Happy 2010 – Start the New Year off with a Time Audit

Happy 2010 – Start the New Year off with a Time Audit

Posted on 06. Jan, 2010 by Writer in On Living

Nothing like 180 unread items in my google reader, 92 unopened emails, 3 unpacked backpacks, and at least 2-weeks of unopened mail to make you feel like a total slacker.  Happy 2010.

So I ask all of you – how do you balance all of this?  Some of you have full-time jobs and also write prolifically, keep up with all that twittering, have babies, train for marathons and also appear to live seemingly interesting lives.  I need a serious time management overhaul.  I can’t seem to find time to trim my toenails and “get a haircut” has been on my list of things to do since at least last June.

I am starting 2010 off with a Time Audit to try and figure out where the hell all my time goes and I guess go from there.  Basically you keep track of what you are doing in 15 or 30-minute increments and then identify what tasks you spend the most time on and identify the time wasters.  I am very much looking forward to this task because I have seriously know idea what my time wasters are – I don’t have a TV, I’m not social media obsessed, and I don’t feel like I really waste too much time.  I know I am totally guilty of multi-tasking too much, which can make you super inefficient.  I guess we will see – I just need to figure out where all that time goes and find more time to get working on my life list.

I want to start small in 2010 – please just get a freaking haircut – your ends are disgusting.

Photo courtesy of Rei at Wikipedia

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4 Responses to “Happy 2010 – Start the New Year off with a Time Audit”

  1. Anda

    06. Jan, 2010

    I started the new year with over 1000 unread items in my google reader, and got a great sense of satisfaction when I hit “mark all unread.” If it’s really important, I figure it will appear again somewhere else.

    I usually create a to-do list on Sunday’s for the week – and it usually includes things like cut toenails (a 5-10 minute task that takes me forever to get around to). I try to get as many things done as possible early in the week. I also try to get two “mission critical” tasks and two small tasks done each day. It helps that I don’t have a TV, and that I get up early.

  2. Candice

    07. Jan, 2010

    My secret? I average four hours of sleep a night and I’m fortunate enough to have a job that lets me check blogs every now and then when I need a break from tech stuff. Agh. Still stressed out.

  3. Writer

    08. Jan, 2010

    4 hours sheesh – I think what I am finding out is that I sleep too much….

  4. Nancy

    09. Jan, 2010

    I hear ya, Amiee. After five weeks of minimal internet, I know I’m behind. After pouring over to-dos, my upcoming schedule for the year, and lots of writing exercises to figure out my intentions I think I finally have tackled my overwhelm. At least the mental part. Now I just need the physical part. (Butt in chair, piano bench…) My goal for the next few months will be to establish daily, very specific goals and try to be very clear about why I’m doing said activity and what intention I have for that 15 minutes, hour, etc. I’m also going to try eliminating more unnecessary things to make way for more focused work time and peaceful free time.

    I’ll let you know how it goes. :)

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