal schedule can cause a teeter totter effect, with some days more family, and others more business. The question becomes how to keep all the plates spinning without shorting anyone of your efforts or time.
We have become a society of professional multitaskers, managing a wide umbrella of duties within a small frame of time. With so much going on, how is it possible to do it all without sacrificing family or self-care for the career or job? In order to get more quality out of the quantity of your time, you need to have a plan to help guide your choices. Without planning it is easy to mismanage the time you have. Using this five step plan and a sheet of paper can help you map a more productive day..
1. Create a "What Matters Most" list.
You start by focusing your thinking, targeting your efforts and prioritizing your tasks. To determine your priorities, the first step is to create your "What Matters Most to Me" list. Choose the top five things that are important to you and write them at the top of a page.
2. Create a "Time Demands" list. Categories include:
1. Outside of the home: Duties, Tasks, Responsibilities,
2. Inside of the home: Duties, Tasks, Responsibilities
3. Recreation/Relaxation
4. Family
5. Self-Care
6. Spiritual/Volunteer or Helping Others
Below your "What Matters Most to Me" list, begin to list of all the things that compete for your time. Group them in categories, so they will be easier to manage. By mapping your time demands this way, you will be able to visualize the relevance of each task and how it fits into your schedule. Highlight the non-negotiable tasks that must be done and then underline those that would be considered high need. Everything else would fall into the, "When I have time" category.
3. Align activities with what matters most.
To streamline your schedule you must make choices from a point of perspective. Most people discover that they are not spending their time in alignment with what is important to them. This happens for many reasons but often it is due to a lack of perspective.
It is difficult to see the big picture while standing within it, much like viewing a city layout from street level. It limits your planning options when flush is the only view you have, but climb to the top of a tall building and you will find a sharper perspective to plan from.
That is what time mapping can do for you. It raises your perspective allowing you to make more informed and consistent choices about how to spend your time. When done consistently it eliminates confusion and allows you to spend your time in ways that further your goals.
4. Discover your blocks of time.
Each activity or task represents a block of time. White space is also a block. To keep a productive schedule, you need to purposefully decide which blocks get priority for the day. This helps you avoid situations where you spend too much time on low priority tasks, leaving no room for more goal-focused ones.
5. Create your personal time map.
Below your "Time Demands" list, begin placing blocks into your schedule. Start with the highlighted tasks, and then add in the underlined ones. Take a good look at what this leaves you with. It is only now that you might consider sprinkling in the rest where you have open blocks.
Consider white space as a gift, protect it and manage it well. White space is not an invitation to keep adding more activity. You need open time, just as children need recess. Back to back, or overlapped activity tasks without margin in between, results in burnout and is an inefficient use of time.
Studies show that the more you attempt to do in the same time block, the less efficient each task is handled. You owe it to yourself to put your best foot forward by planning and executing a productive day. The time you save by mapping, far exceeds the time spent to create it. This results in a more purposeful use of your time and helps you accomplish what you determine is truly valuable to you.
Seeing the ways you spend time unproductively, on things that don't matter in the big picture, can be an eye-opening experience. This happens subconsciously. Time mapping brings it into your awareness and forces you to either make changes or realize that what matters most to you is not what you originally thought. Either way, you will be more informed and aware about how you choose to spend your valuable blocks of time.
"Wellness Matters" Article Series by Lisa Schilling RN, CPT
Speaker, Writer, Wellness Coach & Consultant
Lisa Schilling is the author of "The Get REAL Guide to Health and Fitness-FIVE STEPS to Create Your Own Personal Wellness Plan" She is juggles life as a doting wife and the mother of three boys, who keep her feet firmly planted on the ground!
Lisa is a Registered Nurse, author and recovering pageant queen, who spreads hope with her Get REAL approach to wellness. She empowers women, caregivers and groups to unleash their fullest potential by helping them to see their true beauty and discover their REAL value.
She feels passionate about spreading this message of hope and acceptance to help others be PROactive about their health and not simply REactive. Lisa uses her enthusiasm to inspire people to value and appreciate who they are. She helps people build a bridge from where they are, to where they want to be.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Time Management Through Quantifying Self With Technology
Most folks are quite alarmed at being tracked, followed, and everything about their life being recorded. Their cell phones track them, their computers track them, and companies, governments, and even hackers collect the data. Indeed, they know more about people than those individuals know about themselves. Personal Privacy is thus, a myth. And yet, all this data that they have about people is perhaps much more useful to the person themselves.
In fact, a print out of your own data, such as what you ate, how much you slept, where you traveled too, is very important. What could you do with this information? Well, you could trim some pounds, save money, and save a lot of time. It's all about efficiency of motion and action. Okay so, let's discuss how some folks are already doing this, and how they are optimizing their lives in the process, thus, giving them the advantage over all of us.
There was an interesting blog post on The Technium Update on June 26, 2011 titled; "The Quntifiable Self" which was very interesting, and the article stated;
"400 people interested in serious self-tracking meet for the inaugural Quantified Self conference in May this year. Self-tracking means monitoring quantities like your weight, sleep, location, messages, genes, body chemistry, performance, productivity, or any other of a thousand metrics. Self-trackers arrived from all over the world to share and explore the 'whys and hows' of self-tracking. Self knowledge through numbers we call it."
Now then, this might be bothersome to you, but consider this; all this data is already available, you are already being tracked, and so why wouldn't you simply find out how you can harness all this information so you can become more efficient in your life? What I am saying to you is that all the tools now exist. So, if you could optimize your sleep exactly, you might be able to save 3 hours per week, and you wouldn't be more tired, just have more hours.
If you optimized your diet, you'd have more energy, and less extra weight to lug around, reduced stress and, fatigue, and you'd be healthier so you wouldn't get sick, saving more time, more productivity, and perhaps making more money and enjoying life more in the process. And just consider the new SmartGrid home energy usage systems - it can help you optimize your energy use, saving energy, and saving you money. Well, it's kind of like that, only this is all about you. See that point?
In fact, a print out of your own data, such as what you ate, how much you slept, where you traveled too, is very important. What could you do with this information? Well, you could trim some pounds, save money, and save a lot of time. It's all about efficiency of motion and action. Okay so, let's discuss how some folks are already doing this, and how they are optimizing their lives in the process, thus, giving them the advantage over all of us.
There was an interesting blog post on The Technium Update on June 26, 2011 titled; "The Quntifiable Self" which was very interesting, and the article stated;
"400 people interested in serious self-tracking meet for the inaugural Quantified Self conference in May this year. Self-tracking means monitoring quantities like your weight, sleep, location, messages, genes, body chemistry, performance, productivity, or any other of a thousand metrics. Self-trackers arrived from all over the world to share and explore the 'whys and hows' of self-tracking. Self knowledge through numbers we call it."
Now then, this might be bothersome to you, but consider this; all this data is already available, you are already being tracked, and so why wouldn't you simply find out how you can harness all this information so you can become more efficient in your life? What I am saying to you is that all the tools now exist. So, if you could optimize your sleep exactly, you might be able to save 3 hours per week, and you wouldn't be more tired, just have more hours.
If you optimized your diet, you'd have more energy, and less extra weight to lug around, reduced stress and, fatigue, and you'd be healthier so you wouldn't get sick, saving more time, more productivity, and perhaps making more money and enjoying life more in the process. And just consider the new SmartGrid home energy usage systems - it can help you optimize your energy use, saving energy, and saving you money. Well, it's kind of like that, only this is all about you. See that point?
Do You Find It Hard To Focus?
The more I've shared my problem with other people -- whether friends, clients or colleagues -- the more I've realized just how prevalent this problem is. So if you are also struggling with keeping focus in a world brimming with distractions, read on...before your phone rings and your attention is pulled elsewhere.
Between our BlackBerries (dubbed "CrackBerries" for a good reason), Twitter, Facebook, texting and a zillion other sources of potential distraction, it's becoming harder and harder to stay focused on one thing for very long. Ask most Gen Y'ers about this and they will tell you they can easily finish an essay while texting friends and engaging in 5 simultaneous online chat discussions. But studies by leading universities, from MIT to Stanford, are finding that our brain simply cannot do multiple things at once. As our attention becomes spread across multiple tasks, it grows weaker, our focus poorer and our productivity lower. A recent study by Workplace Options found that American businesses lost $650 billion dollars a year in lost productivity through workplace distractions. Yes, that was Billion, not million.
It would be convenient to blame all our distractions for undermining our ability to finish tasks efficiently, to perform at the level we know we are capable of, or even to focus on what we need to be prioritized in any given busy day. But more often, our productivity levels (measured in terms of what we accomplish in any set period of time) are impacted more by the fact that we have simply not gotten really clear about what we really want to focus our attention on, rather than the distractions themselves.
In a recent coaching session with a client, what emerged as her core challenge was her lack of clarity about what job she really wants. What I said to her applies to all of us - only once you are clear about what you really want to do, will you be able to focus your time, energy and resources into accomplishing it. But you need to put aside time daily (sometimes hourly) to get really clear about what you are going to focus your time on in the day ahead. If you don't, you become a bit like a rudderless sailboat in the middle of the ocean, at the mercy of the prevailing winds, tides and currents and unlikely to end up anywhere you'd really want to be.
So when you have no clear focus, it's all too easy to become an unwitting victim of those distractions that, in the bigger scheme of things, aren't taking you in a direction you truly want to go. Not that there's anything inherently wrong or sinister with all the activities you distract yourself with -- from chatting with friends by the water cooler or on the phone, rummaging through the department store sales racks, watching re-runs of "The Office," updating your Facebook status or browsing YouTube. But beyond the initial restorative benefits gained by disengaging your brain for a little while, if those time-consuming activities aren't adding to your long-term sense of fulfillment or well-being, then they are doing yourself more of a disservice more than anything else.
While the world has changed dramatically in even just the last 20 years, the value of focused effort has not. To combat my ADD and improve my focus, I recently downloaded software that limits my access to Facebook (and in case you're wondering, yes, this IS humiliating for me to admit). I switch my phone to silent when I'm writing. Like right now. Often I head to a cafe where I can't access the Internet, removing all temptation. And I have time scheduled in my calendar every weekday morning at 8am to prioritize what I will focus on in the day ahead. Does my new system work perfectly? No. But it certainly counters that ADD, making me far more productive than I would be otherwise. As for when my kids get out of school for summer, well, I guess I will be heading to that cafe even more! What I've learned over the years though, is that I can get more done in 2 hours of focused attention, than in 8 hours while suffering with Attention Distraction Disorder.
4 Steps to Harnessing the Productivity Power of Focus:
1. Write down the specific goals you have for yourself in the next 3 months. The more specific the better! (E.g., for Terri, it is to get a job in the food industry that utilizes her skills and experience in product development and resourcing in cross-cultural settings.)
2. Schedule time into your calendar for the week ahead (at least -- a month is better still!) that will be dedicated solely to moving you toward this goal. Be realistic but be very specific about exactly when you are going to focus. No multi-tasking! It simply doesn't work for anything more than the simplest of tasks. (And this multi-tasking "wannabee" would know.)
3. Get whatever resources and materials you will need to make sure that you have everything you need to use that time well (e.g., If you need more information to get started, get it now so you don't find yourself distractedly surfing the Internet!)
4. Think ahead about possible distractions and plan around them. Turn your phone off. Let others know you will not be available. Unplug your modem. It doesn't matter that it seems pathetic. If you need that to help you focus, then just do it. Speaking of which, I guess I can turn my phone back on. Article written. Mission accomplished. Distraction awaits.
Between our BlackBerries (dubbed "CrackBerries" for a good reason), Twitter, Facebook, texting and a zillion other sources of potential distraction, it's becoming harder and harder to stay focused on one thing for very long. Ask most Gen Y'ers about this and they will tell you they can easily finish an essay while texting friends and engaging in 5 simultaneous online chat discussions. But studies by leading universities, from MIT to Stanford, are finding that our brain simply cannot do multiple things at once. As our attention becomes spread across multiple tasks, it grows weaker, our focus poorer and our productivity lower. A recent study by Workplace Options found that American businesses lost $650 billion dollars a year in lost productivity through workplace distractions. Yes, that was Billion, not million.
It would be convenient to blame all our distractions for undermining our ability to finish tasks efficiently, to perform at the level we know we are capable of, or even to focus on what we need to be prioritized in any given busy day. But more often, our productivity levels (measured in terms of what we accomplish in any set period of time) are impacted more by the fact that we have simply not gotten really clear about what we really want to focus our attention on, rather than the distractions themselves.
In a recent coaching session with a client, what emerged as her core challenge was her lack of clarity about what job she really wants. What I said to her applies to all of us - only once you are clear about what you really want to do, will you be able to focus your time, energy and resources into accomplishing it. But you need to put aside time daily (sometimes hourly) to get really clear about what you are going to focus your time on in the day ahead. If you don't, you become a bit like a rudderless sailboat in the middle of the ocean, at the mercy of the prevailing winds, tides and currents and unlikely to end up anywhere you'd really want to be.
So when you have no clear focus, it's all too easy to become an unwitting victim of those distractions that, in the bigger scheme of things, aren't taking you in a direction you truly want to go. Not that there's anything inherently wrong or sinister with all the activities you distract yourself with -- from chatting with friends by the water cooler or on the phone, rummaging through the department store sales racks, watching re-runs of "The Office," updating your Facebook status or browsing YouTube. But beyond the initial restorative benefits gained by disengaging your brain for a little while, if those time-consuming activities aren't adding to your long-term sense of fulfillment or well-being, then they are doing yourself more of a disservice more than anything else.
While the world has changed dramatically in even just the last 20 years, the value of focused effort has not. To combat my ADD and improve my focus, I recently downloaded software that limits my access to Facebook (and in case you're wondering, yes, this IS humiliating for me to admit). I switch my phone to silent when I'm writing. Like right now. Often I head to a cafe where I can't access the Internet, removing all temptation. And I have time scheduled in my calendar every weekday morning at 8am to prioritize what I will focus on in the day ahead. Does my new system work perfectly? No. But it certainly counters that ADD, making me far more productive than I would be otherwise. As for when my kids get out of school for summer, well, I guess I will be heading to that cafe even more! What I've learned over the years though, is that I can get more done in 2 hours of focused attention, than in 8 hours while suffering with Attention Distraction Disorder.
4 Steps to Harnessing the Productivity Power of Focus:
1. Write down the specific goals you have for yourself in the next 3 months. The more specific the better! (E.g., for Terri, it is to get a job in the food industry that utilizes her skills and experience in product development and resourcing in cross-cultural settings.)
2. Schedule time into your calendar for the week ahead (at least -- a month is better still!) that will be dedicated solely to moving you toward this goal. Be realistic but be very specific about exactly when you are going to focus. No multi-tasking! It simply doesn't work for anything more than the simplest of tasks. (And this multi-tasking "wannabee" would know.)
3. Get whatever resources and materials you will need to make sure that you have everything you need to use that time well (e.g., If you need more information to get started, get it now so you don't find yourself distractedly surfing the Internet!)
4. Think ahead about possible distractions and plan around them. Turn your phone off. Let others know you will not be available. Unplug your modem. It doesn't matter that it seems pathetic. If you need that to help you focus, then just do it. Speaking of which, I guess I can turn my phone back on. Article written. Mission accomplished. Distraction awaits.
The Push/Pull of the Race Against Time
Reducing tensions between personality types leads to better workplace productivity
IN TODAY'S fast-moving workplace, once you fall behind it can feel like you'll never catch up. Welive in a cyberhuman society where the requirement for speed, productivity and efficiency can trigger a race against time. Our lives are spinning out of control as we continue to be wired for business and information overload through our pagers, e-mails, faxes, and cell phones. We have no time for our children, our aging parents, our health and well-being. "How can we take control of our lives so that we can enjoy it?" is the question many are asking as they struggle to walk their professional tightrope.
Yo Katagiri, head of Pioneer Electronic Corp., said, "People can't work properly when they're tense." A good life is, however, worth working hard for - but we can reduce the struggle and tension by understanding our own inner process and how to manage it effectively.
Personal differences
To understand personal differences and how the race against time affects us, we can view ourselves through the eyes of type and temperament theory. For instance, the MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) deals with four scales of opposite preferences which are:
1. Extraversion versus introversion- where do we prefer to go for our stimulation and energy?
2. Intuition versus Sensing- how do we prefer to take in information?
3. Thinking versus Feeling- how do we prefer to make decisions about the information we take in?
4. Perceiving versus Judging-how do we prefer to structure our world?
The MBTI indicates specific differences in how we would like to behave. The world and people in it, however, impose their own game plan on us and often have counter expectations for our behaviours. These opposite expectations have inherent tensions in them.
According to Carl Jung, the tension of opposites is the very essence of life. Without tension, there would be no energy and consequently no healthy personality development. An optimum amount of tension is necessary, but too much tension can make us snap and too little can make us lethargic.
All personality types experience tension when dealing with time constraints and, therefore, an understanding of our inner processes when dealing with these constraints can increase our levels of health and happiness. An understanding of our workplace patterns of speed, productivity and efficiency, together with the tools for maintaining optimum levels of health and happiness on the job, can help us deal more effectively with tension when the world doesn't conform to our expectations.
Speed and productivity
When a strong extravert is around a quiet introvert, the tension of opposite preferences in processing information can be experienced quite differently by each. While extroverts process their information by talking and interacting with others, the introverts are producing their results through quiet introspection.
Both people are moving projects along, but the process for speed and productivity looks quite different. Interpretations of differences can affect team synergy: the extravert may interpret the quietness of the introvert as standoffish, while the introvert often sees extroverts as superficial people who fill the air with a lot of talk instead of really producing results.
Similarly, strong Sensing-Judging oriented people want structure and plans when they art involved in implementing activities. Intuitive-Perceiving oriented people, however want to gather additional information to be certain they have covered all the possibilities.
The inherent tension of these opposites can show up in how jobs and tasks get handled. One person is pulling for possibilities while the other is pushing for closure.
Productivity and efficiency
Sensing-dominant people believe that efficiency is centred around the present tense and the specifics of what needs to be done. They sometimes need to be reminded that there's more to productivity than dealing with just the details. Intuitive-dominant people, however, look at productivity and efficiency by focusing on the future and the implications of what else is possible in getting the job done. They sometimes need to be reminded to focus on the details as well as relating activities to the whole picture tn the future.
In order to get the best results, teams need to focus on the forest (intuitive, big picture) as well as the trees (sensing, details). In doing this, we can maintain and build positive feelings about each others' styles. The by-product can be increased levels of trust and team morale.
People differences are often evidenced in decision making processes. The dominant Thinker, who tends to make objective decisions, may view the dominant Feeler, who tends to make subjective decisions, as too touchy-feely. Feeling decision makers may see Thinking decision makers as too cold when they interact and make decisions with others.
Thinker-dominant people tend to get along better with other Thinkers. while Feeler-dominant people have an easier time than Thinkers getting along with both types. This may be because they look for and read others' processes more often in their attempts to get along and create harmony.
Both Thinker-dominant and Feeler-dominant people have a challenge around workplace competency. Thinking-dominant people have ever-increasing expectations about workplace competence and want to be viewed by others as very competent. Feeling types, however, take others into consideration - their growth and personal requirements- when working together. They want to makepeople feel good about their work. Competency, although also important to Feeling types, is secondary because they are able to delay immediate results for long-term personal developmental results.
When we interpret other peoples' expressions based on our own requirements, we can affect team productivity by diminishing trust and morale. But if the tension of opposites is the essence of life, then the quest ion has to he asked: "How can we use this pull of opposites to create a win-win model for dealing with workplace productivity while under time constraints?" Because when time-based constraints step in, relationship management often goes out the window.
Three sources of workplace tension
When tension, due to time constraints, is high in the workplace, we are often intolerant of work styles that are different from our own. The causes of tension in organizations usually come from one of three sources:
1. Differences in how we do things:
Fast or slow - expressions of speed are a source of workplace confusion. Foe example, Intuitive-Thinking people can leap into the future and create a new model without worrying about the details. This can throw Sensing-Judging people off because they want to begin building the job and need the details to do this.
Sensing-Judging people have an innate sense of the amount of time it takes to complete a project since they understand the myriad steps required and the reality of the physical world that slows the work down.
Intuitive-Thinking people often misgauge the time projects take because they've already moved on to the next conceptual challenge, leaving the details to others.
A structured approach to work is best expressed with the Sensing-Judgers' need for a time-based detailed work schedule for bringing the project in on time and within budget. Often taken as the critic who poo-poos ideas, the Sensing-Judging person wants to ensure the job gets done.
Sensing-Perceiver people can stimulate others and inject energy to move problems forward.
Through their ability to respond quickly and meet the immediate needs of the present situation. They can change direction on a dime as they tend to handle emergencies well.
While the Sensing-Perceiving person is busy moving projects forward, the Intuitive-Feeling person is focusing on people and their needs, believing time is used well when looking for and finding life's purpose.
-- I was in the drug store the other day tryiing to get a cold medication. Not easy. There's an entire wall of products that you need. You stand there going, "Well, this one is quick acting but this is long lasting...which is more important, the present or the future? -- Jerry Seinfield
2. Differences in how we view things:
People focus on different things when trying to accomplish tasks. What they focus on reveal what's important to them and are based on personal values.
Intuitive-Thinkers place great value on the systems within the organization. They enjoy analyzing data, predicting outcomes and explaining why things work the way they do.
Intuitive-Feelers, however, focus on the values of the people within the workplace; how to communicate in meaningful ways, and the effects of decisions on others.
Sensing-judging people will focus on the policies and procedures, the "how to's" of the job; they will collect, categorize and store data.
Sensing-Perceivers tend to focus more on solving immediate problems and moving projects forward with the quickest approach at hand and with the variables at that moment.
3. Differences in how we relate to others:
Interactive versus non-interactive approaches can take many shapes. For example, if you work in an extraverted environment but you prefer introversion, expectations that work should be done with others can cause feelings that your own natural tendencies are not appropriate.
People with a preference toward Intuitive-Feeling often give others all the time they need while neglecting their own time needs.
Intuitive-Thinking people often have no time for others' priorities and can forget to include the commitments of others in their planning.
Sensing-Perceivers often spread themselves out too far and scatter their efforts, leaving others wondering where they are and if they are still on board.
And Sensing-Judging people often dislike waiting for others and can appear rigid around keeping schedules and being hooked to responsibilities.
Although itis easy to see the mistakes and flaws in other peoples' work, when time pressures force us to get really focused, we may want to remember that after projects are completed, many of us can be left with painful thoughts and feelings about being stepped on or over in the name of productivity.
When deciding what to do in getting the job done while under pressure, remember that getting the job done AND building strong relationships should be viewed as equally important.
When tension in completing our jobs is handled with a win-lose approach, team interactions can become destructive. Tension, as a destructive force, creates communication and problem-solving strategies that take a "positional" stance where decisions get made at the expense of another person.
If perpetuated, this approach leads to increased negative attitudes and disliking of the other person. Soon the negativity leads to wanting to reduce any future contact with that person which, of course, leads to more "win-lose" behaviours.
Tension, as a creative force, promotes healthy communication and problem-solving strategies through constructive "win-win" decision making processes. When constructive approaches are taken, they can lead to positive feelings and a desire to seek out and interact with the other person.
Life is about conscious choices that empower us to stay on purpose, keep going, and stay engaged. By incorporating purpose into our day, we can focus on our goals and directions and check our own inner state of balance, pace, time and rhythms.
"Fast growth is not a one-person show. Other people play a key role in the process. In fact, your speed and overall success in developing yourself will depend heavily on the ability to make quick and last connections with others." Price Pritchett
When others impose their priorities and expectations on us we can choose to accommodate or not because we are listening to our own inner voice. By doing this we can ensure we're on purpose, balanced, and taking control of inner processes.
While developing awareness and conviction in validating our own inner processes, we also need to remember that we share our world with other people. After the game is over, who we are and what we achieve is often determined by our relationships with others. A principle of personal growth is, "We have to do it ourselves and we can't do it alone".
To remain healthy and happy and walk the professional tightrope in this cyberhuman society, have a meaningful life purpose, build good support systems, set interesting goals, and take time out to resource your energies along the way.
IN TODAY'S fast-moving workplace, once you fall behind it can feel like you'll never catch up. Welive in a cyberhuman society where the requirement for speed, productivity and efficiency can trigger a race against time. Our lives are spinning out of control as we continue to be wired for business and information overload through our pagers, e-mails, faxes, and cell phones. We have no time for our children, our aging parents, our health and well-being. "How can we take control of our lives so that we can enjoy it?" is the question many are asking as they struggle to walk their professional tightrope.
Yo Katagiri, head of Pioneer Electronic Corp., said, "People can't work properly when they're tense." A good life is, however, worth working hard for - but we can reduce the struggle and tension by understanding our own inner process and how to manage it effectively.
Personal differences
To understand personal differences and how the race against time affects us, we can view ourselves through the eyes of type and temperament theory. For instance, the MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) deals with four scales of opposite preferences which are:
1. Extraversion versus introversion- where do we prefer to go for our stimulation and energy?
2. Intuition versus Sensing- how do we prefer to take in information?
3. Thinking versus Feeling- how do we prefer to make decisions about the information we take in?
4. Perceiving versus Judging-how do we prefer to structure our world?
The MBTI indicates specific differences in how we would like to behave. The world and people in it, however, impose their own game plan on us and often have counter expectations for our behaviours. These opposite expectations have inherent tensions in them.
According to Carl Jung, the tension of opposites is the very essence of life. Without tension, there would be no energy and consequently no healthy personality development. An optimum amount of tension is necessary, but too much tension can make us snap and too little can make us lethargic.
All personality types experience tension when dealing with time constraints and, therefore, an understanding of our inner processes when dealing with these constraints can increase our levels of health and happiness. An understanding of our workplace patterns of speed, productivity and efficiency, together with the tools for maintaining optimum levels of health and happiness on the job, can help us deal more effectively with tension when the world doesn't conform to our expectations.
Speed and productivity
When a strong extravert is around a quiet introvert, the tension of opposite preferences in processing information can be experienced quite differently by each. While extroverts process their information by talking and interacting with others, the introverts are producing their results through quiet introspection.
Both people are moving projects along, but the process for speed and productivity looks quite different. Interpretations of differences can affect team synergy: the extravert may interpret the quietness of the introvert as standoffish, while the introvert often sees extroverts as superficial people who fill the air with a lot of talk instead of really producing results.
Similarly, strong Sensing-Judging oriented people want structure and plans when they art involved in implementing activities. Intuitive-Perceiving oriented people, however want to gather additional information to be certain they have covered all the possibilities.
The inherent tension of these opposites can show up in how jobs and tasks get handled. One person is pulling for possibilities while the other is pushing for closure.
Productivity and efficiency
Sensing-dominant people believe that efficiency is centred around the present tense and the specifics of what needs to be done. They sometimes need to be reminded that there's more to productivity than dealing with just the details. Intuitive-dominant people, however, look at productivity and efficiency by focusing on the future and the implications of what else is possible in getting the job done. They sometimes need to be reminded to focus on the details as well as relating activities to the whole picture tn the future.
In order to get the best results, teams need to focus on the forest (intuitive, big picture) as well as the trees (sensing, details). In doing this, we can maintain and build positive feelings about each others' styles. The by-product can be increased levels of trust and team morale.
People differences are often evidenced in decision making processes. The dominant Thinker, who tends to make objective decisions, may view the dominant Feeler, who tends to make subjective decisions, as too touchy-feely. Feeling decision makers may see Thinking decision makers as too cold when they interact and make decisions with others.
Thinker-dominant people tend to get along better with other Thinkers. while Feeler-dominant people have an easier time than Thinkers getting along with both types. This may be because they look for and read others' processes more often in their attempts to get along and create harmony.
Both Thinker-dominant and Feeler-dominant people have a challenge around workplace competency. Thinking-dominant people have ever-increasing expectations about workplace competence and want to be viewed by others as very competent. Feeling types, however, take others into consideration - their growth and personal requirements- when working together. They want to makepeople feel good about their work. Competency, although also important to Feeling types, is secondary because they are able to delay immediate results for long-term personal developmental results.
When we interpret other peoples' expressions based on our own requirements, we can affect team productivity by diminishing trust and morale. But if the tension of opposites is the essence of life, then the quest ion has to he asked: "How can we use this pull of opposites to create a win-win model for dealing with workplace productivity while under time constraints?" Because when time-based constraints step in, relationship management often goes out the window.
Three sources of workplace tension
When tension, due to time constraints, is high in the workplace, we are often intolerant of work styles that are different from our own. The causes of tension in organizations usually come from one of three sources:
1. Differences in how we do things:
Fast or slow - expressions of speed are a source of workplace confusion. Foe example, Intuitive-Thinking people can leap into the future and create a new model without worrying about the details. This can throw Sensing-Judging people off because they want to begin building the job and need the details to do this.
Sensing-Judging people have an innate sense of the amount of time it takes to complete a project since they understand the myriad steps required and the reality of the physical world that slows the work down.
Intuitive-Thinking people often misgauge the time projects take because they've already moved on to the next conceptual challenge, leaving the details to others.
A structured approach to work is best expressed with the Sensing-Judgers' need for a time-based detailed work schedule for bringing the project in on time and within budget. Often taken as the critic who poo-poos ideas, the Sensing-Judging person wants to ensure the job gets done.
Sensing-Perceiver people can stimulate others and inject energy to move problems forward.
Through their ability to respond quickly and meet the immediate needs of the present situation. They can change direction on a dime as they tend to handle emergencies well.
While the Sensing-Perceiving person is busy moving projects forward, the Intuitive-Feeling person is focusing on people and their needs, believing time is used well when looking for and finding life's purpose.
-- I was in the drug store the other day tryiing to get a cold medication. Not easy. There's an entire wall of products that you need. You stand there going, "Well, this one is quick acting but this is long lasting...which is more important, the present or the future? -- Jerry Seinfield
2. Differences in how we view things:
People focus on different things when trying to accomplish tasks. What they focus on reveal what's important to them and are based on personal values.
Intuitive-Thinkers place great value on the systems within the organization. They enjoy analyzing data, predicting outcomes and explaining why things work the way they do.
Intuitive-Feelers, however, focus on the values of the people within the workplace; how to communicate in meaningful ways, and the effects of decisions on others.
Sensing-judging people will focus on the policies and procedures, the "how to's" of the job; they will collect, categorize and store data.
Sensing-Perceivers tend to focus more on solving immediate problems and moving projects forward with the quickest approach at hand and with the variables at that moment.
3. Differences in how we relate to others:
Interactive versus non-interactive approaches can take many shapes. For example, if you work in an extraverted environment but you prefer introversion, expectations that work should be done with others can cause feelings that your own natural tendencies are not appropriate.
People with a preference toward Intuitive-Feeling often give others all the time they need while neglecting their own time needs.
Intuitive-Thinking people often have no time for others' priorities and can forget to include the commitments of others in their planning.
Sensing-Perceivers often spread themselves out too far and scatter their efforts, leaving others wondering where they are and if they are still on board.
And Sensing-Judging people often dislike waiting for others and can appear rigid around keeping schedules and being hooked to responsibilities.
Although itis easy to see the mistakes and flaws in other peoples' work, when time pressures force us to get really focused, we may want to remember that after projects are completed, many of us can be left with painful thoughts and feelings about being stepped on or over in the name of productivity.
When deciding what to do in getting the job done while under pressure, remember that getting the job done AND building strong relationships should be viewed as equally important.
When tension in completing our jobs is handled with a win-lose approach, team interactions can become destructive. Tension, as a destructive force, creates communication and problem-solving strategies that take a "positional" stance where decisions get made at the expense of another person.
If perpetuated, this approach leads to increased negative attitudes and disliking of the other person. Soon the negativity leads to wanting to reduce any future contact with that person which, of course, leads to more "win-lose" behaviours.
Tension, as a creative force, promotes healthy communication and problem-solving strategies through constructive "win-win" decision making processes. When constructive approaches are taken, they can lead to positive feelings and a desire to seek out and interact with the other person.
Life is about conscious choices that empower us to stay on purpose, keep going, and stay engaged. By incorporating purpose into our day, we can focus on our goals and directions and check our own inner state of balance, pace, time and rhythms.
"Fast growth is not a one-person show. Other people play a key role in the process. In fact, your speed and overall success in developing yourself will depend heavily on the ability to make quick and last connections with others." Price Pritchett
When others impose their priorities and expectations on us we can choose to accommodate or not because we are listening to our own inner voice. By doing this we can ensure we're on purpose, balanced, and taking control of inner processes.
While developing awareness and conviction in validating our own inner processes, we also need to remember that we share our world with other people. After the game is over, who we are and what we achieve is often determined by our relationships with others. A principle of personal growth is, "We have to do it ourselves and we can't do it alone".
To remain healthy and happy and walk the professional tightrope in this cyberhuman society, have a meaningful life purpose, build good support systems, set interesting goals, and take time out to resource your energies along the way.
Time Management Tips - A Quick Quiz To Help You Recognize Your Time Gremlins
Time management tips can help you race around countless roadblocks that pop up. One of the trickiest obstacles you will encounter is Time Gremlins. They're very hard to see, so you may collide with them at full speed! They're particularly difficult to sidestep when you question whether they even exist.
In my experience, Time Gremlins are real. What is more, they hide out inside you at all times. You might envision them as voices of your time issues. You know you've encountered one when inner messages tangle your plans, sabotage your priorities, and ruin your pleasure in your time choices. Because they're not visible to you, their voices can often run riot, just below your consciousness. Unless, of course, you intercept them.
To neutralize each one, plan to take many small steps over time. As you become skilled in battling Time Gremlins, you'll be very pleased with the results! So let's begin:
Getting to Know Your Time Gremlins:
Your Time Gremlins occupy your blind spots. Any unexamined idea about time that you've believed since childhood provides a fertile breeding ground. So does wishful thinking. And their effect is universal. They steal your power from you! Worst of all, they feel like they're outside your control (although or course they are not.)
Here's a simple quiz to recognize these enemies of your time:
Quiz: How Do Gremlins Steal Your Time?
Pick the question that resonates most, and fill in the blank:
1. Question: What's blocking your path?
Answer: ________ keeps me from doing what I need to do.
2. Question: What never gets done?
Answer: I never get around to _________________________.
3. Question: What time traits do you judge in yourself?
Answer: I judge myself as being ______________________.
4. Question: What excuses do you fall back on when plans fall apart?
Answer: I would get everything taken care of, if only _______________.
Write down the statement you completed that affects you the most strongly. Then ask yourself the following question:
What can you do to stand in your power and change this statement?
Relax, close your eyes, and envision yourself living a dynamic new life script. Feel it down to your toes. Describe it in one or two sentences. Identify one gain!
Remember, with every loss there is a gain. And with every gain there is a loss. Weigh the price for more power over your time. Accepting this is the key to your freedom!
In my experience, Time Gremlins are real. What is more, they hide out inside you at all times. You might envision them as voices of your time issues. You know you've encountered one when inner messages tangle your plans, sabotage your priorities, and ruin your pleasure in your time choices. Because they're not visible to you, their voices can often run riot, just below your consciousness. Unless, of course, you intercept them.
To neutralize each one, plan to take many small steps over time. As you become skilled in battling Time Gremlins, you'll be very pleased with the results! So let's begin:
Getting to Know Your Time Gremlins:
Your Time Gremlins occupy your blind spots. Any unexamined idea about time that you've believed since childhood provides a fertile breeding ground. So does wishful thinking. And their effect is universal. They steal your power from you! Worst of all, they feel like they're outside your control (although or course they are not.)
Here's a simple quiz to recognize these enemies of your time:
Quiz: How Do Gremlins Steal Your Time?
Pick the question that resonates most, and fill in the blank:
1. Question: What's blocking your path?
Answer: ________ keeps me from doing what I need to do.
2. Question: What never gets done?
Answer: I never get around to _________________________.
3. Question: What time traits do you judge in yourself?
Answer: I judge myself as being ______________________.
4. Question: What excuses do you fall back on when plans fall apart?
Answer: I would get everything taken care of, if only _______________.
Write down the statement you completed that affects you the most strongly. Then ask yourself the following question:
What can you do to stand in your power and change this statement?
Relax, close your eyes, and envision yourself living a dynamic new life script. Feel it down to your toes. Describe it in one or two sentences. Identify one gain!
Remember, with every loss there is a gain. And with every gain there is a loss. Weigh the price for more power over your time. Accepting this is the key to your freedom!
3 Steps to Get Enough Me Time
In the last 6 weeks 90% of the women who have contacted me have said they feel like they have no time for themselves. This is by no means unusual.
We all have many roles in life - if you're a married woman and have children, you're a wife, mother, homemaker, daughter, sister, friend, business owner, employee or boss, etc, etc. What often happens is that you always tend to the more urgent roles and you and your personal time is usually the last thing on the list. As a result, you start feeling resentful but also very soon you may burn out.
That's the point when people usually contact me. Which is great because I love working with people who are ready to take action and make changes in their lives.
So what do you do?
Do you just accept this as your lot in life while you have young kids in the house or what do you do?
Here are my 3 suggestions:
1. Decide that you are also important
I never ever believe that we need to sacrifice the parts of us that make us feel most alive. This is a mindshift change from mothers being the martyrs so take your time and work on this mental adjustment.
2. Identify a couple of activities that will work for you
Everybody is different so this is a personal exercise. Some of my clients like to do pamper-type activities like a manicure, pedicure, hair appointment or massage. Some others like to do creative things like sewing, mosaics, scrapbooking, painting and decorating. Still others just want time, either by themselves to recharge (often the introverts) or with a couple of close girl friends to connect with themselves again.
Are you seeing which group you fit into?
3. Choose the minimum response that will yield results
When my twins were newborns, life was crazy. I felt like I had no time to do anything for myself as I was running around washing bottles, making bottles, feeding, burping, bathing, changing, getting the baby to sleep, and then the other one would wake!
During those crazy times, I was happy if I could have just 5 minutes to sit, drink a hot cup of tea in peace and eat breakfast. Seriously, my expectations were just that low.
That was my minimum response.
Now, I expect hours every day to "do my thing" and I have it because I've set things up that way. But I started very, very small. See?
So what is the minimum response for you?
Now that you have those questions sorted out, start creating the time for yourself.
Don't settle for less - you are absolutely worth it.
We all have many roles in life - if you're a married woman and have children, you're a wife, mother, homemaker, daughter, sister, friend, business owner, employee or boss, etc, etc. What often happens is that you always tend to the more urgent roles and you and your personal time is usually the last thing on the list. As a result, you start feeling resentful but also very soon you may burn out.
That's the point when people usually contact me. Which is great because I love working with people who are ready to take action and make changes in their lives.
So what do you do?
Do you just accept this as your lot in life while you have young kids in the house or what do you do?
Here are my 3 suggestions:
1. Decide that you are also important
I never ever believe that we need to sacrifice the parts of us that make us feel most alive. This is a mindshift change from mothers being the martyrs so take your time and work on this mental adjustment.
2. Identify a couple of activities that will work for you
Everybody is different so this is a personal exercise. Some of my clients like to do pamper-type activities like a manicure, pedicure, hair appointment or massage. Some others like to do creative things like sewing, mosaics, scrapbooking, painting and decorating. Still others just want time, either by themselves to recharge (often the introverts) or with a couple of close girl friends to connect with themselves again.
Are you seeing which group you fit into?
3. Choose the minimum response that will yield results
When my twins were newborns, life was crazy. I felt like I had no time to do anything for myself as I was running around washing bottles, making bottles, feeding, burping, bathing, changing, getting the baby to sleep, and then the other one would wake!
During those crazy times, I was happy if I could have just 5 minutes to sit, drink a hot cup of tea in peace and eat breakfast. Seriously, my expectations were just that low.
That was my minimum response.
Now, I expect hours every day to "do my thing" and I have it because I've set things up that way. But I started very, very small. See?
So what is the minimum response for you?
Now that you have those questions sorted out, start creating the time for yourself.
Don't settle for less - you are absolutely worth it.
What Are You Waiting for? Tips to Help Manage Time and Fight Procrastination
Do you have something to do on your list that somehow just won't go away? No matter how long you put it off it still needs to be done? Maybe it's going to the gym or calling your insurance company about a recent claim. Each day, we are forced to do things we don't want to do. We all procrastinate for different reasons but our brains have one thing in common. We each have a part of our brain that innately tells us to avoid unpleasant tasks - this is the same part of the brain that tells us to pull away when touching something hot. This part of the brain functions automatically. However, the part of the brain that allows us to be productive (a.k.a. get things done) is not on auto-pilot. How do we turn on our brains to be productive?
We each have different tricks we use throughout the day to help us focus and stay on task. We can use similar tricks to help us tackle the sometimes, unpleasant tasks.
1. Don't do it alone. Call a friend or family member and ask for their support. Hire a professional organizer. For smaller tasks consider hiring a virtual organizer.
2. Do it first. Use tasks that you enjoy (eating dessert or calling your best friend) as a reward for completing the task that you've been procrastinating. Do the unpleasant task first thing in the morning or first thing when you get home from work... then you can give yourself a reward!
3. Be consistent. Do this task consistently for 2 weeks and then it will become second nature. You won't dread it. It will simply be part of your routine. Learning and instilling new habits take time.
4. Tackle the task in small bits. Don't do it all at once. Set a timer for 10 minutes and see what you can accomplish. You may surprise yourself!
5. Achieve satisfaction. Completing a task that you have been putting off is very rewarding. It's a great feeling. Remind yourself of that great feeling before and during the task. It's worth just getting it done!
What is one thing that you've been putting off? Tackle multiple tasks that you've been procrastinating and reward yourself. It will feel so great to finally no longer see those tasks on your to do list. What are you waiting for? Plan your productive day today!
Theresa Finnigin is a professional organizer, speaker, writer and owner of Ready Aim Organize. Theresa is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) and Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD). The mission of Ready Aim Organize is to rid homes and offices of clutter and chaos to ensure time is not wasted and each day is more productive and peaceful than the one before! Although currently based out of Northern San Diego County, Ready Aim Organize serves clients all over the country through virtual organizing.
We each have different tricks we use throughout the day to help us focus and stay on task. We can use similar tricks to help us tackle the sometimes, unpleasant tasks.
1. Don't do it alone. Call a friend or family member and ask for their support. Hire a professional organizer. For smaller tasks consider hiring a virtual organizer.
2. Do it first. Use tasks that you enjoy (eating dessert or calling your best friend) as a reward for completing the task that you've been procrastinating. Do the unpleasant task first thing in the morning or first thing when you get home from work... then you can give yourself a reward!
3. Be consistent. Do this task consistently for 2 weeks and then it will become second nature. You won't dread it. It will simply be part of your routine. Learning and instilling new habits take time.
4. Tackle the task in small bits. Don't do it all at once. Set a timer for 10 minutes and see what you can accomplish. You may surprise yourself!
5. Achieve satisfaction. Completing a task that you have been putting off is very rewarding. It's a great feeling. Remind yourself of that great feeling before and during the task. It's worth just getting it done!
What is one thing that you've been putting off? Tackle multiple tasks that you've been procrastinating and reward yourself. It will feel so great to finally no longer see those tasks on your to do list. What are you waiting for? Plan your productive day today!
Theresa Finnigin is a professional organizer, speaker, writer and owner of Ready Aim Organize. Theresa is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) and Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD). The mission of Ready Aim Organize is to rid homes and offices of clutter and chaos to ensure time is not wasted and each day is more productive and peaceful than the one before! Although currently based out of Northern San Diego County, Ready Aim Organize serves clients all over the country through virtual organizing.
Focus on Time Management and Productivity at Work - Too Much Equality is a Bad Thing
You may not realize it yet, but the time management skills that you learn in school studying for tests, finals, or doing term papers may very well predict your success in the future. Those that use their time wisely can do more with it. I know this because at one point in college I was taking 33 credits in one semester. At the time, I had the record for California colleges for doing this. I have no doubt due to all the multi-taskers in the present period, that someone has now broken that record - I cannot even imagine what the record is today.
However, I can say committing myself to that torture, well, it taught me how to excel at the things I did, and manage my time, wasting none of it. It was either sink or swim, and I had no choice. Forcing myself into that position made me focus on time management and productivity in my work. One thing that had always bothered me was that even though I worked harder than everyone else studying, I noticed that the top grade I could get was only in "A+" and other people in each class had also achieved an A. but, back then an "A" was an "A" either way when it came to the GPA.
There was a great segment on CNBC with Mario Bartiromo interviewing Jack Welch former CEO of General Electric on June 27, 2011 and he said something very interesting. He said "GE had a problem with equality, there was too much of it." And then he told an interesting story about when he was working in the chemistry group. He said that after a great quarter for their business unit, he received a $1,000 raise which back then was a big deal for him, and he was quite happy and felt he'd deserved it.
However when he got back into the office he saw everyone else was happy too. Even some of the folks who were "lumps on a log" and slackers, those who didn't deserve it got raises. He was so upset he walked back to his boss and told him he was quitting. There was too much equality. He had always believed that bonuses were for only those who deserved them, not just for showing up, poor performance, and punching a time clock.
Of course, in the end, the person who worked the hardest in that office at GE in his younger days, eventually went on to run the company, and retire a multi-millionaire. However, he almost quit General Electric because he wasn't rewarded for his hard work, and extra hours he had spent. This is probably a very good lesson in the fact that "A society, organization, business, or government always gets more of what rewards," and therefore we should reward good time management skills and productivity, and not excuses, procrastination, or poor performance. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.
However, I can say committing myself to that torture, well, it taught me how to excel at the things I did, and manage my time, wasting none of it. It was either sink or swim, and I had no choice. Forcing myself into that position made me focus on time management and productivity in my work. One thing that had always bothered me was that even though I worked harder than everyone else studying, I noticed that the top grade I could get was only in "A+" and other people in each class had also achieved an A. but, back then an "A" was an "A" either way when it came to the GPA.
There was a great segment on CNBC with Mario Bartiromo interviewing Jack Welch former CEO of General Electric on June 27, 2011 and he said something very interesting. He said "GE had a problem with equality, there was too much of it." And then he told an interesting story about when he was working in the chemistry group. He said that after a great quarter for their business unit, he received a $1,000 raise which back then was a big deal for him, and he was quite happy and felt he'd deserved it.
However when he got back into the office he saw everyone else was happy too. Even some of the folks who were "lumps on a log" and slackers, those who didn't deserve it got raises. He was so upset he walked back to his boss and told him he was quitting. There was too much equality. He had always believed that bonuses were for only those who deserved them, not just for showing up, poor performance, and punching a time clock.
Of course, in the end, the person who worked the hardest in that office at GE in his younger days, eventually went on to run the company, and retire a multi-millionaire. However, he almost quit General Electric because he wasn't rewarded for his hard work, and extra hours he had spent. This is probably a very good lesson in the fact that "A society, organization, business, or government always gets more of what rewards," and therefore we should reward good time management skills and productivity, and not excuses, procrastination, or poor performance. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.
What Happens If the Clock on My Coffee Maker Is Running 20 Minutes Fast?
I think we've all heard that famous quote; "time flies" and sometimes it seems it really does. Interestingly enough, time may seem to speed up in the future due to the rate of power coming through the power lines on the new smart grid system in the United States. It will be difficult to manage your time if the clocks you use are not reading the accurate time. Chances are you won't know the difference, or maybe you will feel something just isn't right.
There was a rather troubling article recently featured on MSNBC (Associated Press) titled; Power-Grid Experiment Could Confuse Electric Clocks - Traffic Lights, Security Systems, and Computers May Be Affected by Frequency Change as Well" by Seth Borenstein published on June 24, 2011.
"Since 1930, electric clocks have kept time based on the rate of the electrical current that powers them. If the current slips off its usual rate, clocks run a little fast or slow. Power companies now take steps to correct it & keep the frequency of the current and the time as precise as possible. Some parts of the grid, like in the East, tend to run faster than others - errors add up. If the grid averages just over 60 cycles a second, clocks that rely on the grid will gain 14 seconds per day, according to the company's presentation."
If you are someone who runs your life like a perfectionist, and manages your time by the minute, then this could be a serious issue for you. Therefore, you need to be cognizant of the fact that your clocks may not be completely accurate, and therefore you should, at least once a week check them against the time on your cell phone, smart phone, iPad, laptop, or desktop computer. This is because the electronic device which is attached to the Internet will be running on the exact time of the Earth, and not based on the power grid.
Now you might think this is getting to be Ridiculous, and this is not important. However, I would submit to you that if you have to be on a conference call, or if you want to do something at an exact time, then you need to make sure that all the clocks in your house are synced up with your mobile devices. After all, you might be looking at a clock in your house before you leave for important meeting, only to find out that you didn't arrive at the right time, merely because you never checked to synchronize your clocks. Please consider all this and think on it.
There was a rather troubling article recently featured on MSNBC (Associated Press) titled; Power-Grid Experiment Could Confuse Electric Clocks - Traffic Lights, Security Systems, and Computers May Be Affected by Frequency Change as Well" by Seth Borenstein published on June 24, 2011.
"Since 1930, electric clocks have kept time based on the rate of the electrical current that powers them. If the current slips off its usual rate, clocks run a little fast or slow. Power companies now take steps to correct it & keep the frequency of the current and the time as precise as possible. Some parts of the grid, like in the East, tend to run faster than others - errors add up. If the grid averages just over 60 cycles a second, clocks that rely on the grid will gain 14 seconds per day, according to the company's presentation."
If you are someone who runs your life like a perfectionist, and manages your time by the minute, then this could be a serious issue for you. Therefore, you need to be cognizant of the fact that your clocks may not be completely accurate, and therefore you should, at least once a week check them against the time on your cell phone, smart phone, iPad, laptop, or desktop computer. This is because the electronic device which is attached to the Internet will be running on the exact time of the Earth, and not based on the power grid.
Now you might think this is getting to be Ridiculous, and this is not important. However, I would submit to you that if you have to be on a conference call, or if you want to do something at an exact time, then you need to make sure that all the clocks in your house are synced up with your mobile devices. After all, you might be looking at a clock in your house before you leave for important meeting, only to find out that you didn't arrive at the right time, merely because you never checked to synchronize your clocks. Please consider all this and think on it.
Time Doesn't Have to Be a Four-Letter Word in Your Life!
We've all said; "I just don't have enough time to get it all done," and usually we say such things in total frustration. At times when we are bombarded with tasks to do, and yet we feel hopeless, trapped, and unable to perform the things we need to get done. Yes, it's part of our hustled and hurried world. In walks; "Time Management" but what is time management really? It shouldn't be a negative thing, or one more thing to force upon yourself.
After all, there are already enough rules, regulations, and things we must do in our society and civilization just to survive to maintain our standard of living and quality of life. Time management just seems like one more task or chore, who needs that? Well, I'm here to tell you that time, T-I-M-E, does not have to be a four letter word in your life. It's time for you to take charge and take control. It's time to make "time" work for you. You need to work with your time, not against it.
Now then, this is easy to say for me because prior to retirement, I was in the field of franchising, and that industry which never sleeps. Before that, I was a former track star and I ran the mile. Most of the time, because I happen to be fairly good at it, I was competing against myself, and running against the clock, every second that went by was my enemy, as I was trying to run a sub-4-minute mile. One thing I learned was that time wasn't the enemy, and those seconds counted.
The efficiency at which I used each second of the race mattered. Every stride, every breath, and every movement had to be as efficient as possible to move me down that track and around the corner. There could be no wasted effort, because it would matter at the end of the race as I would kick into the finish line with every ounce I had left, making sure I expanded my last breath as I crossed that line. Sounds rather romantic doesn't it, like a hard-core athlete, and back in the day, well, I lived it.
Indeed, I was one with the track and, time was my best friend, and my worst enemy, and I had to learn to stop fighting it, and start using it to my advantage. I'm here to tell you today that time is not a four letter word, and it is not your enemy, and everyone has the same amount. It's what you do with it that makes or breaks you, and that makes all the difference. That sets you apart from the rest. Don't waste it, use it to your advantage each in every day of your life. Trust me.
After all, there are already enough rules, regulations, and things we must do in our society and civilization just to survive to maintain our standard of living and quality of life. Time management just seems like one more task or chore, who needs that? Well, I'm here to tell you that time, T-I-M-E, does not have to be a four letter word in your life. It's time for you to take charge and take control. It's time to make "time" work for you. You need to work with your time, not against it.
Now then, this is easy to say for me because prior to retirement, I was in the field of franchising, and that industry which never sleeps. Before that, I was a former track star and I ran the mile. Most of the time, because I happen to be fairly good at it, I was competing against myself, and running against the clock, every second that went by was my enemy, as I was trying to run a sub-4-minute mile. One thing I learned was that time wasn't the enemy, and those seconds counted.
The efficiency at which I used each second of the race mattered. Every stride, every breath, and every movement had to be as efficient as possible to move me down that track and around the corner. There could be no wasted effort, because it would matter at the end of the race as I would kick into the finish line with every ounce I had left, making sure I expanded my last breath as I crossed that line. Sounds rather romantic doesn't it, like a hard-core athlete, and back in the day, well, I lived it.
Indeed, I was one with the track and, time was my best friend, and my worst enemy, and I had to learn to stop fighting it, and start using it to my advantage. I'm here to tell you today that time is not a four letter word, and it is not your enemy, and everyone has the same amount. It's what you do with it that makes or breaks you, and that makes all the difference. That sets you apart from the rest. Don't waste it, use it to your advantage each in every day of your life. Trust me.
Time Management Techniques Don't Work for Lazy Procrastinators!
If you are a procrastinator, or you often hesitate in doing things, then time management is probably a very serious issue to you, and something that you need to get a hold of and control. However, as much as you'd like to take control of your time and use all the proper time management procedures you are learning from reading articles like this, e-books, books, or watching DVD seminars - you have to work on the other more serious fundamental foundational problems first.
Those who are lazy procrastinators often find a way to make excuses for not performing a certain task, or not staying up on their goal setting timelines. They really shouldn't blame other people for wasting their time, or complain about the events that occur which prevent them from accomplishing their tasks. If they wait until the last minute, and then something gets in their way, they will blame that event and use it as an excuse as to why they didn't achieve something.
In that scenario, in that case it's actually their own fault because they procrastinated until the last minute. Such habits often develop in school when kids or college students procrastinate in studying for tests or in preparing term papers. Then at the last minute they gather up all the information and put in an all-nighter to finish. Sometimes their work is good due to the high concentration levels, but usually it is underperforming, because they didn't manage their time along the way, they waited until the last minute, and procrastinated in their required tasks.
You can study and read all the books on time management techniques, but you need to look in your mirror and ask yourself why you are procrastinating in doing the things that you must do, that you know you have to do, and then finding reasons which allow you to escape your own requirements, and those goals you've set for yourself. No one on this planet can fix that for you, unless they micromanage your every move throughout every day. It's not okay to make excuses, or deny yourself success because you are only hurting yourself.
Many people will hire a mentor or a coach to help them with time management. But that's hardly necessary, everyone is an expert on themselves, everyone knows where they are screwing up, and yet, they sit in denial and continue to procrastinate, and they spend more time making up excuses and reasons for not succeeding then they would just doing it. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.
Those who are lazy procrastinators often find a way to make excuses for not performing a certain task, or not staying up on their goal setting timelines. They really shouldn't blame other people for wasting their time, or complain about the events that occur which prevent them from accomplishing their tasks. If they wait until the last minute, and then something gets in their way, they will blame that event and use it as an excuse as to why they didn't achieve something.
In that scenario, in that case it's actually their own fault because they procrastinated until the last minute. Such habits often develop in school when kids or college students procrastinate in studying for tests or in preparing term papers. Then at the last minute they gather up all the information and put in an all-nighter to finish. Sometimes their work is good due to the high concentration levels, but usually it is underperforming, because they didn't manage their time along the way, they waited until the last minute, and procrastinated in their required tasks.
You can study and read all the books on time management techniques, but you need to look in your mirror and ask yourself why you are procrastinating in doing the things that you must do, that you know you have to do, and then finding reasons which allow you to escape your own requirements, and those goals you've set for yourself. No one on this planet can fix that for you, unless they micromanage your every move throughout every day. It's not okay to make excuses, or deny yourself success because you are only hurting yourself.
Many people will hire a mentor or a coach to help them with time management. But that's hardly necessary, everyone is an expert on themselves, everyone knows where they are screwing up, and yet, they sit in denial and continue to procrastinate, and they spend more time making up excuses and reasons for not succeeding then they would just doing it. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.
Reasons Why Your Organization Should Make Use of Time Tracking Software
How your business can take advantage from time tracking software and how should you go about choosing the right one? Majority of the professionals have the same opinion that time tracking software is a great value for any business. Time is vital for all businesses, so when you do select your time track application you should make sure that you get an application that is going to work right for you and which should suit your business requirements. Consider a small number of points when it comes to choose a best time tracking software.
First off all make sure that you choose a time track application that is what you require. It should fit in with your requirements as far as efficiency and accurateness is concerned. It should also meet your precise requirements in terms of functionality so that you can truly advance your business with it. There are a lot of time track applications available over the internet, but you have to to make sure that you get one with the supplementary features also. There is no reason you should pay extra for features that will not assist your company.
Having easy access to time management history in tracking app enables your company to calculate approximately (with accuracy) the man hours of every project, what that project will price in manual labor and assets, the cost efficiency of pricing, as well as effectual quoting based on similar past projects.
By dropping the time exhausted on time sheet data entry and project reporting, your business will see cost decline and production increases, which is equal to money saved. Understanding where every personality employee's time is spent and realigning that time as needed to best go with the requirements of the current project is a most important step toward greater profitability. Another important factor in employing great time management is the capability to move resources rapidly involving projects and tasks without effecting accessible time entries.
You should make sure you shop around for your software. There are so many options out there, that it would be easy to just jump on the first one and save you the trouble. However, you have to remember that what you decide will really influence your business. You should check the internet, your local business store, and talk to other business holder who may be able to help you. By shopping around you can get the most efficient time management app for your precise business. In addition, if you shop around and decide intelligently you can also save quite a bit of money as the price range of time tracking application is quite big.
The whole point of having time tracking application in your business is so that you know what is going on. You want to know how much your employees are actually working, right? Find out if they are functioning professionally or if there are some areas in which you can get better as a business. By tracking how long things go on can also assist you in understanding what your clients observe when they perceive your company operations. There are many types of software available to perform a lot of things for your business, but a good quality time tracking application procure is one you won't be disappointed.
First off all make sure that you choose a time track application that is what you require. It should fit in with your requirements as far as efficiency and accurateness is concerned. It should also meet your precise requirements in terms of functionality so that you can truly advance your business with it. There are a lot of time track applications available over the internet, but you have to to make sure that you get one with the supplementary features also. There is no reason you should pay extra for features that will not assist your company.
Having easy access to time management history in tracking app enables your company to calculate approximately (with accuracy) the man hours of every project, what that project will price in manual labor and assets, the cost efficiency of pricing, as well as effectual quoting based on similar past projects.
By dropping the time exhausted on time sheet data entry and project reporting, your business will see cost decline and production increases, which is equal to money saved. Understanding where every personality employee's time is spent and realigning that time as needed to best go with the requirements of the current project is a most important step toward greater profitability. Another important factor in employing great time management is the capability to move resources rapidly involving projects and tasks without effecting accessible time entries.
You should make sure you shop around for your software. There are so many options out there, that it would be easy to just jump on the first one and save you the trouble. However, you have to remember that what you decide will really influence your business. You should check the internet, your local business store, and talk to other business holder who may be able to help you. By shopping around you can get the most efficient time management app for your precise business. In addition, if you shop around and decide intelligently you can also save quite a bit of money as the price range of time tracking application is quite big.
The whole point of having time tracking application in your business is so that you know what is going on. You want to know how much your employees are actually working, right? Find out if they are functioning professionally or if there are some areas in which you can get better as a business. By tracking how long things go on can also assist you in understanding what your clients observe when they perceive your company operations. There are many types of software available to perform a lot of things for your business, but a good quality time tracking application procure is one you won't be disappointed.
If You Don't Respect Time - You'll Never Have Enough of It
Have you ever asked someone what they were doing, and they replied to you; "I am just killing some time." I'd like you to think about that for a second and understand how unfortunate it really is. People actually believe that sometimes it is necessary to kill time while anticipating and waiting for a certain event coming up in the future, and they have completed whatever other tasks they think they should be doing. The reality is if you are not doing something, you should be learning something, or you should be thinking.
Anytime you are awake you should be using your mind for a positive purpose, never killing time, or finding something that will keep you busy, such as watching mindless television shows, or just sitting there vegetating. You see, if you don't respect your time, you'll never have enough of it. It is amazing how many people look at some of the things I've done in my life, and they ask me; "don't you ever sleep?" Of course, I do, along with everyone else on this planet. In fact, I probably sleep more than the average person I'd say.
Time is a lot like money, and many people say that; "time is money" and in many regards that is true. After all people trade their time for money, and then they use their money to free up time from medial tasks, often to make even more money. I am quite certain you understand that scenario. I'd go so far as to say that if you don't respect time, you probably don't respect money, and if that is the case you will probably never have enough of either of those. And there is really no one to blame for wasting your time, or wasting your money, if you fail to respect time or money, than yourself.
Thus, you should never think that it is necessary to kill time, or be bored waiting for something to happen. Even if you were sitting at the airport waiting for a plane to arrive, so you can board that aircraft to go somewhere, you should have something to do, you should be learning something, or contemplating something for your future.
Perhaps you might start a conversation with someone that could lead to something great in the future. You never know, but you should be thinking positive about time management, and never consider the need to kill time. It is my sincere hope that you will please consider all this and think on it, because time is a terrible thing to waste, it shouldn't be killed.
Reasons Why Your Organization Should Make Use of Time Tracking Software
How your business can take advantage from time tracking software and how should you go about choosing the right one? Majority of the professionals have the same opinion that time tracking software is a great value for any business. Time is vital for all businesses, so when you do select your time track application you should make sure that you get an application that is going to work right for you and which should suit your business requirements. Consider a small number of points when it comes to choose a best time tracking software.
First off all make sure that you choose a time track application that is what you require. It should fit in with your requirements as far as efficiency and accurateness is concerned. It should also meet your precise requirements in terms of functionality so that you can truly advance your business with it. There are a lot of time track applications available over the internet, but you have to to make sure that you get one with the supplementary features also. There is no reason you should pay extra for features that will not assist your company.
Having easy access to time management history in tracking app enables your company to calculate approximately (with accuracy) the man hours of every project, what that project will price in manual labor and assets, the cost efficiency of pricing, as well as effectual quoting based on similar past projects.
By dropping the time exhausted on time sheet data entry and project reporting, your business will see cost decline and production increases, which is equal to money saved. Understanding where every personality employee's time is spent and realigning that time as needed to best go with the requirements of the current project is a most important step toward greater profitability. Another important factor in employing great time management is the capability to move resources rapidly involving projects and tasks without effecting accessible time entries.
You should make sure you shop around for your software. There are so many options out there, that it would be easy to just jump on the first one and save you the trouble. However, you have to remember that what you decide will really influence your business. You should check the internet, your local business store, and talk to other business holder who may be able to help you. By shopping around you can get the most efficient time management app for your precise business. In addition, if you shop around and decide intelligently you can also save quite a bit of money as the price range of time tracking application is quite big.
The whole point of having time tracking application in your business is so that you know what is going on. You want to know how much your employees are actually working, right? Find out if they are functioning professionally or if there are some areas in which you can get better as a business. By tracking how long things go on can also assist you in understanding what your clients observe when they perceive your company operations. There are many types of software available to perform a lot of things for your business, but a good quality time tracking application procure is one you won't be disappointed.
First off all make sure that you choose a time track application that is what you require. It should fit in with your requirements as far as efficiency and accurateness is concerned. It should also meet your precise requirements in terms of functionality so that you can truly advance your business with it. There are a lot of time track applications available over the internet, but you have to to make sure that you get one with the supplementary features also. There is no reason you should pay extra for features that will not assist your company.
Having easy access to time management history in tracking app enables your company to calculate approximately (with accuracy) the man hours of every project, what that project will price in manual labor and assets, the cost efficiency of pricing, as well as effectual quoting based on similar past projects.
By dropping the time exhausted on time sheet data entry and project reporting, your business will see cost decline and production increases, which is equal to money saved. Understanding where every personality employee's time is spent and realigning that time as needed to best go with the requirements of the current project is a most important step toward greater profitability. Another important factor in employing great time management is the capability to move resources rapidly involving projects and tasks without effecting accessible time entries.
You should make sure you shop around for your software. There are so many options out there, that it would be easy to just jump on the first one and save you the trouble. However, you have to remember that what you decide will really influence your business. You should check the internet, your local business store, and talk to other business holder who may be able to help you. By shopping around you can get the most efficient time management app for your precise business. In addition, if you shop around and decide intelligently you can also save quite a bit of money as the price range of time tracking application is quite big.
The whole point of having time tracking application in your business is so that you know what is going on. You want to know how much your employees are actually working, right? Find out if they are functioning professionally or if there are some areas in which you can get better as a business. By tracking how long things go on can also assist you in understanding what your clients observe when they perceive your company operations. There are many types of software available to perform a lot of things for your business, but a good quality time tracking application procure is one you won't be disappointed.
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy for http://cate-time-management.blogspot.com/
If you require any more information or have any questions about our privacy policy, please feel free to contact us by email at coulcate@gmail.com.
At http://cate-time-management.blogspot.com/, the privacy of our visitors is of extreme importance to us. This privacy policy document outlines the types of personal information is received and collected by http://cate-time-management.blogspot.com/ and how it is used.
Log Files
Like many other Web sites, http://cate-time-management.blogspot.com/ makes use of log files. The information inside the log files includes internet protocol ( IP ) addresses, type of browser, Internet Service Provider ( ISP ), date/time stamp, referring/exit pages, and number of clicks to analyze trends, administer the site, track user’s movement around the site, and gather demographic information. IP addresses, and other such information are not linked to any information that is personally identifiable.
Cookies and Web Beacons
http://cate-time-management.blogspot.com/ does use cookies to store information about visitors preferences, record user-specific information on which pages the user access or visit, customize Web page content based on visitors browser type or other information that the visitor sends via their browser.
DoubleClick DART Cookie
.:: Google, as a third party vendor, uses cookies to serve ads on http://cate-time-management.blogspot.com/.
.:: Google's use of the DART cookie enables it to serve ads to users based on their visit to http://cate-time-management.blogspot.com/ and other sites on the Internet.
.:: Users may opt out of the use of the DART cookie by visiting the Google ad and content network privacy policy at the following URL - http://www.google.com/privacy_ads.html
Some of our advertising partners may use cookies and web beacons on our site. Our advertising partners include ....
Google Adsense
These third-party ad servers or ad networks use technology to the advertisements and links that appear on http://cate-time-management.blogspot.com/ send directly to your browsers. They automatically receive your IP address when this occurs. Other technologies ( such as cookies, JavaScript, or Web Beacons ) may also be used by the third-party ad networks to measure the effectiveness of their advertisements and / or to personalize the advertising content that you see.
http://cate-time-management.blogspot.com/ has no access to or control over these cookies that are used by third-party advertisers.
You should consult the respective privacy policies of these third-party ad servers for more detailed information on their practices as well as for instructions about how to opt-out of certain practices. http://cate-time-management.blogspot.com/'s privacy policy does not apply to, and we cannot control the activities of, such other advertisers or web sites.
If you wish to disable cookies, you may do so through your individual browser options. More detailed information about cookie management with specific web browsers can be found at the browsers' respective websites.
If you require any more information or have any questions about our privacy policy, please feel free to contact us by email at coulcate@gmail.com.
At http://cate-time-management.blogspot.com/, the privacy of our visitors is of extreme importance to us. This privacy policy document outlines the types of personal information is received and collected by http://cate-time-management.blogspot.com/ and how it is used.
Log Files
Like many other Web sites, http://cate-time-management.blogspot.com/ makes use of log files. The information inside the log files includes internet protocol ( IP ) addresses, type of browser, Internet Service Provider ( ISP ), date/time stamp, referring/exit pages, and number of clicks to analyze trends, administer the site, track user’s movement around the site, and gather demographic information. IP addresses, and other such information are not linked to any information that is personally identifiable.
Cookies and Web Beacons
http://cate-time-management.blogspot.com/ does use cookies to store information about visitors preferences, record user-specific information on which pages the user access or visit, customize Web page content based on visitors browser type or other information that the visitor sends via their browser.
DoubleClick DART Cookie
.:: Google, as a third party vendor, uses cookies to serve ads on http://cate-time-management.blogspot.com/.
.:: Google's use of the DART cookie enables it to serve ads to users based on their visit to http://cate-time-management.blogspot.com/ and other sites on the Internet.
.:: Users may opt out of the use of the DART cookie by visiting the Google ad and content network privacy policy at the following URL - http://www.google.com/privacy_ads.html
Some of our advertising partners may use cookies and web beacons on our site. Our advertising partners include ....
Google Adsense
These third-party ad servers or ad networks use technology to the advertisements and links that appear on http://cate-time-management.blogspot.com/ send directly to your browsers. They automatically receive your IP address when this occurs. Other technologies ( such as cookies, JavaScript, or Web Beacons ) may also be used by the third-party ad networks to measure the effectiveness of their advertisements and / or to personalize the advertising content that you see.
http://cate-time-management.blogspot.com/ has no access to or control over these cookies that are used by third-party advertisers.
You should consult the respective privacy policies of these third-party ad servers for more detailed information on their practices as well as for instructions about how to opt-out of certain practices. http://cate-time-management.blogspot.com/'s privacy policy does not apply to, and we cannot control the activities of, such other advertisers or web sites.
If you wish to disable cookies, you may do so through your individual browser options. More detailed information about cookie management with specific web browsers can be found at the browsers' respective websites.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)