a)  over commit yourself to take actions in an underestimated

time frame and with an unrealistic ‘to do list’.

b)  say ‘yes’ to everyone and everything, not wanting to let

people down.

c)  do not take time out for yourself, feelings of guilt if you do have

5 minutes to spare.

Time Management versus Self-Management

One of the challenges I often hear from clients is ‘how do I fit it all in?’ When you manage what is most important to you, based on your values first, this will always give you space and energy to achieve the other most important things. It never ceases to amaze me how the three main areas we let go of when the ‘busy cycle’ appears, are normally exercise, quality time with loved ones and our own self-care.

Imagine if you looked after all these first as a priority. Think how great you would feel with more energy and focus to take care of new habits you would like to create. I notice that whenever the higher percentage of my focus is on my business projects, my exercise routine gets pushed to one side. As soon as I become conscious about this and start to pick up the exercise routine, my business projects become more creative, with a natural flow about them.

3 Steps to Self-Management: Breaking it down

1. Career/Business
2. Foundation/Nurturing
3. Time Out for Self

Planning your time is often a combination of tasks scheduled in your diary and a to-do list for you to get around to when you have spare time. The more you can schedule the most important things, as well as your daily tasks, into your diary with a time and date set against each one, the more likely it is that you’ll achieve them.

A big tip is to leave plenty of white space scheduled in your diary, to manage the unexpected, or things you may have forgotten about in your day. This is normally a challenge for most of my clients, as they are trying to fit so much into their day and invariably wonder how they can ever leave ‘white space’ in between scheduling. My challenge to you is to ‘give it a go’ for at least 30 days and notice what happens. Do the important things first and be responsible about your choices to stop wasting time.

Every Friday afternoon I sit down with my weekly schedule list and place every activity into my diary against an allocated time. This also includes the action steps for my committed goals. Create your own self-management plan by filling out the weekly schedule below, using the 3 breakdown steps.

Career/Business covers all roles/responsibilities required to be completed on a weekly and monthly basis, e.g. weekly meetings, accounts, client contact calls etc.

Foundation/Nurturing covers all areas that are important to you for developing a healthy and happy foundation, e.g. quality time in relationships, exercise, shopping, family time etc.

Time Out for Self covers what is important to you based on personal development and time-out for yourself to recharge your batteries, e.g. reading business and personal development books, meditating, journal writing etc.