Skip to main content

Time Management: Know Where Time Goes - Keep A Log

Time Management: Know Where Time Goes - Keep A Log


My last post about Time Management (The Clock Is Ticking! How Good Are You At Time Management?) said that the first step in managing time is to be clear about your purpose and your direction in life. 

Now you need to find out how you actually spend your time.

The best way to do this is to start using a time log. Record each activity throughout your day with the time taken to complete it. Do this at the time, if you can.The closer to the time, the more accurate you log is going to be,  But at the very least, ensure you record each hour's activity at the end of each day.

For example

Date   Time          Activity

            07.00
            08.00
            09.00 
Etc

The period covered should be the whole of your waking day. Everything should be included if you are serious about wanting to a achieve a better balanced and more manageable life.  

Keeping a log for just a couple of days will not give you enough information for a thorough review.  

If you keep a log for a week or two, it will be much easier to spot behavioral patterns like procrastination and unassertiveness.  It will give you clues about who is consuming most of your time. You may find certain people regularly encroach on your time in a way that you wouldn't choose.

Keeping a time log can help you to see where changes can be made.  But it will increase your work load in the short-term.  Stick with it because it really will give you valuable information and help you to gain control.

If you have tips please share them here for others.  As a coach, I can help you recover your work-life balance - my email address is below. 


Wendy Mason is a Life and Career Coach.  She helps people have the confidence they need to be successful at work and to change career while maintaining a good work/life balance. You can email her at wendymason @wisewolfcoaching.com


Are You Ready To Make Those Friends You Always Wanted? You too can learn to make real and lasting friends!

 It's time to put your excuses and fears aside and just do it! 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Friday Recipe - Catalan Fish Stew - Rick Stein

Friday Recipe -  Catalan Fish Stew - Rick Stein This is an everyday Catalan fish soup that is more like a stew and has several variants. Like so many Catalan dishes, it starts with a sofregit of fried garlic and tomato. A hearty Catalan fish soup; a meal in bowl. Catalan fish stew Ingredients 6 tbsp olive oil 1 large Spanish onion, chopped 2 fennel bulbs, chopped 150g/5oz chorizo, diced 1 red chilli, finely chopped 1 tsp fennel seeds, ground 2 cloves new season garlic, crushed ½tsp sweet paprika powder 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves 1 tsp saffron strands (optional) 3 fresh bay leaves 1 tin plum tomatoes 100ml/3½ fl oz fish stock or water 150ml/5 fl oz white wine 500g/1 lb 2oz mussels, cleaned 650g/1 lb 7 oz firm white fish (bream, pollock, cod, monkfish), filleted, dredged in flour and fried in olive oil 100g/3½ oz toasted almonds, ground To serve 1 lemon, cut into wedges steamed potatoes and spring greens Preparation method

A Lakota Peyote Healing Song by Robbie Robertson

A Lakota Peyote Healing Song by Robbie Robertson YouTube is full of music that claims to be Native American from North America and usually it isn't. It may be quite beautiful music but it is not what it claims to be. And in my view it does not have the same power.  This is authentic, beautiful and powerful Singer, song writer and guitarist Robbie Robertson was born Jaime Robert Klegerman in 1943, in Toronto, Ontario. He was born to a Jewish father and a Mohawk mother and took his stepfather's last name after his mother remarried. He had his earliest exposure to music at Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation , Ontario where he spent summers with his mother's family. He is best known for his membership in The Band. Here is a translation of the words

Something Sacred To Start Your Day - Navajo Early Morning Blessing

Something Sacred To Start Your Day - Navajo Early Morning Blessing ly Morning Blessing "Hooghan" from the album Sacred Mountains by Louie Gonnie courtesy Canyon Records (www.canyonrecords.com). Graphics by Rezboyz Designz Translation "The mountains were put there - in holy way, they told us that that will be our spiritual home.  In the middle of the home will be a fire burning, there will be a door, there will be a fire poker (Sacred to Dine'),  You're thoughts will be good,  You will have plans to make,  Life will be blessed,  There the hope will stay." Singing Translation   The home is there, prayer in the home, pray in the home, in the beauty way with the scared pollen pathway, the home is there, the home is there!