Time Management by Values

Time Management by Values

Bob Hausladen

Time management has been a topic of conversation, discussion and argument for more than 20 years and little has been resolved. Terms like “workaholic” have come into our language with little in the way of accepted belief about the exact parameters of this “disease.” We decry the need to work longer hours or to take work home, but seldom even discuss the amount of time spent at work doing that which used to be done at home – calling doctors, making travel arrangements for our vacation, talking on the phone with family as well as various service providers.

In general, we are not very good when it comes to balancing our “work life” and personal or family life. Perhaps, in great part, this is a result of our application of older concepts which have become out-of-date.

At one time, the division was easy to see – you were either at work or you were not. Today the issue becomes more complex. If you take a call from your best customer while on vacation – is that work time? How about if you call the auto mechanic during the work day to see if your car is ready? Where do we draw the line?

Perhaps we need a new paradigm entirely. When we look for a rational way to allocate our money, we create a budget based on the priorities we consider most important to us. Could we do the same thing with our time? Instead of being concerned with the amount of time spent at work versus at home, perhaps more relevant is how much time we spend on those things we value the most – whether that time falls during what was called the workday or not.

This approach requires that we consider what is most important to us in life. Take a moment to answer the following three questions:

1) What would make me feel successful?

2) What makes me happy?

3) How do I want to be remembered?

They are not easy questions to answer and it may take some time. Once you have answered them, take each answer and determine what it takes, in terms of time and investment, to accomplish that goal. This gives you a starting point for allocation of your time. Whatever is important to those goals deserves your time. Those activities which do not fit the goals, must either be shed or reduced as much as possible.

While this may sound difficult, the process is simple (though not always easy).

1) Consider what can and should be done to further one of your goals. The time horizon here is flexible but not less than a month. Be prepared to revise this each week and to continue to look a month ahead on a regular basis.

2) Schedule, on your calendar, the time required to accomplish those tasks. These are your time blocks for your most important values.

3) Repeat these steps until you have blocked time for all your most valued tasks. Then, whatever else comes up must fit into the remaining time. You won’t ever get everything done that comes along – no one does. But your time will be spent on the things that are most important.

In my work with clients on this process, it generally takes some time to feel completely comfortable, but the impact on time is immediate. It takes some discipline and changes in habits to obtain the full benefit. As one becomes more comfortable with the process, the goals tend to become better defined and the focus sharpens.

Like most systems, it becomes perfected with use. As it does, you will experience the freedom that comes with knowing your time is being spent on what you value most.