by Julie Chen Allen
It should be no surprise that I obsess about time. I spend a lot of time I don’t have in order to figure out how to get more of it. And now that it’s February, a month where I not only lose the 31st, but also the 30th and, this year, even the 29th day, you can guess what I'll be obsessing about. Hint: it's not who's gonna be my Valentine. Yes, much to my dismay, Leap Year only comes once every 4 years, keeping that extra 24 hours torturously afar. As my 5 year old would put it, that is just soooooo unfair!
Fortunately, while I was wasting time sifting through the closet, I stumbled upon a really useful article from a May 2007 edition of Oprah Magazine that offered hints on how to get more time into your day. I hope it will help you, too.
My favorite suggestions from that article include the following:
1. HANDLE THINGS ONCE. When it comes to e-mail, voicemail, or paperwork, take instant action. Read, answer, delete, file – so you don’t have to come back to it, The accumulated time saved can add up to 10 hours a month, according to Jana Kemp, a Boise, Idaho, “time architect” and the author of No! How One Simple Word Can Transform Your Life.
2. MAKE GOOD USE OF WAITING TIME. Don’t go to the doctor without taking something to do, like work papers to do or stamped note cards to catch up on correspondence, suggests Laura Stack, author of Find More Time. Other ideas include bringing a book or magazine to the bank or paying bills while on hold with the credit card company.
3. WRITE IT DOWN. According to Los Angeles lifestyle coach Ruth Klein, constantly cycling through a to-do list in your mind hinders productivity and creativity. Carry a pad or BlackBerry and jot down what’s got to get done, clearing your mind so you can come up with work solutions and work ideas more quickly.
4. MONITOR TIME-SAPPING ADDICTIONS. The Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2005, calculated that the average U.S. citizen watched 2.6 hours of television a day. Cutting TV time by five hours per week adds up to 11 extra days a year! This also applies to Internet surfing and other electronic addictions.
5. BE DECISIVE AND MOVE ON. Every minute spent waffling can slow down your ability to take action. Rather than spend 6 hours researching the best round-trip airfare deal – only to save $25 in the end – give yourself 45 minutes to comparison shop and then make a decision.
I am glad not to be the only one dwelling on time – or lack thereof.
Bet if working moms had anything to do with it, Leap Year Day would be scheduled every year. Who needs an accurate calendar? Just give us more time!
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