Time Management? Sure! Yeah!

Saturday, July 31, 2010

I do feel somewhat better knowing I am not the only one late in adding my blog, and I do hope you all find this cartoon as funny as I.

Time management is an ongoing process. Of that I am certain. However, after existing in the corporate world for over 30 years I still revert to my own means of surviving each day and getting everything done for everyone on time.

I am going to begin my blog with my use of time management on the job since that is where I have spent over 50 hours a week for all these years. (I include travel time to and from work, because I figure from the time I walk out my door in the morning until I return home at night I belong to "The Man".)

My dedication to corporate America began in 1966. From 1990 to 1993 I attended college and earned my BA in English and professional writing. From 1996 to 2001 I ran a secretarial service from my home. Both of those endeavors required time management and for the life of me I cannot recall how I got everything done.

I am not a list keeper. I do not use a checklist or task list. Oh, yes, I have a task bar on my computer at work and every meeting I schedule for every person as well as every performance review and every vacation and time off pops up on that task list. Needless, to say it does not serve me well. Not that I would follow it even if it did.

I have heard it said if you want something done give it to a busy person. I have no doubt my co-workers and superiors agree with this and therefore seek me out when they need something done and they need it done NOW. (Or possibly yesterday).

I have a little sign on my desk that says, "I don't look busy because I did it right the first time." This is my idea of time management. I make every attempt to attack every project as soon as it hits my desk and take the time and energy required to get it done right and move on to the next project. Most days this process works well for me. Other days ... well let's just say there are some people who don't know what they want when they ask and come back again and again until they get what they THINK they want.

Okay, this is about time management and not about me venting. Sorry!

I do have reports due on Mondays, and on certain days of the month, that I know when they are due and what it will take to get those done. I do my level best to get these out of the way a.s.a.p. so I am open to handle whatever else may hit my desk throughout the day.

I work very hard to complete all of my work early in the week in order that on Friday, which is when most of management seems to melt into the woodwork, I am able to spend some time on my writing.

I do make lists. It is just that I normally will misplace them and have to rewrite them again and again to complete the task they were created for.

I am not a dedicated journaler nor am I successful at my daily quiet time with the Lord. Let me add here that around the first of the year I prayed for the Lord to wake me every morning with plenty of time to spend with him, possibly work on my writing, exercise, take a walk or do whatever might need done around the house. A short time later I began waking every morning between 4:00 am and 4:30 am. (My bladder is awake, but I'm not.) I go to the bathroom and return to bed, pulling the covers over my head until I absolutely must crawl out at 6:00 am. Why? I don't get much sleep during that time and I could accomplish so much with the Lord . Why can I not push myself into the shower (it isn't that far from the John) and wake myself up?

My suggestion for good time management is: Wing It and Wait!