From Chaos to Control: Revolutionise Your Time Management

Part One - Managing Activities

As we continue our self-mastery journey, I've come to realise that we can't manage time itself - it's always moving forward, never standing still. But we can certainly be inefficient with it, and that's where our focus should lie. I'm going to share some insights straight from my own experiences. Trust me, I've been around the block a few times when it comes to this stuff. This is not a ‘do this’ post, but it’s more of a waypoint. Reaching our waypoints allows us to be masters of our self.

In Part 1 - I set a task to reflect on your life and identify areas where you'd like to improve. Top of the litst was time management.

Now, here's a little nugget of wisdom I've picked up along the way: we can't actually manage time. It's like trying to catch smoke with your bare hands - it just keeps slipping away, never stopping for anyone. But what we can manage is how we use that time. And boy, can we be inefficient with it sometimes!

Let me take you back to my military days for a sec. In the service, being on time wasn't just polite - it was practically sacred. We lived and breathed punctuality. It was drilled into us that being late could mean the difference between mission success and failure. Pretty intense, right?

Fast forward to last Friday morning. Picture this: I'm sitting in a meeting room, ready to go, when my colleague strolls in late. No explanation, no apology, just casual as can be. It was like watching two worlds collide - my military-ingrained punctuality versus... well, whatever that was.

Now, I'm not saying we all need to run our lives like a military operation (though sometimes I wonder if that would help!). But it got me thinking about how we approach our activities and the time we have.

You see, every minute we have is like a little gift. When we're not careful with how we use these gifts, we end up wasting them. It's like leaving the water running while you brush your teeth - sure, it might not seem like a big deal in the moment, but it all adds up.

So, how do we get better at this? Well, it's all about changing how we think about our activities - it’s about changing our paradigm. Instead of trying to wrangle time itself, we focus on what we're doing with that time.

Now, I know what you're thinking - "Easier said than done, right?" And you're not wrong. It takes practice, and trust me, I'm still working on it too. But that's the beauty of this self-mastery journey we're on. We're all in this together, learning and growing one day at a time. Speaking of learning, let’s get into some tips and tools.

The Tools

Everything I am going to talk about is achievable for the most unorganised of people.

The estimate: This does exactly what it says on the tin. Estimating a task is really useful, and many people do it subconsciously. Start with;

What have I got to do?

What are my options?

What are the things that could hinder my plan?

Let’s take going on vacation as an example. Next Sunday, I am travelling for a much-needed break. My flight departs at 10:20, and I need to be checked in at 07:20. It takes about 1 hour 20 minutes to get to the airport from my house. I could take a taxi, but I don’t trust the taxi company will arrive on time. I can drive there, but that’s going to cost me money for the long stay carpark (I’ve decided on the latter option).

I’ve already worked out that I need to be up and out of bed at 02:45. I need to make my bed, shower, check all my personal things, double check my documentation and put the trash out.

Alright, let's chat about some other time management tips that have worked wonders for me. First off, I'm a big fan of the "eat the frog" technique. No, it doesn't involve actual frogs - thank goodness! It's all about tackling your most challenging or dreaded task first thing in the morning. It's like ripping off a band-aid; once it's done, the rest of your day feels like a breeze.

Another game-changer for me has been time-blocking. Imagine your day as a puzzle, and each task is a piece. Time-blocking is about fitting those pieces together in a way that makes sense. I dedicate specific chunks of time to certain activities, and it's amazing how much more I get done when I'm not constantly switching gears.

Now, let's talk about the infamous time-thieves: distractions. Oh boy, they're sneaky little devils, aren't they? I've found that creating a distraction-free zone can work wonders. For me, it's as simple as putting my phone on silent and facing it screen-down. Out of sight, out of mind, right?

Here's a tip that might sound counterintuitive: take breaks. I know, I know, it sounds like the opposite of managing time, but hear me out. Regular short breaks can actually boost your productivity. It's like giving your brain a quick recharge. I like to use the Pomodoro technique - 25 minutes of focused work followed by a 5-minute break. It's amazing how much you can accomplish in those focused bursts.

Oh, and let's not forget about the power of saying "no". This one was tough for me at first, but it's been a game-changer. Every time you say yes to something, you're essentially saying no to something else. So, I've learned to be selective about what I commit to. It's all about prioritizing what truly matters.

Lastly, I'm a big believer in the "two-minute rule". If a task takes less than two minutes to complete, I do it right away. It's surprising how many little tasks we put off that could be knocked out quickly. This helps prevent small tasks from piling up and becoming overwhelming.

Remember, the goal isn't to squeeze productivity out of every single second. It's about making the most of the time you have, while still leaving room for rest, creativity, and the unexpected joys of life. After all, we're aiming for progress, not perfection. So, give these tips a try, see what works for you, and don't be too hard on yourself if you have an off day. We're all human, after all!

I hope that something we’ve discussed today resonates with you. I am sure that you have used some of the tools I’ve mentioned before, but it’s always good to pick those invaluable tools out of the box and put them to good use.

Next time we’re going to be discussing focus and concentration.