We all want a better way to manage our time.  It is easy for the hours to slip by with only one task disappearing from our list.  Perhaps some time management skills are in order.

One useful tool for managing time and getting work done is time boxing.  No, there won’t be any violence here.  Think of the geometric shape of a box, instead of the ring and fighting gloves. 

For some tasks, you might spend five hours completing each one.  Did you need five hours or did you spend that time getting it perfect?  Between breaks, your mind wandering, and other distractions, you might only have worked half that amount of time on the project. 

Time boxing is a concept mostly used by software developers, but it can be adapted for other projects in the workplace and in personal use at home.  It involves assigning necessary tasks a certain measure of time in your day.  Within those time constraints you accomplish what you can and then move on to something else.

For the office, time boxing helps you whittle away at a task list that might be long.  Usually a long list brings on the pangs of procrastination.  Since the task is so large, anxiety sets in that can keep you from wanting to do any work at all.  Time boxing takes care of anxiety that leads to procrastination and perfectionism.

Here’s what you do.  Decide what needs to get done.  It could be on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis depending on deadlines for your projects.  For daily tasks, you can set aside time for each task throughout the day.  The time period allotted may be enough to complete the job or it may not.  If it is not, allocate more time later on.

On a weekly basis, projects with priority can have a longer stretch of time.  Work on a large project for a couple of hours a day.  Keep using allocated time each day until it is finished. 
Time boxing works for open-ended projects that have a deadline, but no other milestones in between.  Tackle a large project in small chunks so that everything is ready for delivery by the due date. 

Time boxing allows you to focus on the task at hand.  For 30 minutes or an hour, you are working as hard as you can to get the work done.  After that, the project sits until its turn comes around again.

Utilizing time boxing increases productivity.  Instead of going from task to task aimlessly, you have a purpose throughout your day and adequate time to make a dent in your work.  At home, doing chores can actually take less time with this technique.

Are you interested in time boxing?  Give it a try when managing your home life, as well as for workplace projects.

Tweet This Post

Once the holidays come around it seems schedules and staying on task fly right outside the window. Not only do you have your regular business tasks which may increase due to the holiday season, but family is often off work and out of school. And then of course there are the holiday festivities, which means preparation time. Is balance possible, or do you just throw up your arms and give into chaos? Don’t give up! Here’s how to balance your work schedule during the holidays.

Set realistic goals

No matter how you might like it to be otherwise, there are only 24 hours in a day, and it may seem like there are actually much less. While a standard week’s goals might be to implement a marketing strategy, hire a contractor, and bill 20 hours of work, during the holidays you’re going to want to cut back and focus on the essential tasks, the tasks that make money. And your goals may need to be reduced. If you normally bill 20 hours of coaching, for example, then you may need to cut back during the holidays and bill only 10 or 15.

Alter your schedule

With family in town, or if you’re traveling out of town and have holiday outings to tend to, it’s likely that your schedule is going to have to change. If for example, you normally work from 9-1 during the day, then you may want to shift your hours to when family members are asleep or are less active.

Automate and seek outside help

While the holidays isn’t a great time to try a new contractor, it is a great time to hand off some work to someone you’re familiar with. Hiring a new employee during the holidays only makes it harder on you and they may not be as available as you’d like. And remember how wonderful technology is.

You can schedule your blog posts and email marketing in advance. And you can use a voicemail and an email autoresponder to let customers and prospects know you’ll get back to them. This means you won’t miss potential business and you can enjoy family time without having to be chained to the phone.

Balancing your work schedule during the holidays can be difficult. However, it is possible with a little planning and dedication. You’ll want to cut back, focus on specific and attainable goals, goals that are directly related to your bottom line. You may also need to adjust your schedule and of course take advantage of technology and your contractors – they’re there to help! Lighten your load as much as possible and enjoy the holiday season. You deserve it!

Tweet This Post