Time Management Doesn't Exist

There's no such thing as time management. No matter what you do, you still have 24 hours each day, just like everybody else. Forget claims of "squeezing one more hour" into your day. The more you focus on manipulating the clock, the more frustrated you'll become. Here's what you do have: SELF management. You have control over the choices you make within that 24 hours.

We often blame "time" for "getting away from us," when the truth is, we got away from ourselves. Use the time you do have to clarify your values, then support them with behavior. The more streamlined you become in what's important to you, the less distracted you'll become when it comes to fitting it in.

What if you organized your day based on energy management? In other words, you scheduled things that take energy, but also activities that give you energy. That decision alone can lead to improved self management!

If you want to attain this level of clarity in your life and aren't sure how to get there, personal coaching can help. Investing in your personal growth - now that's a good use of time!

Take Back Your Lunch

How did you spend your last lunch hour? Were you hovered over your desk, scarfing food down in ten minutes? Maybe you skipped it altogether. Any chance, you took a break from work, ate something nutritious and took a short walk? According to author Tony Schwartz, the last option is unlikely. He says we skip lunch to be more productive, but the result is just the opposite.

I've been a fan of Schwartz's work since he wrote The Power of Full Engagement. Now he has a new book called The Way We're Working Isn't Working in which he continues his agenda of teaching readers how our minds and bodies really operate. In short, working harder does not equal better work.

His research supports other current findings about how to optimize brain power (check out Brain Rules by John Medina). Both authors note that our bodies have a natural cycle that makes us tired between 1-3 PM each day. That is so true for me! The remedy? Take a cat nap -and yes - there are companies that actually supply and promote sleeping pods so employees can recharge. Since I'm self-employed, I can take a nap whenever I want, and most days I grab some shut-eye sometime during this window. I don't feel lazy or guilty at all. To me, it's crazy that we have access to amazing details about how our brain functions, and then we ignore all the findings with old habits.

Schwartz tried to start a movement this summer to get people to take back their lunch hour. It was a clever way to promote his book, but it's also a good idea. Be brave! Take a stand. Or, a nap.