On Time Management

Dear Readers,

I'm hating YouTube today. I've been trying to upload a haul today - tried several times, mind you! - and the damned thing just won't cooperate. It's okay, will try again tomorrow. I'm sure it's going to be fine. It always does eventually.

So instead of my haul, I'm going to deal with an issue that is really affecting me at the moment. The matter at hand, ladies and gents, is time management (or the lack of it!). At present I'm swamped in work, and I've been saying this for at least one month and not doing anything about it. I feel like I've become used to being extremely busy and going to bed with the feeling that there are still millions of things to do tomorrow. Before reaching breaking point - or the elastic limit as we used to call it in physics - I decided to take action today. Or rather, tonight.

I'm a highly organised person, maybe so much that I look intimidating to some. I compile lists and lists and lists and then maybe a list of all the lists I have. That is how I tend to survive in between all the work piling up on my desk. Maybe sharing a couple of time management tips with you today might be useful if you're verging on the 'stressed' state.

1. Make Lists - Hah, how obvious right? However I can't stress enough how important it is for me to draw lists of things I have to do, people I have to contact, things I need to buy and the like. It's extremely exhausting on the brain to remember everything, so your grey matter will be very grateful if you ease its burden by relying on lists as well. I also quite enjoy physically crossing out items from my list, so I guess that is another thing that encourages me to continue compiling my lists.

2. Prioritise - Yeah, that's another thing. You seriously have to decide what's more important to you at this moment in time. There are times where you're completely knackered and you can't carry out everything on your list except for those really imperative duties. Those should be at the very top of your priorities list. I also like to restrict my priorities. I find it's useless too many unrealistic 'top things in my to-do list'.

3. Start Now - Many of us - myself included - would easily qualify for a Masters programme in Procrastination. We would also get a very good grade. One of the most counter-productive states to be in is the one where you convince yourself that 'it's okay to start tomorrow'. No, reality check, it's not. You start today. You don't wait. You'll say the same thing tomorrow. The day later too. Probably even in a month's time.

4. A Break - I used to believe that 'all work and no play makes Jack get an A'. Well, I kind of still do. It always worked for me. But now I also value free time, literally shutting everyone and everything out of your life for a couple of hours. Go for a walk, or even better, go shopping! No really, just take a break once in a while. Do you whatever you want to do. Dance in your PJs to Mika songs. I love doing that.

5. Set Aims - They say that 'not all those who wander are lost'. Granted. However if you wandering aimlessly you're not only lost, you're also doomed. Here comes another list. Draw up a list of aims. Think of where you are now and then imagine where you want to be. Set a deadline and come up with how you're going to reach your aim. If necessary, plan a timetable.

not depressed though! lol

This is going to be a long night of list making. I'm probably going to wait for Pretty Little Liars to air at 2am and work on my lists until then. 

DON'T GIVE UP!

-B