If you want to lose weight, you keep a food diary. If you want to get out of debt, you record your spending. Likewise, if you want to use your time better, you should keep a time log.
But how do you do that?
That’s a question I’ve been asked a lot lately. Here are some instructions:
> Print up your own 168 Hours Time Management Spreadsheet (Start whenever you want; it doesn’t have to be Monday morning. Now is a good time. Or I write down the times of my day that are SET… Work hours or weekly appointments.
> Write down what you are doing, in as much detail as you want. “Work” and “wrote up op-ed pitch for USA Today” are both fine, but one gives you more info to work with later.
> Think of yourself as an attorney billing your time to different projects. Keep the spreadsheet with you. If you forget to record what you’re doing for a while, just approximate the time later.
> Keep going for 168 hours. You might want to try a second week too, as recording your time is a habit, and building habits takes time.
> Write down what you are doing, in as much detail as you want. “Work” and “wrote up op-ed pitch for USA Today” are both fine, but one gives you more info to work with later.
> Think of yourself as an attorney billing your time to different projects. Keep the spreadsheet with you. If you forget to record what you’re doing for a while, just approximate the time later.
> Keep going for 168 hours. You might want to try a second week too, as recording your time is a habit, and building habits takes time.
> After you’ve recorded 168 hours, break your activities down into categories. How much time did you spend working? Commuting? Spiritual time? Interacting with your family or friends? Sleeping? Exercising? Hobbies? Doing personal care (like eating, showering)? Doing housework or household administration? Watching television? Reading? Try to be honest with yourself. REMEMBER there are only 168 hours, if you are over—make sure they don’t overlap and you are only counting the time spent ONCE. Like if you are doing a hobby with a spouse then don’t count that time twice.
> Do these numbers reflect the number of hours you’d like to “bill” to these projects? What do you think would be ideal?
> Can you change your schedule to get closer to that ideal?
