Time management, Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde?
It seems like I cannot go a day without seeing at least one article chronicling the new time management strategies guaranteed to make you more productive. Although I am a highly productive person, the thought of mastering a new time management secret always entices me to open the article. I have learned a lot about time management, productivity secrets, and the best time to work.
The secret to better time management is understanding what works for you. As much as I hate to admit it, there is no one-size-fits-all, no secret sauce, no way of magically learning how to manage our most finite resource better. Trust me, I have read almost every article, and my main takeaway is simply to learn your habits, understand what your best work environment is, and make this work for you.
Let’s dive a little bit deeper into these thoughts. Understanding our current habits and why we have these habits could be one of the biggest game-changers. As a professional adult who struggles with ADHD, everything I own has a specific place where it lives, and to ensure I do not forget anything vital, such as deodorant, I have very specific morning and evening habits. I know that if I eat sugar before lunch, or a certain amount of protein, my ability to focus will be gone. Anything with red food dye, no matter the time of day, is a buzz killer as well. While I do not like the early mornings, I do appreciate a slower pace to my days. Nothing sets me up for success quite like a good, hard stationary bike ride while I enjoy 30-minutes of a show, time for prayers, devotionals, and meditation, and time to review my to-do list for the day and update as needed. This routine takes me about an hour and a half but ensures that no matter what I face during the day, my brain will be focused and ready to handle it. Routines like this have kept me sane, ensured success, and made the mornings peaceful and filled with laughter.
Knowing what your best work environment looks like is paramount. Do you need sunlight or artificial light? Do you need to be in an office by yourself, or do you prefer an open work environment? Do you do better with long, interrupted periods of work or short bursts? What kind of work do you prefer? What is your ideal motivator? Knowing the answers to these questions and using them to create the ideal work environment will ensure a higher level of productivity than any time management secret you will read. My secret, long periods of uninterrupted work time, with a prioritized to-do list, a tall bottle of water, and a chair I can fidget in. With this combination, I can accomplish anything.
The question becomes how to make this knowledge work for you, how to harness your optimum work periods. The answer is not the same for any two people, what works for me, does not work for others. Many don’t take the time to truly understand their needs, rather, they mimic what they see other successful people do. Yet, it is always important to remember that who we view as successful, may not actually be successful people. Images can be deceptive, I have known more than a few people who look like they have their act together, the perfect outfit, the hair, the entire picture, but are completely incapable of completing one task. I find those of us who look like a hot mess, are running late, and have a paper or two hanging out of our well-worn planners are often more productive.
No matter how you choose to manage your time, make your habits work for you. Master the routines you need to ensure your success. The true secret of time management is making your time work for you, creating an environment designed to ensure your success. The answer lies within you and you alone.
Sincerely-
Sara
