I wrote on today’s to do list, write an article on time management and here I am at the end of the day, with this task at hand.
My next task is to get to the next task of planning a few changes that need to take place in my current novel. Go to the shop, test my son on his work for his exam tomorrow, bath my daughter, make a snack, do some daily exercise before hubby to be comes home, then chat and watch TV and then I will throw myself into a deep sleep. The question is will I get it all done…definitely not in that order.
I am a mother of two who manages an online business from my lounge, I am also the family chef and housekeeper, I drive 60 km round trip per day to collect my nine year old from school and watch his sport in the afternoons or use this time to get the shopping or have coffee with a friend.
I am constantly complaining that I do not have enough time in the day because in actual fact I have exactly four and a half hours and in these I have my two year old daughter with me,and she is as determined as her Mother can be! So how do I use my time?
From 6 – 6h30 I Iron , from 06h30 – 7 we eat breakfast together, at 7 hubby to be and son leave for work and school, from 7 – 8 I clean the house, from 8 – 8h45 my daughter and I bath and dress, at 9h00 I am at my notebook come hell or high water.
Then I look at my goals for the day, I download my email and there I become absorbed for quite a time, then the phone rings normally. I then make green tea for me and rooibos tea for my daughter this is called procrastination but it is an essential part of the day.
I had my coffee at 07h00 and this was incredibly important.
Then I prioritise between the upgrades I need to do on my websites, the weddings I need to coordinate and the writing I need to complete and any bookings, personal things and other bits of information to which I need to attend. At 13h30 I drive 30 km to pick up my son and some days we are busy with sport until until 18h00.
1. Value yourself
2. Value your time
3. Deal with interruptions as if they are essential, sometimes they are important.
4. Procrastinate wisely.
5. Set goals….I cannot live without my ‘To do list’!
6. Prioritise
7. Never leave anything unfinished.
If I can, you can…
My favourite saying ‘A reason, A season, A lifetime’. I know where I am now is probably for a season, the things I work on daily are there for a reason but the people I live with, laugh with, and love they are there for a lifetime and that makes it all worthwhile!
Justine Engelbrecht © copyright 2008