How Valuable is Your Time?

Some strategies to getting it all done,
especially during the holidays.
We've all heard the phrase “time is money,” and for the busy professional, “time,” really is a commodity throughout the year. During the holidays, the value placed on “time” skyrockets. Do you ever find yourself saying: “I could be so much more productive, if only I had a few more hours in the day?” Well, we only get 24, and at least 7 of those (if you're taking care of yourself) is spent on sleep, so if my math is right that takes us down to 17. Now subtract at least 3 for eating and other essential tasks and we’re down to 14. Do you have a family? Most of us do and we want to be able to (listen carefully to the next word I use) invest some of our time with them. You see, I once attended a lecture by Stephen Covey, who talked about not just “spending” time with the family, but really “investing” time with them.

 So, getting back to my original thought, we have 14 hours left in our day. Since at least 9 goes to the work environment, including travel time, we are now down to 5. We have maybe 5 hours to invest in ourselves and our families and other significant events happening during the holidays. Why all the math? Because as a busy professional, I know that many times the 9 average hours allotted to the job can stretch to 10, 11, or even 12. When that happens, I know I'm taking time away from one of the other categories.

Sometimes it can get downright frustrating! We want to get it all done by the end of our day so we can sleep peacefully without having to worry about what did not get finished. We want to feel like we had a successful, productive workday. Now, factor in the holidays and the additional obligations this time of year places on our schedules and calendars and the time crunch seems worse. As a matter of fact, in 1967 a study by Holmes & Rahe, listed the holidays as one of the life changing events that bring about extreme stress in our daily lives. So what's the answer? I suggest finding a good time management strategy that works for you and truly stick to it no matter what pressures the holidays bring. After all, we can't get more hours in the day. With some careful planning, however, we might be able to get all or most of our tasks completed and still have valuable time left over to invest with our friends and families.

The above being said, here are some tips:
The key to time management is organization, don't waste time looking for items. Have a place for everything and put it back in that place when you're done. If you're constantly fumbling for items at your desk -- looking for a pencil, running out of staples -- make yourself a little inventory and keep it stocked. Place the most important items within reach. Don't forget that picture of the family or a pet as just gazing at their picture when having a bad day can lift the spirits and make us all the more productive.

Plan on delays, if you anticipate meeting delays or traffic jams, take other items to work on, such as reading a journal article or balancing the checkbook.

During the holidays, place a roll of wrapping paper, a pair of scissors and a roll of scotch tape in the trunk of your car for the unexpected or last minute invitation to a work party requiring a gift exchange.

Start thinking about next year, take an afternoon trip to your nearest Hallmark Card store, and purchase all the greeting cards you will need for the entire year. Stock up on cards for birthdays, anniversaries, “thinking of you,” and “congratulations.” Place them in a monthly file and at the beginning of each month, send out your cards. This is also a great activity to reduce stress, sometimes I laugh so hard at some of the Hallmark sayings.

Prepare for the day. Plan what you will wear, inspect hosiery and stockings for holes, make sure the shoes match, know where the car keys are, set the coffee pot on timer, and look at the daily planner just before going to bed so you are reminded of that 8:30 A.M. meeting.

Do Christmas shopping throughout the year! Hit the big sales to buy your gifts. Use post-it-notes to label for whom you purchased what for and store these gifts all year in a special “gift cabinet,” or closet. This gift cabinet comes in handy for those unexpected birthday party invitations too!

Throw away or file items on your desk that you have not looked at for 3 months.

Use e-mail to answer phone messages, it may eliminate the “phone-tag” game.

Prioritize what is important to get done “now” then work down the list. If the most important thing gets done, then you have had a successfully productive day at work. Now go home and enjoy yourself.

Lastly, relax. It's not as easy as you think. But to be able to face your next day, you need to be in tip-top shape, at least emotionally. Give yourself a break and do something fun. Resolve to wake up in a good mood, and remember, “don't sweat the small stuff."