Time management

PoisonDart74 said
I have the same issues when left to my own devices, what I've found is; take some time right around when you get up to jot down a list of things you need to do today, estimate how much time they need or you want to spend on them right next to the task. Then, number them to the time of day you think they fit best in and require you to 'work smarter not harder'. Carry this list with you. You'll find what organization works best for you.

For example, mowing the grass or watering plants in the morning, or after the heat of the day is gone.

If it's something that requires you to be focused, get it in when your at peak energy level and you feel like being cerebral, possibly after breakfast and coffee has settled a little, and you get that spark of mental motivation.

If it's something that stretches your physicality, do something light and gets you blood and momentum moving and limber first, go hit it, then take a break and collect your thoughts, maybe right before lunch or beer break so you have a reward. :coffee2:

A few examples that might spark your thoughts to come up with your own practical solutions to what you have in front of you, it always helps to turn it into a game, not a chore. Pretty soon you'll be feeling quite accomplished! :thumleft:

Focused....there is something that is a major problem for me. Part of the mental health troubles for me is I have damn near zero attention span, so there is never a good time to do something that requires my utmost attention. Take today....started working on the fence, 40 minutes or so got bored with it. Went and fired up the field mower, half hour or so it was turned off and I was back on the fence because I seen a spot I over looked....aint like that was the last spot to fix so it could have waited. Got done with the one spot and instead of firing up the mower I went & got the tractor so I could do some rock farming.....in a spot I did not need to move the rocks.....

RustyRatRod said
Why worry about it? You don't have a boss and you don't have deadlines so screw it.

Because I am tired of pretty much spinning my wheels and not getting a damn thing done every day.....

moparmat2000 said
Ink,

I feel your pain, i used to have the ultimate schedule. I worked 10 hours a day 4 days a week. This gave me friday, saturday, and sunday off.

Then i put in for an interview to run the department i helped to form, got the job a lot more responsibility, a little more money but now i work 8 hours a day 5 days a week. Only the Hours end up being 10+ per day, and i cant get away from my phone over the weekends dealing w work. Mine is a working / teaching shop environment. I am also required to teach aircraft sheetmetal structures repair, so i am working on a course syllabus, and a weekly progress form that i will have to turn in to the different supervisors of the trainees every week marking their progress aptitude.

My wife works nights on the weekends as a drug rehab nurse. So i am watching the kids ages 8,6, and 21months old. I have very little time for anything, and after the stress of dealing with the kids over the weekends, i just take a bath or shower n go to bed.

My wife is obsessive about the house which is great, but the kids constantly make mess after mess, when she is at work i try to keep it picked up, and have to constantly tell em to clean up. After dealing with that **** all weekend, i dont even want to go in my shop and even mess with my projects. Could be a bit of depression.

I am thinking of stepping down as shop crewchief but want to give it at least until fall. I enjoyed having one day off during the week to do my running around for stuff i need, and spending mornings w my little boy going out for breakfast. The money isnt that much of a step up, its just good to have on a resume'.

As a matter of fact i have to now take vacation time to get **** done around the house if i want to get it done. It shouldent be that way. I know in a couple years my boy will be in school, and things will ease up a bit. But right now its rough.

I wish i had some advice to offer you. I am pretty organized at work, but i also have a good group of people who work for me. On the weekends it seems like a different story, like a losing battle. :(

Organized....there is another thing I am not. I normally have a pile of of all my stuff on the corner of the table. I normally let it get to the point of getting so high that it falls over in the middle of the night. Normally I then normally just pick it up and throw it all away. I beat it to the punch last time....I just picked it up and tossed it all in the trash....
Just got a call from a neighbor, his truck broke down on his ride to work. Had to round up the chains....all 4 were in a different spot in the garage....same does for the binders.....have 2 sets of keys for the locks on the trailer.....took 15 minutes to find a set...

goldfish65 said
"Things To Do" list works for me. Word to the wise, don't let "anyone else" know about it, so it remains YOUR list.

Last "to do list" I had was in the above mentioned pile....not a single thing got checked off of it....