Building Structure and Using Our Time Wisely

As we look at how we can bring happiness into our lives, one way is to create some routines or rituals and bring structure to our busy lives. Some suggestions from last night’s workshop were very helpful:

-- Mary Ellen sets a timer for 45 minutes to work on a project that she needs to complete, but doesn’t necessarily love. After the timer goes off, she starts on the next task – gardening -- which she does love.

--Ginnie sets internal deadlines and schedules a task she has to do on her calendar. In that way, she is making room for her priorities and not the world’s.

Here are few tips from my archives:

Start the day without first checking your email and calls – wait until mid-morning.
Work on your #1 priority task first thing in the morning. When I do this, I have nearly two blissful, uninterrupted hours to work my to-do list items. I make progress and feel better about my accomplishments.

Trim.
If all of the information you are receiving is not adding value to your life purpose, then cut it out. Cancel the newspaper subscription, unsubscribe to email lists, drop that negative friend, etc. You’ll be amazed at how much time you just gained.

Maximize down time.
Don’t do things at the same time everyone else does. To avoid long lines, I go to the grocery store during the weekday when everyone is at work. I rarely get caught in traffic because of the way I schedule my appointments. When I do get caught waiting, such as at a doctor’s office, I bring the book that I’m in the middle of reading or do simple yoga poses in line.

Share.
Avoid being Superperson, and let someone else help you get things done. Delegate personal as well as business tasks; time is time, no matter how you save it.

Align daily tasks with your life purpose.
Are you working on things that matter, or are you simply doing busy work? It’s easy to stay busy working on all the wrong things. For every task you do, ask yourself if it will move you toward your life goals.

The best resource I’ve seen in this area is David Allen’s book Getting Things Done. Now the challenge is finding time to read it!