Continued from page 1
The second category would be spending time with people I care about---those people who nurture me. I protect time for
special man in my life, my sons, my extended family and my friends. There are some people whom I avoid when I am protecting my time. They are
ones who generally take more than they give. Do you have people like that in your life? If they can’t be totally eliminated, at least minimize
time you give to these people.
The third category would be simply things that bring me pleasure or joy. There are things I do that I can do alone or with others when I need relaxation. I like to read a good book, watch a good movie, horseback ride, canoe, ski, walk in
woods and something I got to do this weekend---swim. Protect your time so that you get to do
things that bring you joy.
Organizing your time has to do with having a good time management system. Don’t wait until something is due tomorrow to start on it. Have a good plan and systems in place so you are in charge of your time instead of your schedule being in charge of you. Learn more about time management systems in our Time Management teleclass.
Another aspect of organizing one’s time is maintaining laser-like focus. Did you know that
average person’s mind wanders around seven to eight times a minute? Developing good work habits that include staying focused until
job is done is critical to organization.
Prioritizing your time has to do with deciding what’s most important. I said I have three categories---goal-oriented actions, time with important people and time doing enjoyable activities. They don’t necessarily prioritize in that order.
There must be a balance. I know that when I spend too much time working, I start to feel on edge and tense. This is generally a strong indicator that I need to switch my focus to one of
other areas. A person cannot be in control of their time if all they do is goal-oriented activity. A healthy balance is necessary for good time management and a healthy lifestyle.
To learn about stress management, visit www.Coachingforexcellence.biz and schedule a time management workshop for your workplace or check our events calendar for upcoming teleclasses, chats and workshops.

Kim Olver is a licensed professional counselor and a life/relationship coach. She helps people unleash their personal power and improve the quality of their relationships with the important people in their lives. For further information about Kim visit her website at www.TheRelationshipCenter.biz or contact her at (708) 957-6047.