Finding Time When Time is Too Short

The Time Finder with Paula Eder

The way you use your time is the way you live your life.

Finding Time When Time is Too Short – 5 Tips!

Posted on June 3, 2009, under Time Management Skills, Time Priorities.

Yesterday we discussed finding and structuring your time when you have ample expanses of it at your disposal.

Today, let’s look at the opposite situation — finding time when you are stressed, rushed, and feeling in a time crunch. How do you find time under those circumstances?

First, it’s important to take a breath and recognize the reality that you don’t have time to get everything done that you might have hoped to.

Second, prioritizing becomes key. Quickly sort your to do list (ideally this will be on paper) with “must do” items at the top and things that you can let go of at the bottom. This assures that you don’t miss something key – and don’t waste energy trying to recall it all.

Third, enlist help, if you can, for your must do items. It’s important to be calm and clear when asking for help. Being firm and friendly, not frenzied, keeps the stress level at a minimum for everyone (yourself included).

Fourth, once everything is done that can be done in the time span available, be sure to thank everyone who pitched in — and if it was just you, be sure to thank yourself and validate the effort that carried you through!

Fifth, when you have a moment to catch up with yourself, review what happened that left you in a situation with too much to do and too little time. Ask yourself some questions:
- Was procrastination involved?
- Were there unexpected changes in your day to threw a wrench in the works?
- Are there things that you can do to avoid a situation like this in the future?

Time management skills can’t address every eventuality, and there will be times when you have to squeeze too much activity into too little time. However, doing what you can to keep from putting yourself in those situations, and learning from them when they do occur, is a great gift to yourself.

How often do you find yourself rushing to fit things in? Try tracking it for a week — and then let me know what you find — I’d love to hear!

What if you could find another hour every day? You can! You are invited to sign up and download The New Finding Time Boundary Template. It’s FREE, and when you sign up you will also receive (if you don’t already) my FREE, weekly Finding Time Tips and my FREE, monthly Award-Winning Finding Time E-zine!

Let’s explore time together …

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