Don’t wait for a magical version of you to arrive next year that will be so disciplined, assertive and organised that you have more time. This is rarely the issue.
Time management hacks don’t work for long– they’re a bit like diets, we just keep trying new ones because the old ones failed!
Before you sign off for the end of the year….
Schedule into your 2024 diary:
1. Your holidays
2. At least two weeks of sick/personal leave
3. Two hours in a morning (at a minimum) per week that will be meeting free for planning.
4. An hour per day, every day for the unexpected
5. Your 1:1’s team meetings
6. One hour of focused work time per day (meeting free)
7. Monthly team planning
8. Development /training (even if you don’t know when, make the space)
9. 15 mins each day to plan the next
10. 30 mins on a Friday afternoon to tie off loose ends
11. 15 mins each morning to plan your day
12. Your lunch breaks and movement breaks.
There. Now you have a sense of the remaining work hours in the week, so you can be realistic about what to prioritise and what you can take on.
The rest just has to wait, or be delegated.
Now you have capacity.
Get back in the drivers' seat next year by creating capacity, so you can be your best strategic self.
Comments