Making the Most of Your Time

Many people ask me how I juggled a full-time job with a private career coaching practice and still managed to get a book published. I’d be remiss if I said it was easy, but I did learn some excellent strategies that are applicable to anyone struggling to get time on their side.  Here are some strategies to help you spend your time more wisely.

Make a plan. Figure out what you want to achieve, and then you can create the steps to make it happen.  The key is making sure your goals are realistic.  Creating unrealistic goals can sabotage your progress and undermine your self-confidence.

Create a schedule. Organizing a timetable helps you break your goals down into actionable steps and helps you consistently follow through with them on a daily basis. Figure out your most productive hours during your day, and work accordingly. If you’re working at home, let your family and friends know your “office hours” so they too will honor your work time.

Ignore your email and screen your calls. When you have set aside a specific block of time to accomplish a certain task – tune out calls and emails so you don’t find yourself responding to message alerts like a Pavlovian dog. Mute buttons and Voicemail are wonderful inventions – let them serve you well while working.

Take breaks. While it’s tempting to eat while working at the computer, plan to break for healthy meals/ snacks so you can enjoy your food in a relaxed fashion and allow your body to process and mind to clear.  Stretching breaks are important as well.

Know when to quit. As ambitious as you may be, there comes a time when you should stop working because you can’t remain focused or productive.

Sleep Is Non-Negotiable. For many women, this vital recharging time is the first thing to go when a project is deemed more important, but at what cost?

I once heard Arianna Huffington speak at a conference about a time when she was so exhausted that she fell over on her desk in the middle of the workday resulting in multiple stitches on her chin. This was her literal wake-up call and helped her re-evaluate and prioritize the necessity of sleep.

For me, getting 7 to 8 hours sleep is a must if I want to operate at my best. Are you getting the sleep your body needs?  Your good health and ability to work rely on sufficient shut-eye, so remember to put sleep at the top of your time-management list.