The clock is ticking. We often say we ‘just don’t know where time goes!’ So many of us have so much to do but feel the pressure of time against us. This ongoing pressure can damage the feeling of well-being, disturbing sleep and making things worse if unaddressed.
Time management can get somewhat heavy, but we all have to find some way of doing it, with varying degrees of success. There are plenty of sayings banded around that can be more of a stick than a carrot – such as the quote by Benjamin Franklin, ‘If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!’ He was right of course, but it doesn’t hint at how good a good plan could feel. As one who spent time making rather too many life plans that didn’t work out, planning has it’s place and is a matter of balance!
A sense of achievement … ticks on the list of jobs for the day … can feel empowering and satisfying. Like many, I have experienced deadlines that keep me pushing the midnight oil, day after day, until the final submission. Always something to catch up on afterwards! Take one thing of the bottom off the pile and several have landed on top in the meantime. I needed a way to keep moving forward a bit on all fronts – more ticks against my list, whilst keeping everything moving along, each a step in the right direction.
Procrastination is an issue. Leaving the worst job ‘til last will end up as a real pressure keg to deal with. I have heard that successful entrepreneurs often go for getting the worst job done first, so they can enjoy less intense jobs for the rest of the day. This has a more satisfying feel to it. It’s good to get organised with a list of jobs for the day, to feel a good sense of direction and to minimize the overwhelm! The trick is to improve the chances of making it feel really successful!
So, I will share with you my secret weapon! My timer! The day of revelation came when I was procrastinating and chuntering to myself over having to mow the lawn …again! There just seemed so many other jobs that were of greater priority…but no, if left, it would definitely be a bigger problem! So, I decided that I was going to spend 30 minutes on it. What wasn’t done, well, I would have to deal with that another day!
So, I took the plunge. I set the timer, and took hold of the shed keys with a sense of purpose and real intent to go for it! All plugged in, I charged up and down until the front lawn was done, having emptied the load a couple of times, before starting on the back.
The timer still hadn’t gone off. I didn’t know how much time I had left! (I really didn’t want to have to leave it undone having started!) So, I super-charged my efforts, racing against the clock! Well! That got it done OK and still the timer hadn’t gone off! I wondered if I hadn’t set it properly…all possible! But no, I had actually managed to put the mower away and finally discovered I had 5 minutes to spare! I chuckled to myself, ‘Well done me!’ (After all that chuntering before too!) I was so chuffed that the next day I discovered it’s good for getting the car washed neatly in an odd spare 10 minutes!
There are lots of little ways to feel better in short tasks which are good for the physical, mental, emotional self which uplift the spirit within – that little piggy bank of well-being points soon add up and are worth investing in. You could try:
- A short routine of stretches in the morning or evening, or when you get a spare few minutes in your day.
- Taking a few minutes to make a quick salad and a pot of nutritious dressing, adding fresh, live, natural nutrition to your usual meal, giving your body an extra bit of TLC.
- Look at your hydration options and try:
- a wedge of lemon in warm water, or a slice of ginger in it too.
- May be a dash of cinnamon or fennel seed in hot water. Fennel can help digestion, and help stave off cravings!
- Chuckles – or if that is too harsh may be try green tea options – all better hydration than just tea and coffee and you will be surprised how refreshing they are.
- Hydration, particularly regular sips of water, will keep you alert for all that focus and concentration that is required.
- Taking a diary break with a cuppa to check what’s coming up so nothing is missed!
- A walk for 20 minutes at lunch time in the fresh air, or even 5 minutes outside with a cuppa, taking in the changes in nature, the sky, the birds – connecting with the outside world … provides a different perspective, may be a touch of sunshine, wind on your cheeks, and a feel good factor. Chuckles… I like the rain too but I know that’s not for everyone!
- Book a lunch connection with a friend – community connections as so important.
- On days when I have to sit for longer sessions, I set my timer for 15 minutes and make sure I stand up, or go and run on the mini trampoline for a quick burst of activity. This is highly beneficial for circulation and adds up well-being points over the day!
- It is important to recognize when the clock is ticking and there is a potential or real state of overwhelm. Break down is to be avoided. Ask for help if necessary. Sometimes we need to exercise that little, but very powerful word, ‘No’. Or use the phrase, ‘Sorry, I can’t help you’. Be aware that not all balls are yours to catch, so take the time you need to reflect and choose your path.
- Send out a little text, from your heart, saying ‘Hi’ to those you are thinking about and are important to you – just watch the love flow right back at you! Yumm!
Recent Comments