It’s not about perfection: Last week, I dove into my favorite tips for time management which are worth a read if you’re someone who feels like your schedule runs you rather than the other way around. But, I’d also like to emphasize that everyone’s day looks different, and it’s not about being perfect. These strategies are about making the smart choices that work well for you. Personally, I’ve been using the tips outlined in this post (which include time blocking, tricks for eliminating distractions and much more) for years and I don’t think I’ve ever had a day where I was able to execute my time-blocked schedule perfectly without interruption. Perfection is not the point. The goal is to institute strategies and build habits so that you eliminate 90% of distractions, and greatly enhance your efficiency and productivity for the majority of your day. Just because there’s an issue with your toddler that disrupts your morning for 30 minutes doesn’t mean you can’t still employ the principles for the other 7.5+ hours of your workday with great success. As discussed in the post, the reality is that while yes, there are true emergencies that require your immediate attention during your workday, the majority of things that come up and distract you from efficiently checking off your to-do’s are not actually time sensitive, so force them to wait. It does take time and practice but man is it worth it.
Time Management
As you’ll gather from the images here, the wind decided it was going to handle art direction when we were snapping these photos. It got me thinking about chaos and how standing in the middle of a windstorm is a pretty good metaphor for the way my workdays used to feel. Chaos isn’t comfortable, nor is it productive, so over the course of my professional life, I’ve learned how to get it together when it comes to time management and the organization of my day. All it takes are a few simple changes (and sticking to them!) to stay on track and feel on top of your workday. There will always be chaotic, windy moments, but for the most part, the four tips below will help you weather any storm.