Not a day goes by that I don’t answer a question about time management. How do I get it all done? Because my clients, gym members and colleagues see “the details.” 3 kids. Home and schools and office spread across two states. 1 husband / best friend / lover. School projects. Sports schedules. And a thriving business.
Please NOTE: REGARDLESS of your family structure, you have an equally hectic life. You don’t have to be a mom of small kids to be this busy. We’re ALL too busy. So, how do we get it done?
One thing I’ve always kept in mind is the fact that Oprah, Trump and ME all have the same 24 hours per day. How we CHOOSE to spend them, very different. Still, the SAME 24 hours. With regards to time, we can’t steal, borrow or make any more of it. That’s what makes it precious… and that’s what makes it CRITICAL to our success.
So, my southern style $ucce$$ tip: Sometimes you just have to do wake up early, stay up late, and do the work.
Not long ago, I was approached by a woman who was overwhelmed, behind, and feeling frazzled and frantic. She wanted to know if I ever got behind and what I did about it.
Um… yeah. I do.
Is there a magical time management tip that I use to pull myself out of overwhelm and get myself caught up? I wish. No, unfortunately, the “magic” comes down to my good old fashioned southern upbringing that taught me to get up with the sun. (And many times before.)
You see, ’round my house growing up, I never saw a typical “work day.” So, I never expected one. My Mom was always up early…to get a jump on the day. My Dad worked 12 hour shifts at his “regular” job and would many times work an EIGHTEEN hour day when you included his “side jobs.” And then, there was the stuff that needed to be done around the house. So, this is what I learned:
You wake up early and work until the work is done. THIS, I learned, was the recipe for a good night’s sleep.
So, today… my work (THANK GOD!) does not involve physical labor or “feeding up” or any of that stuff. =) But I still get behind, overwhelmed, frazzled. Here’s the key. I find this kind of crazy stressful existence unacceptable. And so my solution is what I call the “college all nighter.” I stock up on some caffeine, push through and do the work.
Is it the healthiest solution? Probably not. But, for me, it’s preferable to carrying the burden of overwhelm and falling behind.
So, what’s YOUR solution / strategy when you get behind?
**Special note: Search this blog for tons of other very practical, no fluff strategies on TIME management. These DO help me to not FALL behind. But, as entrepreneurs, we STILL have those days… or weeks…. when our vision is bigger than our calendar. This post is specifically for THOSE times… not as a general rule of thumb.**
