Time Management Over Easy

Time management is really about self-management. Whoa! That’s deep – and scary – but true.

So if you want to feel masterful and accomplished, or at least like you aren’t going to come unhinged at any moment, try this technique to help you manage your time instead of letting it manage you.

The Time Audit

A few months ago Vmeals was working with a company that was doing a pretty exhaustive analysis of our technology. In order to make recommendations regarding some development and new features we were considering, they wanted to understand how exactly we worked and engaged with the various systems and processes involved in our business. One of the methods they used was journaling.

Journaling meant that someone from their team sent each of us an email at random times throughout the day. When we received this email, we were to make a quick note of exactly what we were doing at that moment, what was going on around us, what we were thinking and whether this activity was routine or unusual.

This exercise challenged, not only our willingness to tell the truth, but our ideas about how we spent our time. There’s an old maxim in business: What gets measured matters. You’ll understand this concept if you’ve ever overdrawn your checking account or tried to lose a few pounds. Once you start tracking, you start to see where the money is going or where the calories are adding up.

So, just for fun, try this exercise as a time audit. Set a timer for random intervals, say 40 minutes. There are a number of online timers, but I like to use one called e.ggtimer.com. (You could also go old school and get an actual egg timer.)When the timer goes off, take a moment to note what you are doing. I like to do this in a spiral notebook I keep on my desk, but again, whatever note-taking method you prefer is A-OK. Do this throughout the day. It should go without saying that this will only be useful if you are really honest. Then look back over your notes. How many times did you write down Facebook?

Seriously, what you find may be very interesting. Keep in mind that this is just a form of feedback for yourself. The point is not to reveal what a slacker you are, but rather to see what you’ve got to work with. Maybe you have more time than you think. Or maybe you can make better choices about your time once you see clearly that your activity throughout the day isn’t always contributing to the goals you have set for yourself.

I’d love to hear what your time audit reveals. What were you a little embarrassed to record? Let us know in the comments section below.

I’ve got more time-taming tips coming so be sure not to miss any. Subscribe by clicking on the “posts” button right under Feed Me!