900 Greenbank Road
Suite 531,
Nepean Ontario
Canada K2J 4P6
(613) 860-1384 (Ph)
(613) 825-4895 (Fax)

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What were you doing before you got so busy?

By Wayne McKinnon

There just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day to take care of everything that needs to be done and it is very easy to let the important things slide. Learning is one of those important things  that you should never lose the eagerness for that you had when you where young, but you will need to be more selective as you take on more responsibility.

As life and career progresses we all inevitably take on additional responsibilities - Committees, associations, family, they all take time. What amazes me is how naive I once was thinking that I would not have to give up the activities I enjoy as new activities came along. The reality is that one's capacity to perform tasks or take on responsibility is finite and we need to prepare ourselves for the inevitable demands on our time.

If you are the type of person who has a hard time saying no to others requests and then later find yourself over-committed,  you need to determine ahead of time what your bottom line is. What are you willing to drop in order to make time for other activities, and what you will remain firm on regardless of the urgency of the demand. You can only do this if you remain aware of how your time is currently allocated, and what activities are necessary and which ones are discretionary. Make sure that time for improvement is on your list of what is necessary.

  • Choose a time of year to coast for a few weeks. Clean up unfinished tasks, clear your desk, don't start something new;

  • before taking on new projects or activities, decide what you have to give up. You have been busy doing something up until now haven't you? (Incidentally, raising kids is a huge project;)

  • determine what activities you view as discretionary, and those that are essential to your success in life;

  • before taking on any new project or life changing adventure, realize that you must give up something to make room for it. Don't tip the scales!

 

Wayne McKinnon. 900 Greenbank Road Suite 531, Nepean Ontario Canada K2J 4P6 phone: (613) 860-1384  Fax: (613) 825-4895
e-mail: info@ITcoach.com



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