Manage self not Time
For years I’ve been hearing about Time Management. However, time is elusive and really can’t be managed. Instead, manage yourself. The real key is that effective self managers define their priorities and schedule activities, they don’t manage the clock as there are only 24 hours in a day, 168 hours in a week. If you manage it, it will not grow or accumulate, so you really must manage how you use time, manage your work, and control your actions.
The trap that most super busy people fall into is believing that he/she can do it all. You might be able to do it all, but perhaps not at the same time or not with the same focus, tenacity or results. Everything doesn’t deserve equal time or attention. Therefore, you really must make conscious decisions about what’s really most important. Multi-tasking has been proven ineffective in numerous studies, so make choices and focus on the most important tasks first.
Time is a precious commodity. However, many people waste valuable time getting stuck in one or more of the following habits:
Being a Perfectionist: Believing that work or output that is anything less than perfect is unacceptable. This belief is often marked by low productivity as individuals lose time and energy on small irrelevant details of larger projects or mundane daily activities.
Procrastinating: Putting off, avoiding or deferring actions or tasks to a later time.
Crises Management: Reacting to threats, elements of surprise and urgencies but having no time for the routine matters that might be more important.
Being Unfocused: Lack of concentration on a particular task or activity which is evident usually by switching, floundering or multi-tasking.
Allowing Interruptions: Distractions and interruptions are costly to individual performance and the bottom-line. In fact, unnecessary interruptions consume about 28 percent of the knowledge worker’s day, which translates to 28 billion lost hours to companies in the United States alone (“The Cost of Not Paying Attention: How Interruptions Impact Knowledge Worker Productivity,” Jonathan B. Spira and Joshua B. Feintuch, Basex, 2005). At an average cost per hour of $21 (U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics June 2005), that costs U.S. companies $588 billion per annum.
Emotional Blocks: Boredom, daydreaming, stress, guilt, anger and frustration all reduce concentration.
Preferential Treatment?
According to Elizabeth at the Career and Kids blog
http://www.careerandkids.com/do-working-mothers-get-a-pass-on-working-late/
In the workplace, it’s often perceived that parents, especially mothers, get preferential treatment when it comes to working late or overtime. However, a recent survey by Adecco USA Workplace finds that working moms are just as likely as non-parents to work late:
The latest Adecco USA Workplace Insight survey, conducted in recognition of Mother’s Day, found that working moms (71%) are just as likely as non-parents (73%) to work late and respond to e-mails after hours, even though one-third of all workers (32%) would be less inclined to ask a working parent (male or female) to do so. Further, even though they’re willing to burn the midnight oil with the rest of their colleagues, nearly half of moms (49%) think their companies should do more to help them achieve better work/life balance.
For more information, check out this press release!
What are your thoughts? What are your personal experiences?
Working Parents
I visited the Fox Studios in NY earlier today to tape 2 segments for FoxBusiness.com. Although we had an appointment for studio time at 11:15, we were not able to tape until later that afternoon because someone had mis-communicated. (Has anything like this ever happened to you??)
Anyway, I was interviewed about tips for working parents for one segment and how to set better boundaries at work for the other. Anna Gilligan, the host was a pleasure to work with although not personally able understand the issues facing working parents every day, beings she’s not a parent herself. Many of the tips shared in this type of format are general and non-specific because it’s reaching a varied audience. When you read Succeeding as a
Super Busy Parent you can select the tips that apply to you and incorporate them into your life. Sometimes we get so busy that we forget the practical and sometimes simple things you could be doing to beat this challenge. You can check out the show at http://www.foxbusiness.com/video/index.html?playerId=videolandingpage&streamingFormat=FLASH&referralPlaylistId=5fd543b8ce7fcb5cee5c4eaecd94e0a73b33a327.
If this doesn’t work, go to the FoxBusiness.com site and scroll down to the gold box on the left-hand side that says Fast Track (Download Podcast/ Watch Now). Click Watch now and scroll down to select the March 10 video on Working Parents.
Generational Differences at Work
I conducted a series of three presentations: Effective Time Management, Balancing Work and Personal Life & Communication Skills seminars for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. They were a great group of people! The audience was mixed, mostly women between 20′s-60′s. The issues were clearly different.
To help them better understand the uniquenesses of the generations, I had them break into groups and list the strengths and weaknesses they see in their generation. We brainstormed these lists, allowing other generations to add to the lists for the each group…Traditionalists (born between 1920-1945); Baby Boomers (born between 1946-1964); Generation X (born between 1965 – 1981); and, Generation Y (born between 1982-2000). Then, we added some strategies for communicating better with people from different generations in the workplace.
Understanding differences and discussing them brought a rich appreciation that will help interactions both at work and home. Don’t be too busy to appreciate the strengths others around you bring to the workplace. Appreciate the wisdom and experience the traditionalists normally bring and the tech savvy-ness of Generation Y. Together every generation can learn from each other and build stronger relationships.
What can you appreciate more about someone in your life from a different generation?
Unexpected Occurences
My son broke his right wrist on Friday when we went skiing/snow-boarding beings they had the day off for a teacher’s in-service day. So, not unlike any of you who are also Super Busy Parents, I needed to rearrange my schedule so that I could get my son to the doctor on Tuesday.
As working parents we are often faced with the challenge of taking care of our personal/family life when we have commitments at work. Fortunately, I have made the choice 11 years ago to have my own business. This gives me extra flexibility but sacrifices the steady income and benefits I was receiving in the corporate world. I was able to re-arrange my individual coaching clients, participate in a meeting via conference call, and still attend a meeting I was scheduled to attend that evening. I called in my support network!
Building a strong support network is important for any working parents success, especially the Super Busy Parent! Having a support network allows you the option to call upon people and resources as needed. I phoned the Orthopedist’s office from the ski lodge to get their recommendations as to our best course of action for my son’s wrist, I called the Pediatrician to let her know what happened and get whatever referrals I’d need to get him the appropriate care in a timely fashion (here in America President’s weekend is a holiday weekend and most businesses are closed for President’s Day on Monday!), we called my daughter’s friend’s mother to inform her we were on our way home (and she offered to take the girls as soon as we arrived), we called my mother-in-law to have her let out the dog beings we didn’t know how long we’d be detained at the hospital, and over the weekend I called/emailed my clients to reschedule appointments.
Communication and a support network are crucial. So is keeping things organized so that you have what you need when you need it. Anticipating what you think you might need, may also save an extra trip (I got a copy of the xray while I was at the hospital this time and it saved me a trip back!)
How can you be better prepared for the unexpected??
Sleep Deprived??
What an experience!! I met Charles Osgood from CBS Sunday Morning news today when we taped a segment set to air on Sunday March 9th about sleep deprivation. We filmed the segment here in my office and home. They will also interview some sleep experts and a client of mine who certainly lives a very busy life.
The piece centers around the fact that people today are so busy they often fail to take time for adequate sleep. Many of my clients, friends and family survive on too few hours of sleep. This doesn’t normally effect them immediately, but eventually they experience grogginess; may fall asleep driving, at work, or while watching TV at home with their family; find themselves losing patience and becoming less effective in their numerous roles.
If you are one of the millions who don’t get the sleep they need. What are you doing instead? Are you bringing home piles of work, catching up on bills, cleaning the house, surfing the Internet, taking care of a new puppy, or something else? Are these activities really more important than your health and well-being?
Do you have a real sleep disorder, such as sleep apnea, that really needs to be addressed?
Here’s a challenge for you if you frequently get inadequate sleep…
choose 1 night this week to commit to getting a good night’s sleep. On that night, bring no work home, turn off the phone and TV, have someone else take care of the kids or pets, etc. and focus on getting a good night’s sleep.
You can do it! It starts with realizing that your habits are not working for you any longer. Then it takes your conscious effort to change that habit. Start with 1 day, then make it once per week over at least the next month. Once you have a regular pattern, add another day.
Realize there’s always something else you can be doing…but your sleep is of critical importance!
Increasing Productivity
I conducted a presentation at Realogy Corporation for CIGNA Behavioral Healthcare yesterday. I’ve presented there in the past numerous times. Their work environment is not unlike many corporate environments today. Employees are under lots of pressure to complete increasing workloads with decreasing staff. Many employees who would benefit the most from participating in these lunch-and-learn programs, never have the time to even get there. Often, those who would gain the most benefit from a lesson are too busy working to engage in the learing opportunity. Instead they stay glued to their desk. They rarely take time out to chat, eat, exercise, or even to go to the bathroom. Is this what drives productivity at the work place??
I’d say NO! In order for employees to best at their best, they really need to take care of themselves. Worker harder and harder is not the answer. Instead, find ways to work smarter. Working 24/7 does not lead to higher productivity instead it leads to poorer quality, resentment, frustration, and anger.
What ways can you work smarter rather than harder? What boundaries do you need to set in place to honor your own personal needs?
Seize the Day!
In last week’s e-newsletter, Coach Natalie encourages readers to “stop waiting for someday to come to start enjoying your life to the fullest”.
Too often people think the they’ll be happy when “they win the lottery”, “find Mr. Right” “lose 30 pounds”, or “get a promotion”. Unfortunately, this thinking doesn’t allow you to truly enjoy the here and now. Waiting until someday (that may never come) to be happy blocks much of the happiness and joy you could be experiencing in the present. For example, paying off a credit card bill or enjoying time with your girlfriends let’s you more fully enjoy the reality of where you are. Limit spending and enjoy shopping wisely. Enjoy the freedom of not being strapped down.
Shifting your perspective helps you look at your current situation in new ways. Having a positive attitude about what is allows the possibility for more joy. Cherish everything in your day that contributes to your happiness, whether it’s your child’s smile; completing an assignment at work on time; getting to work without traffic; having friends and family who love you.
To receive our FREE e-newsletter, “Success Tips for Super Busy Parents” simply send a blank message to superbusyparent-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Twice monthly you’ll recieve a tip to help create more balance and success in your personal and work life.
Secrets of the Happiest and Most Successful
Did you know…a new survey by American Express and Best Life Magazine reported that men increasingly are defining success by their family’s health and happiness, work/life balance, and time they spend having fun. Overall, the survey, conducted by the Harrison Group, found that:
* Only 10 percent of affluent men in America consider themselves both happy and very successful.
* The other 90 percent feel they have reached some levels of success and happiness but are still striving to make gains in their personal lives and careers to reach the same top level of life satisfaction.
* Nearly all of the men (95 percent) believe that to be successful, a man must achieve work/life balance.
* Only one out of four men will take a sick day to enjoy their personal interests.
Best Life Magazine (the fastest-growing men’s magazine in the country and the very first men’s magazine to provide topical and compelling editorial that addresses family, marriage and fatherhood)also outlines the secrets of the 10 percent of men who are extremely happy and super successful. Some characteristics that set them apart: The ability to have fun, having clearly defined goals and navigating change well.
I’m curious…what do you think of these results? Do they ring true for you?
Kathy goes from good to great
Kathy has been dissatisfied with her marriage for quite some time. She and her husband unsuccessfully had counseling last year. Although it’s pretty scary for her, Kathy has filed for a divorce, put the house up for sale, and is looking for a new job. She is going from (not so) good to (hopefully very) great. How about you?
