I was coaching a client the other day via Zoom. She
told me she was exhausted, constantly racing and rushing from one task to the next and one activity to the next. She was concerned about her health because of all this rushing. She was getting sick more often, not getting ample sleep, and always feeling like there was no time to stop and breathe.
What she was describing is definitely a recipe for disaster. I've seen it time and time again...people who end up rushing tend to make mistakes, have a higher tendency to fall or get into car accidents, end up having anxiety attacks (or even heart attacks), say things they regret, accept volunteer activities they don't have time for...I could go on and on.
Good time management doesn't mean you work harder, nor does it mean you should be racing through everything you're doing.
It certainly doesn't mean racing through life. Life is short enough; it's not a finish line any of us want to reach any sooner than we have to.
1) Rethink your list. If you have so many tasks on your TO DO list that you have zero time for anything else, it's time to rethink your list. Life isn't about getting a million things done. It's about getting the important things done, which includes having time for ourselves and our
loved ones.
2) Rethink your timers. Timers are meant to motivate; not de-motivate. I often recommend the use of timers. Perhaps you set a timer for 15
minutes and see how many items you can pick up from your floor in that amount of time. Maybe you set a timer for 30 minutes to ensure you're still "on task" with your original project when that timer sounds. But it's not meant for you to rush through something and make mistakes. So, if you set a timer for 15 minutes, and it's unrealistic to get your task done well in those 15 minutes, you probably have to set the timer for 20 or 30 minutes.
3) Rethink your methods. If something you're doing is causing you to rush to get it done, or to get to it...whatever it may be, it's time to rethink your methods. For instance, are you racing to get to work in the morning?
You have to leave earlier...which means you have to get to bed earlier. Are you rushing to get work reports done? Could some of what you're doing be automated or delegated to stop this "amazing race" you're finding yourself in? If you're rushing to do something or to get somewhere, stop, think, tweak your methods, and then proceed mindfully and at a pace that is not exhausting you.
Unless you're playing a "beat the clock" game for fun or a game show, or in an actual race to the finish line, rushing is not the answer to good time management.
