Two weeks into the furlough period and missing a day out of your week does more than affect your paycheck -- it affects how much time you have to do your work and play.
Since we now have 32 hours to do the work we would have done in 40, I know I have to look at the way I'm managing mine and my staff's time. Now the Department of Defense's answer is to do 20 percent less work. While I'd love to print four and a half pages with the words "Due to Furlough we will not be printing on this page" emblazoned top, bottom and center, that would do nothing to serve you, our faithful readers.
Being a musician, I tend to think of things grouped into songs and lyrics so It's Time (Imagine Dragons) for some earworms for you as I delve into Time (Hootie and the Blowfish).
Of course the furlough is a blessing and a curse and you may feel that you have Too Much Time on My Hands (Styx) with the extra day to putter around the house, wash the car or "Smoking cigarettes and watching Captain Kangaroo," Statler Brothers, Flowers on the Wall. Truth is Time is on My Side (Rolling Stones) when it comes to Wasted Days and Wasted Nights (Freddy Fender).
But isn't it Funny How Time Slips Away (Willie Nelson) when it comes to getting things done at work. We find things to do that don't move tasks forward -- chatting about the latest sports scandal or reality shows seems like a much more interesting way to spend our time.
One way to curb Wasting Time (Jack Johnson) is to limit time-wasting activities. If you need a break to chat about something away from your desk, set a time limit for those excursions -- say five to ten minutes. That way you aren't stuck in a 45-minute conversation about the color of Amanda's toenails (for example).
While we can't keep Time in a Bottle (Jim Croce), it is important to think of time as a container that can only fit a certain number of tasks. I've been to many a management class (Franklin Covey, Airmen Leadership School and in college) that gave time management tips. All of them recommend a planner of some sort, prioritizing your work, good work/life balance and planning for distractions.
However, I recently read a book that introduced a concept that I had never thought of -- evaluating the time it takes to do tasks and add them up, then plan the tasks you will do. Just as you wouldn't be able to fit 10 gallons of water into a 5 gallon jug, you can't expect to fit five hours of work into a three or four hour block of time.
The book Time Management from the Inside Out by Julie Morgenstern, is a good primer for anyone thinking It Won't Work This Time (Alison Krauss and Union Station). Another thing I learned from this book is to not separate my planner from my work time and personal time. It's ALL my time and I need to manage it so I can accomplish ALL the things I want to do. That includes music practice, martial arts, physical fitness and personal writing. Work only comprises eight hours of my day; the rest of the time is mine.
Morgenstern introduces a quick start program called WADE that I feel everyone can benefit from.
• Write it down: Record everything you have to do in one reliable location -- a planner or To Do pad
• Add it up: Break large projects down into small parts for easier calculation. Ask yourself: What do I need to do? How long will it take? And write an estimate of how long each task will take.
• Decide: Decide what you actually will do. If overloaded you can elect to provide the four D's -- Delete, Delay, Delegate, Diminish them into smaller, shorter tasks.
• Execute your plan: Put your plan into action without being hindered by procrastination or perfectionism.
Time Marches On (Tracy Lawrence) and getting ahead and reaching your goals and dreams involves planning so you can hit your milestones Time After Time (Cyndi Lauper) and never have to long For the Good Times (Ray Price).
If you want any more tips I suggest reading Morgenstern's book or searching any other number of time management books available at your local library or bookstore. There is also an amount of time management resources on the internet, but sometimes that can be a waste of Time (Pink Floyd) in and of itself.
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