The glorious holidays are filled with marvelous opportunities to celebrate with cherished family and friends. It's sometimes only when the last present is purchased, the last task completed or the calendar marks Christmas Day that we finally allow ourselves time to relax.
Moments are often all that are needed to recharge our batteries. I'm going to try to remember that regardless of how many items are on my perpetual to-do list, taking a few moments to relax each day needs to be a recurring priority entry.
Showing posts with label priorities. Show all posts
Showing posts with label priorities. Show all posts
Monday, December 29, 2014
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Make Everything Count
It's easy to become victim to our busy schedules with so many meetings commanding space on our calendars. When we create priorities, expectations and contingencies, we accomplish more than when we allow our busy calendars to dictate our activities.
Priorities - These are the events that we will attend. (Everyone has unexpected emergencies, but these are the events we commit to sans an emergency.) Because they are priority activities, we find a colleague to represent us if we can't be there.
Expectations - This category is tricky. We are challenged to capture our own expectations and the expectations of those who count on us professionally and personally. We must consciously make time for these priorities that may not be event specific.
Contingencies - Leaving 5-10 minutes before your think you must to be on time for a meeting is one example of contingency planning. Keeping place holders on your calendar for events you'd like to attend if your scheduled commitment changes is another.
Priorities - These are the events that we will attend. (Everyone has unexpected emergencies, but these are the events we commit to sans an emergency.) Because they are priority activities, we find a colleague to represent us if we can't be there.
Expectations - This category is tricky. We are challenged to capture our own expectations and the expectations of those who count on us professionally and personally. We must consciously make time for these priorities that may not be event specific.
Contingencies - Leaving 5-10 minutes before your think you must to be on time for a meeting is one example of contingency planning. Keeping place holders on your calendar for events you'd like to attend if your scheduled commitment changes is another.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Taking Care of Others
Sometimes we are so busy taking care of others that we lose sight of bigger issues such as who should/could/would assume other responsibilities. It is in everyone's best interest to differentiate between:
- what others need v. what we think they need
- what they need v. what we need
- what we can do to meet their needs and ours v. what they can do to meet our needs and theirs
Saturday, May 14, 2011
A Lifetime of Priorities in 7 Days
There's no way that any of us could accomplish a lifetime of priorities in one week. However, my last 7 days made me realize that we can get a great perspective on things that matter when we analyze an over-committed week in the second busiest month of the year (May is a close second to December).
By capturing a full week of scheduled activities in a particularly hectic week, I thought that this might potentially reveal priorities. I found many family, career and volunteering appointments; only one faith and one friend scheduled commitment, and no time allocated independently for me.
This exercise was an eye-opener for me, and might also be for you.
By capturing a full week of scheduled activities in a particularly hectic week, I thought that this might potentially reveal priorities. I found many family, career and volunteering appointments; only one faith and one friend scheduled commitment, and no time allocated independently for me.
This exercise was an eye-opener for me, and might also be for you.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Too Much To Do
I'm trying to cram another year's worth of activities into the 4th quarter, including making plans for 2011. The first month of the quarter zoomed by, filled to the brim. The process is made more challenging as new opportunities arise daily to be added to my already overflowing schedule.
When I have too much to do, it is essential to take time to capture all the projects in one visible document. This eliminates one source of anxiety, the fear that I've forgotten about a smaller but important project. Mental milestones allow me to realize that the overly frantic pace is temporary. And taking a few moments to relish successes keeps my energy flowing.
When I have too much to do, it is essential to take time to capture all the projects in one visible document. This eliminates one source of anxiety, the fear that I've forgotten about a smaller but important project. Mental milestones allow me to realize that the overly frantic pace is temporary. And taking a few moments to relish successes keeps my energy flowing.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Do It Ourselves 24x7x365
When I was growing up, churches, hospitals and fire/police stations were about the only establishments open on Sunday. There were no self-serve gas stations or check-out lines. ATMs were introduced during my youth. In the past years we've gotten accustomed to being able to conduct business 24x7x365. Technology coupled with our need for speed and convenience has led to us to choose to serve ourselves rather than be subject to time frames instilled by others.
As the speed of life has increased, we've taken on more tasks that once were done for us. Just because we can conduct business 24x7x365 doesn't mean we should. Technology doesn't need a break, but humans do. Rather than letting technology control us with its continuous availability, we owe it to ourselves to consciously choose to use the access available to us to balance the things we must and should do with those we'd also like to do. Many of us have lost sight of the fact that technology was initially introduced to allow us more leisure time. With our ever-present electronic leashes we're in danger of reverting back to agrarian times when sleep was the only weekday down-time.
Because we can do many things we need to do 24x7x365, let's seize the chance to carve out time each day for the want to dos rather that fill all available hours with the musts and shoulds.
As the speed of life has increased, we've taken on more tasks that once were done for us. Just because we can conduct business 24x7x365 doesn't mean we should. Technology doesn't need a break, but humans do. Rather than letting technology control us with its continuous availability, we owe it to ourselves to consciously choose to use the access available to us to balance the things we must and should do with those we'd also like to do. Many of us have lost sight of the fact that technology was initially introduced to allow us more leisure time. With our ever-present electronic leashes we're in danger of reverting back to agrarian times when sleep was the only weekday down-time.
Because we can do many things we need to do 24x7x365, let's seize the chance to carve out time each day for the want to dos rather that fill all available hours with the musts and shoulds.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Email Can Wait
Generally when I'm away from the office, I consistently and frequently monitor and respond to email. When I was away for a couple of extra days during the Independence Day holiday, I intentionally disengaged from my cherished Blackberry. Yes, I checked it, a couple of times per day. But, it was not my constant companion. I got to unwind. (Disclaimer: The days surrounding 4th of July are probably the best days to try this experiment. The number of emails I received was 10% of my normal volume.)
Though I never answer a phone call or respond to an email when I'm in a meeting (inconsiderate and rude), it never occurred to me that answering emails when I'm on vacation is the equivalent (inconsiderate and rude) behavior to my family. Vacations are times that we have allocated to focus on people and things we love. In essence, they are extended meetings of a personal nature.
Regardless of how electronically connected we become, we must occasionally electronically disconnect in order to fully personally connect.
Though I never answer a phone call or respond to an email when I'm in a meeting (inconsiderate and rude), it never occurred to me that answering emails when I'm on vacation is the equivalent (inconsiderate and rude) behavior to my family. Vacations are times that we have allocated to focus on people and things we love. In essence, they are extended meetings of a personal nature.
Regardless of how electronically connected we become, we must occasionally electronically disconnect in order to fully personally connect.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Time Budgets are Not Created Equally
I've become vividly aware that everyone does not have the same access to their allotted 24 hours per day.
To equal the playing field let's assume the following time budget:
8 Hours Working
8 Hours Sleeping
That leaves 8 presumable allocatable hours.
What's wrong with this picture?
Some have 30 minute or less door to door roundtrip commutes. Others travel an hour or much more each way.
Some spend 45 minutes getting ready for work each morning. Others spend 10 minutes.
Some have to shop for groceries, plan meals, stop for dinner or order take-out each day. Others have dinner waiting when they arrive from work.
Some have children to pick up from a provider, homework to review, games to play, baths to finish, stories to read, days to review together. Others have children who have become quite independent or don't have dependants.
Some have elderly parents, needy friends or differently abled children whose needs are never-ending. Others have self-sufficient circles of love.
Some are struggling to learn a job, keep a job or find a job. Others are thriving in the positions they hold.
Some are racing from work to complete a college course. Others don't have a professional development time budget.
Some hold as sacred 30 or more minutes of exercise. Others can never find time.
We don't all have the same access to each 24-hour day. Time budgets are not created equally. We can only deal as efficiently and effectively as possible with the hours we find to allocate.
My blogging time is up!
To equal the playing field let's assume the following time budget:
8 Hours Working
8 Hours Sleeping
That leaves 8 presumable allocatable hours.
What's wrong with this picture?
Some have 30 minute or less door to door roundtrip commutes. Others travel an hour or much more each way.
Some spend 45 minutes getting ready for work each morning. Others spend 10 minutes.
Some have to shop for groceries, plan meals, stop for dinner or order take-out each day. Others have dinner waiting when they arrive from work.
Some have children to pick up from a provider, homework to review, games to play, baths to finish, stories to read, days to review together. Others have children who have become quite independent or don't have dependants.
Some have elderly parents, needy friends or differently abled children whose needs are never-ending. Others have self-sufficient circles of love.
Some are struggling to learn a job, keep a job or find a job. Others are thriving in the positions they hold.
Some are racing from work to complete a college course. Others don't have a professional development time budget.
Some hold as sacred 30 or more minutes of exercise. Others can never find time.
We don't all have the same access to each 24-hour day. Time budgets are not created equally. We can only deal as efficiently and effectively as possible with the hours we find to allocate.
My blogging time is up!
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