Making time!
While time often seems scanty to us, would you believe that you and I have all the time there is? Would you believe, a lifetime of time! In fact, since it’s your time, you even have the choice of how to think about it – as a scarcity, or an abundance.
You absolutely cannot manage time. Visualize a metronome – you can change the speed of tick and tock, and the feeling of slow or fast, but the time is invariable. It just flows. The trick is in managing your belief of time, your perception of time, the way you act in the time you have so that you get important things done! Time won’t change, but your results will change if you manage your beliefs. That’s a promise!
Example: One of my clients, Reena, was having trouble “getting things done.” We had a quick conversation. She tried the process below, created an hour between 8 and 9am, called it Reena time. Here’s her response. “Craig – the best thing I ever did – “Reena time.” I got so much done in a couple of days that I haven’t been able to do in a long time. I wrote things down and I feel I have a plan for now.”
Take just 6 steps.
Step 1. Start from the belief that you have all the time in your life.
Step 2. You do have time to plan. Look at the things you want to accomplish (and, using Covey’s language,)” start with the end in mind.” Make a list, or spreadsheet, of those things, spelling out the result you want, and some of the ways you might accomplish it. Example 1: Get the IRS off my back. (It may start with a call to a tax expert.) Example 2: Get current on marketing practices, and find some good ones to adopt. (It may start with reading a book on marketing, or corresponding with a guru.)
Step 3. Make a list of promises to yourself before you start. Write them on a piece of paper. Now publish them. Make them public. Tell your coach, your partner, your friend, that you’re now in the business of “making time.” Tell them what you’re making time for. And ask one of them to be your accountability partner.
Step 4. “Make time.” With your list, go over your calendar, and create blocks of time for each accomplishment. You may wish to put down just one accomplishment in a block of time, or boldly go where you’ve never gone before, and put down many. If your goal is to complete your reading, you may want to set aside several one or two hour blocks. If your goal is to tidy your desk, 15 minutes a morning may be well spent. Would right now be a very good time? When you imagine this, can you feel a change beginning? Yes, you have the time! Modify and use the attached worksheet.
Step 5. Honor your starting times, and honor your ending times. If you are going to read for an hour from 10-11am, then start at 10am. Don’t answer the phone, or the kids! At the end of the hour, stop. Don’t finish the chapter. Bookmark the page and congratulate yourself. You just “made time!” Remember, you can always make more time whenever you want. Now you can praise yourself for being in control of your time. If you didn’t complete your assignment in sixty minutes, have a look at your calendar; see where you can find another 60 minutes. Do something else, then come back at the planned time, and complete.
Step 6. Report on your results to your accountability partner. If you have success or difficulty with this, you’re welcome to share it with me: call 516 944-6454 or email to craig@craigjennings.com. Please put “MAKING TIME” on the subject line.
Craig Jennings
