Avoiding the Wonderland Effect: Better Time Management for Leaders

We have all had those moments we feel like the white rabbit with a pocket watch frantically scurrying around stressed we are late, late for an important date. Most of us have been like the girl that chased the rabbit down a hole and came out the other side disoriented and wondering where the time went (and may be thinking "why are my clothes so tight?" or that might just me be.) Time is a difficult thing to tame and it can get away from the best of us. Learning to avoid the Wonderland Effect and budget your time can reduce your stress and increase productivity. Like a financial budget or a diet, it requires discipline. For those of you that were not scared away by that statement; please read on to learn time management tips and tricks to help you make it to that very important date.

Dave Ramsey says, "You will either tell your day what to do or you will wonder where it went." In other words, you need to budget your time and stick to your budget. Of course this sounds easier said than done. Most of us feel like our time is as elusive as the Cheshire Cat and laughing at us as it slips away. This feeling is a result of not prioritizing our day and being intentional with our time.

Prioritize your day
*Use the first 15-20 minutes of your day planning your tasks for the day and getting organized. This is the time to create a to do list and prioritize what needs to be done. In Entreleadership they suggest using a system to prioritize your to-do list so you are always doing the most urgent and important things first, while leaving the non-urgent and non-important things to be delegated or discarded.
*Proportion can get a bit tricky so remember the 80/20 rule: Twenty-percent of your thoughts produces 80% of your results.
*Set time limits for your tasks. Giving yourself a timeframe helps keep you on track and keeps you from jumping down rabbit holes that cause time loss.
*Have some tea! Plan mini-breaks to allow you to recharge and refocus. Research supports taking small breaks in work makes us more productive overall.
*Small stuff can get big! Use down time to accomplish smaller tasks instead of putting them aside and letting them become a big problem. (i.e. work through your emails while you are on hold.)
*When you get distracted, go back to your to-do list.
*Do not over commit. Be realistic about the time you have and only commit to the things you can do, and should do. You do not always have to say yes!

Be Intentional
*Keep a clock visible and get in the habit of checking it to be sure you are not getting off the path you want to be on.
*Work smarter, not harder! Know your strengths and vulnerabilities. Develop habits that turn your vulnerabilities into strengths. (For example if you keep forgetting your lunch put your keys on your lunch in the fridge. This will help you remember to grab your food when you grab your keys.)
*Turn important routine tasks into habits by doing them at the same time or in the same order each day.
*Admit when you are procrastinating and try to identify the reason you are procrastinating so you can stop it.
*Use organization that fits your workflow. Set up your desk and your desktop on your computer to match your workflow for easier use.
*Use Technology to keep you on task. Outlook, smartphones, calendar reminders, and any number of apps are great for keeping a busy person on task and on time.
*Keep work conversations on topic. Use the standup technique to stop conversations that are distracting or have gotten off topic.
*Reduce distractions and identify time drains. People and tasks can be chronic time drains by staying too long to discuss things in great detail. Be quick to move them on their way or schedule a time each week that they can visit so you are not neglecting that team member or the work you need to get done.
*DO NOT WASTE TIME COMPLAINING ABOUT WHAT YOU CANNOT DO! So many people waste more time complaining about all the things they have to do or cannot do than the time it would take to just do it.
*Off with the little complainer's head! Do not let the little complainer turn you into a Mad Hatter, wasting time in confusion, frustration, and fruitless tasks.

***Be completely in the moment and give this moment your full attention. You can accomplish so much more when you do not let yesterday or tomorrow steal your time and attention. Find joy and purpose in what you do and you will be more productive through passion.

Scriptures
Colossians 4:5        1 Corinthians 14:40     Proverbs 16:9         Ecclesiastes 3:1