Time Management Challenge

I read a really great article this week about distractions in the workplace and how it affects our productivity.  It stated that it takes people (on average) twenty minutes to get re-focused on the task they were working on during the time of getting interrupted.    That is a long time -- and a waste of time!  Wow.  

I have a position at work that demands my attention from multiple directions at any given time - and that is not counting the interruptions I get on a daily basis!   That being said, it is quite a challenge to "manage my time".  There are days I feel like I am on top of it all with "the ship" running on pace with only minor course adjustments.  Then there are other days in which I feel completely out of control and overwhelmed.  I am always looking to tweak my time management - but how does one account for unplanned interruptions?  

I've decided that for the next week I am going to try out a couple of new "time management" strategies to see if it helps me manage my day/week better.   It will be hard to stick to, but I have to try it.    I will report back on my blog next Friday to let you know the outcome of my little test/challenge.

Here are the following things I am going to do for the coming work week:

1. I am going to only check (and reply to) my email and voice-mail at 2 given times each day.  (8:30-9:30am and then again from 1:30-2:30pm.)
2. When I have a scheduled meeting/conference call, I will go to a conference room or empty office so I am not at my desk (where I could get interrupted) - and I can focus fully on what the conf. call is about.
3. I am going to actually take a lunch break each day for at least 30 minutes - OUTSIDE of the office.
4. I am going to walk each day for the other 30min. of my lunch break. 

So there you have it.  The challenge begins starting Monday!  Let me know if you plan on joining me on my little time management pilot program!  It would be great to hear what other strategies are being tested next week in addition to mine.

See you all next week for the results!

~Joyce

QBQ ~ Peeling the onion, Time Management and a Fearless Heart

This week I was so frustrated with some of my work - with some people and also myself - all for different reasons.  I got so frustrated after a certain conference call this week that I just had to get it out and talk to someone.  This particular day (of the conf.call), I was able to find an open office of an exec (whom I call Yoda) and plopped myself in a chair and started spitting out frustrations.   After about 10 minutes of talking back and forth he finally asked me "Why are you so frustrated? Better yet, what really is making you frustrated?"

Those two questions made me stop and think for a bit.  It helped snap me out of the downward spiral of whining/complaining. It reminded me of what Michael is always bringing up in conversations we have.  "What is the QBQ (question behind the question)?  Peel the onion." he always says to me.  He received this from reading a book by John G. Miller a while ago.  QBQ focuses on the personal accountability part of our daily lives.

What was making me feel really frustrated?  Was frustration even the right word to use?  I had to look up the definition.

Yup.  That was the right word, alright - at least for some things like the particular conference call I mentioned and also other people.  As for the frustration with myself - well, that I do have the ability to make some changes - so I decided that I need some time to re-calibrate.  I need to renew my mind and what is truly important in my life and make sure that I am putting the important things first as best as possible.   Something that helps me "re-calibrate" is sitting outside in nature and just taking time to think.  As I sat outside this week, I look around and when I saw rocks and pebbles around my feet, it reminded me of Covey's principle of time management told through the rocks/pebbles/sand visual.  (Big rocks first, then little rocks, then sand -- any other way and it all gets messed up.)

Another way I renew is with music - of course.  Sometimes I write songs, sometimes I listen to songs.  Music is therapy.  I think that's why I also like the book of Psalms so much - many of those songs are life re-calibration / renewal thoughts.  

This morning I was listening to one of my favorite group artists - Point of Grace - while getting ready for work.  While listening to their 24 album, a couple of songs came on that really "spoke" to me (and the week that I had).  [Fearless Heart and Blue Skies]   I have to remember that when I am frustrated with things that I cannot change, I can trust in God because he is over it all.  

I'll leave you with this rock and serenity prayer to think about when you're having a day of frustration:

until next blog post,

~Joyce