Time Management is a Process

Currently:

• I am a mother of a busy high school teenager
• I  play video games, Play-doh, and hide and seek with my grandchild every weekend
• I am in a musical that will run for about 19 performances with possible media appointments for the month of December
• I began rehearsal for another theater production last week that is set for January through February
• I assist people with real estate matters
• I am working on two new books
• I am booking engagements and holding seminars based on my latest book

There is more to the list, but this is enough to get the gist. Let somebody tell it, they would say, "That is too much to be doing."  Let another ask, "How is that possible?"

Through the years, I have attended a plethora of time management seminars either while in Corporate America or of the self-help variety. 

I incorporated the tools from all of that training from the Gantt chart, to an iPAQ (a PDA before the smart phone and iPad and in all honesty has some functions that the smart phone and other equipment STILL lack - hint), a Daytimer or Franklin-Covey planner or system, High Performance Academy a spreadsheet, Microsoft Outlook, iCal, or just a good ol' plain notepad and a pen - all to something that would best work for me.

Of all the things out there, it may be difficult to find just one tool or system to keep a busy person on track - thus, time management absolutely requires personal customization. 

I created a thorough comprehensive Things-To-Do List to make sure that I complete at least 85% to 95% of what needs to be done to:

1. minimize procrastination, 
2. avoid distraction, and 
3. avoid getting behind on any deadlines.

I found it easier for my Things-To-Do List to be broken down in the following steps:

• Priority List - The Main Things I Must Complete Today, No Matter What
• Call List - Organizations and People I Must Reach Out to Today
• Pending List - Things Pending or People I'm Waiting on Before Next Steps
• Money Matters - Daily Checklist of Things To Do To Take Care of The Benjamins (money)
• Project List - A list of projects accompanied with a list of the five big things that need to be done to move a particular project forward

All of these things are placed in a folder that I keep with me from the office to my desk at home to sitting in a waiting room.

This information is revisited nightly as preparation for the next day.

I created a form package that seamlessly assists me in staying on track throughout the day from step to step that may help you in managing your busy day.

Visit www.ladyintelligence.com to submit your request.

Have a great productive day.

tnd