The Man Cave on…It’s About Time

When I’m speaking to groups about one of the topics in my books I often meet aspiring writers who have great book ideas.  When I ask if they have started the writing some say they are too busy, others explain they started and “gave up”, and still others say “but I’m not a writer.” As we chat more I see their passion for the project and I try to give them productive tips.  Often I realize their hurdle is connected to time management.

It’s all about time!

Whether it’s writing your own book or beginning another challenging endeavor, you first need to ask yourself is this really important to me?  If the answer is yes, you might want to then list other tasks which are both important and time sensitive or even urgent.  Now you have your list of vital activities or deadline oriented tasks, you can structure part of your day around these, and temporarily pub other ideas and chores aside.

It sounds easy that we should focus exclusively on this list, but because we are human other “things” (events, phone calls, TV shows, requests for your time, etc.) worm there way into your day, and before you know it the day has gone by. What you hoped to accomplish is somehow vanished into thin air.

Timely Tips

Here are tips that have worked for me in directing my time toward the most important goals:

• I schedule the task that is the least fun as the first one to tackle. I try to get that done or started at the beginning of the day when I am fresh.
• I schedule a block of time for each task. It doesn’t mean I’m going to finish it, but I’ve done something just as important: I’ve got it started.
• I reward myself with frequent breaks when I’ve devoted about 45 minutes to any endeavor.
• The words “No thank you, not today” are always on the tip of my tongue. Offers to get together with others or help someone with their task will always interrupt your own.  Don’t be afraid to say your calendar is full and maybe later you will have more free time.

For more detailed time management strategies you might want read this University of Pennsylvania article and see which one is right for you:

Tackling That Book Project

Circling back to the people I meet who gave up writing their book or even a screenplay, I have noticed one common theme.  They give up because of two primary reasons: they feel overwhelmed by the project and don’t feel they have the time to finish it or they have started but think their work is of poor quality.

To combat feeling overwhelmed by any project just focus on a phrase I often use “the power of little steps.” In my case that means I don’t think beyond the chapter I’m working on.  For those who give up because of their perceived lack of quality I often say, “Don’t even think about making it perfect or even good.  Just get it started.  Then the next day you will improve it, and before you know it you’re on a roll.”

One last tip: be sure to leave a block of time for something fun and some form of exercise.  I try not to let anything come between me and my mental and physical health.  And yes I even have a little saying on that “put your health first because without it everything else suffers including helping those you care most about.”

YOUR TURN

How do you tackle procrastination and time management?  Share your tips in the comments!

Michael Tougias is the author of No Will Set You Free: Learn to Say No and Set Boundaries.  His latest book is In Deep Water: A True Story of Sharks, Survival and Courage. (www.michaeltougias.com)