Learning to Manage my Time

For over 50 years Jim has been trying to help me manage my time, but I was born with a "free spirit" and it's hard to harness! Poor Jim. He studied Time Management in college and spent all of his working career using these principles in his manufacturing operations. I don't know why I have always had trouble managing my time. I think maybe I was just rebelling when he tried to help me be more organized. I don't like being told what or how to do things.

I can have 20 or more projects going at one time, for years even. And this never stresses me out. I can put one away and move on to something else. An example is a family history about my Smith family that I have been revising and typing for at least 10 years. All I have to do now is proof read over 100 pages, single spaced, and prepare the index (Ughhh). It sits in a notebook under my desk and occasionally I look at it and think "Tomorrow" and put it back. I have so many files that need purging and pictures to get organized. I look at them and move on to something more interesting.

Today I viewed a video on Time Management and really understand what it is all about. I even took notes and am on the verge of making a "to do" chart. I hate To Do Lists; just ask my sister Susan. Jim likes to make To Do lists and put on the refrigerator and cross off things as he gets them done. Maybe I might try this or at least I'm thinking about it. 


I learned that you waste so much time when you don't have your files and desk organized. Guess what! I decided to tackle my desk this afternoon as the first step in managing my time.I took a picture of "before" and one "after". It's amazing how much "stuff" I had on my desk and how much I threw in the trash can when I cleaned. I only have essential things at hand now.

Step #1 has been completed, even before I made my To Do List. I will use the quadrant plan and list things to do now (most important), and important things to do later. Then I will do the unimportant things. This will take a little time to separate things to do and prioritize them.

All the time I used the excuse of being a senior citizen and forgetting where I put things when I lose something. Not anymore. I will put things in alphabetical order where I can locate them, and not leave papers scattered all over the place. I will not write phone numbers or addresses on the back of envelopes and lose them; I have a spiral notebook to take down messages, etc. No longer will I have to look through the trash can to find notes I have written down.

Enough about my plan for being more organized. I'll report on my progress later. I will leave time for creative projects, reading good books, watching movies, and doing things as the "spirit moves me". One of my favorite songs is "Don't Fence Me In".