Time: A Precious Commodity

time as a commodityWhether your commitments are parenting, going to school, working one or more jobs with excessive time requirements, or other endeavors, you have to learn to make choices that protect your health and sanity. You also need to make time in your schedule for your family and your down time. Don’t compromise your quality of life because you are afraid to admit you have taken on too much.

Because time is a precious commodity, consider using these five tips for reducing your time commitments

1. Place your current time commitments in rank order. Be sure to note the number of hours these activities currently require. One strategy is to shave off hours from one or more commitments so that you build some extra time back into your schedule.

2. Speak with your boss about your current assignments. It may be that you have committed to too many projects at work. Your boss may agree to adjust your workload so that you don’t have to work so many extra hour

3. Adjust your sleep schedule. Sometimes simple adjustments like going to bed earlier so you can get up earlier the next day will give you the time slots you need to be more productive at work and home. Instead of driving yourself crazy with multi-tasking and to-do lists, analyze your peak energy levels during the day. Maximize your day by giving yourself a generous time slot for work; your time slot should be targeted to the time of day when you think and feel best.

4. Seek assistance instead of abandoning time commitments that make your entire schedule impossible. For example, if you are attending college and have family commitments, find someone in the family who can pick up the slack at home so that you have time for attending class and doing homework.

5. Give yourself a break; prepare to explain what you can reasonably continue to do for others. Once you’ve tried to explain your situation to people who depend on you, you have to make difficult decisions. You can either cut back on time commitments or eliminate them. If the people in your network care about your wellbeing they will understand that you need to reduce your workload so that you have enough time to relax, rejuvenate, and tend to your personal needs (i.e. schoolwork or spending time with family).

Reorganizing your time commitments can be tough, but time is something you cannot regain in this lifetime. Look for ways to find balance when you try to divide yourself among your many time obligations.

How To Make The Best Of The Recession

recessionIf you’ve lost your job, are having trouble paying your mortgage and are wondering how to feed your family, you’re probably not up for hearing that there’s a bright spot hidden in the heart of a recession or other economic turmoil for many people. There is a kernel of hope in the ocean of gloom that is the current economic bust. The recession, which has taken and continues to take so much from everyone, has given us one good thing. It has given us the gift of time.

For most of us, our jobs took up at least fifty hours a week, when you consider the time it took to get there and back. For some people, it was more – up to sixty precious hours that we spent away from our families, our homes and our favorite interests Maybe that’s why many people just veg out in front of the TV when they get home.

Well now, if you’re no longer employed, you have that time back, except for the time you put into job searching. Before you lose that time to mindless web surfing or old Judge Judy reruns, take a minute to think of all the things you have time to do now. There are so many possibilities and options and many of them are completely free.

No matter where you live, there is probably an adult ed program near you. Call your nearest school system and see what they have to offer for night classes. Many of them teach things you can use to hone new skills for a career change. You might even find yourself happy at the prospect of doing something you really like as opposed to what you used to do just for the money.

If nothing else, you may be able to develop a hobby or craft into something that will make money for you on a part-time basis. Learning new things is good for your brain and helps you stay sharp. That’s very important when it comes to competing for the few jobs out there. You could also check with local colleges and trade schools which sometimes have classes that you can audit or attend cheaply if you’re only taking one class rather than getting a degree.