Read time is approximately 4 minutes
On the
last post I shared some tips for motivation to manage time and
promised to share some specific tips I have learned in prioritizing my tasks
and sustaining motivation to finish a task. Today, let’s get down to the
nitty gritty of just what managing time might look like. I will use one of my
projects as an example—writing a blog post.
I
really like that term Sarangi uses,
steering time. Steering time incorporates both prioritizing tasks and
approaching the tasks in a planned way. Just like using a navigation system to
drive or steer to a destination, it takes a system to steer time and arrive at
your target destination. Compare steering time to the steering/driving steps a
navigation system provides.
Here are
the directions I generally use to get a project done, such as writing my blog
post.
1.
Let go of daily tasks. Sweeping the floor, ironing the laundry, or
washing the car will have to wait if you are working on a home project. Updating
your calendar, cleaning your desktop, or scheduling appointments will have to
wait if you are working on an office project. Time is not elastic. Don’t try to
stretch yourself to complete all of the daily tasks as well as the
project. If you wait until the daily
tasks are done to tackle a project, you will never even get the project started.
For instance, when I am writing my blog post, I delay answering text messages
or email. Those communications will have to wait.
2.
Make the to-do list—list everything, every little step. For instance when I write a blog post, I have items on the to-do list such as
brainstorm, write a draft, correct the draft, choose a picture, write the
headline, wait a 24 hour cooling off period before writing the final draft, publish
the post, make notes, read blog examples. Listing every little step gives me a
better idea of how much time writing the blog post will take.
3.
Prioritize the items. Think of these as the turn-by-turn navigation
instructions to follow. Complete the most important item first. For the blog,
taking notes is the most important to me. I need to complete that first. In
fact, I usually begin writing notes for the next post as I am working on the
current blog post. The notes help me avoid procrastination and writer’s block.
If I have notes about the information I will use in the post, I can write the
draft. If I know I won’t be able to
write the draft in one sitting, I always quit in the middle of a sentence. See
blog post “Never finish your sentence.”
4.
Plan for interruptions. This most important step, planning for the
unexpected, insures that unexpected interruptions do not become calamities. Consider
even listing the step, resolving interruptions, into your to-do list. Phone calls, visits, responding to messages
and messes to clean up can be unexpected. For instance to avoid a calamity, I
start a blog post at least a week before my publishing deadline. I start even
earlier if I know I have a fuller than usual calendar. For this post, I started
June 20 since I knew I was having house guests for the 4th of July
weekend and I wanted to publish before July 8. Just like a navigation
system recalculates when I make a wrong turn, I can recalculate when an
unexpected interruption happens—and I can still arrive at my planned
destination/goal.
5.
Cross off tasks as they are completed. This significant step gives me a
feeling of accomplishment, helps me stay disciplined, and spurs more energy for
me to complete more tasks on the way to finalizing the overall project, in this
case the blog post.
6.
Create self-discipline. The steps can work for any projects, only the specifics
will change. By letting go of some daily tasks, listing all the steps, prioritizing
the steps, and planning for interruptions, and crossing off the steps as they
are completed, we create the motivation and discipline we need to complete a
project.
In the
next post, I’ll share what I have learned from other experts about goalsetting
motivation—I have already started the notes. J
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