Time management is the challenge of every leader. It seems that the greater one’s responsibility, then the greater the demand on one’s calendar. If you are like me, there is a direct correlation to your stress level and the intensity of your schedule. I am learning two key ingredients to taming my time and managing my stress.
First, you can tame your time by simple scheduling. Consider scheduling your day in 120 minute blocks. Typically many meetings can be conducted in 60 minutes, but if you are highly relational like me it is not uncommon for a meeting to last 90 minutes. This then allows for 30 minutes to catch up on any missed calls, reply to emails, conduct necessary office conversations, or simply refill the coffee cup. Peter Drucker was quoted as saying, “I have yet to come across a crisis which could not wait 90 minutes.”
In recent weeks I have observed the level of my own stress when I ran at a pace with meetings back to back every 60 minutes for an entire day, versus a more manageable pace of larger blocks. When I had a brief period of time in between meetings I felt more prepared and focused; and I had time to have necessary contact with co-workers.
Second, you can tame your time by scheduling time for fun. Those days or weeks that I seem to work from dark until dark are the times that I feel the most stressed and filled with anxiety. By scheduling time after work to play with the kids, exercise, or garden will meet the need to process the day and unwind. Scheduling time to not work will improve your quality of sleep and increase your efficiency at work.
With all of this being said, this is a work in progress for me. Sometimes the day comes to you and you have to make adjustments. Regardless of the pace of the day, we must rely on the Holy Spirit for strength and endurance to run the race with joy.
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