Dealing with Time Famine
Despite my best efforts to better manage my time. I still feel short of it. Everyone that I work with or talk to feels the same way.
Wasn’t technology supposed to make things easier? Didn’t we all have the future planned for leisurely pursuits while technology did all the heavy lifting?
Heck no! In fact, the more that I think about technology, the more I think about it’s ability to consume my time.
As long as I’m working for a living - it seems that the case. What’s worse, is that I work in the technology field, which seems to amplify the problem.
And don’t even get me started on the subject of wasting time with stuff like Facebook!!!
Maybe it’s just that the fall is a busy time of the year, but it seems that the only way to get more time in the day lately, is to sleep less. That’s what super athlete and one of my fitness heroes Dean “ultramarathon man” Karnazes does.  This dude is a machine - and he’s got a totally great life story, if you’re into that kind of thing.
Karno has done away with lots of sleep to achieve his goals - I’m not sure that I’m ready to do that yet, because sleep REALLY helps me to feel better, reduce depression and more focused during the day.
Anyway, the thing that really burns my wagon lately is that time seems to be going faster and faster. Is it Friday again? Is it fall again? Where did the summer go? Am I being as productive as I can be?
Do you feel the same way?
I now realize that time is the most valuable, non-renewable resource that you and I have. Period.
For most of us, (especially if you use email) the problem is email overload and information excess.  I look at most of the people that I work with, from CEO’s to sales reps - the situation is the same.
This problem is bigger now, than it ever has been. So I did some analysis of my time use and realized (not surprisingly - duh!) that 80% of my output comes from 20% of my activities and time.
I have also STOPPED being a slave to my inbox. What I’ve done is NOT start my day checking email. Instead, I work on my highest priority tasks FIRST thing until about 10am, THEN I open up the monster, until about 11~ish.
I’ll do the same again a few times in the afternoon.
When I don’t do this, I find that dealing with email first thing, puts me into a state of having to deal with manufactured emergencies and my very important to-do list becomes an afterthought.
On those days, By 5pm, I feel useless and wonder why nothing important got done.
Not anymore.
The next thing that I am going to look into is outsourcing as much of the non-productive activities to virtual assistants in other parts of the world.
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About the Author: I value good design, growth, effectiveness, simplicity, profitability, lots of sleep, tons of laughter and above all, freedom. If it makes money - it's a business. If it doesn't make money - it's a hobby. Period.
Colleen O'Shaughnessy | Sep 27, 2008 | Reply
Tyranny of the urgent! That’s how we live most of the time, which isn’t efficient or emotionally comfortable.
For instance, I now have over 800 e-mails in my inbox and it grows exponentially by the day. I can’t keep up! Plus, with OCD tendencies, I feel like I need to read all of them. Instead, I should learn to let go of everything that does not directly lead to meeting key goals in my day/life.
Sleep deprivation is very unhealthy. We need 8-9 hours of sleep per night in order to function at maximum intellectual and physical levels. Besides, sleep deprivation is cumulative and sleep can’t be regained by “sleeping in” on weekends. (Medical background here.)
In seminars on the subject, I have learned that prioritizing is the most productive way to manage time. I’m just not very good at it yet! “FOCUS! STAY ON TASK!” (So hard to do!)
Technology has amplified the problem instead of solving it. However, I can’t imagine not having computers and access to the Internet. It is a valuable resource that must be managed very well.
As to time going by quickly, think of it in terms of a percentage of your overall lifespan. To a 3-year-old, a single week is a huge percentage of their lifetime. However, to a middle-aged person, a week is a small fraction of their lifetime and it speeds by quickly.
If you discover the answer to better time management, I really need to hear it!
Again, a great, thought-provoking blog!