How to Manage Time When You Have None

Generally, it’s my cohorts and their shenanigans that inspire the topics that I write about. However, this one, I’m ashamed to admit, is all on me. I fell into the pit that so many others have. Because sometimes even when one knows what is required and where the dips in the sidewalks are, he/she still trips.

Procrastination is not unfamiliar to me. Although I realize that more times than not procrastination will lead nowhere sunny, I still do it. And it would be reasonable that is what is happened in this instance. But in my self-evaluation of where my life slid sideways, I realized procrastination wasn’t the culprit—at least, not alone. It did show up for a visit a time or two, but again, it wasn’t the main problem. It was in this self-evaluation that it dawned on me other people may be experiencing the same issues. So, in an effort to get myself back on track, I pulled out my handy dandy laptop and got to researching. Some of the things I discovered were surprising.

The following are six ways to effectively manage time that you may not have considered.

Pride. Set it aside. Now, if you’re wondering what pride has to do with anything, then you’re not alone. I was right in this boat with you. As it turned out, pride was my fiercest nemesis and snuck in without my noticing. See, I was so wrapped up in how “glorious” the outcome would be that it caused me to overlook small but important details and emphasized less essential ones. One way to effectively manage time is by focusing on the immediate tasks instead of anticipating outcomes. In other words, focus on the individual trees in the forest.Food. How many commercial or social media ads promoting healthy eating are aired in a day? And who hasn’t been warned not to feed kids foods or sodas containing loads of sugar to avoid hyping them up? Well, for adults, that initial bump in energy may be beneficial. It’s the crash that is may be knotty. How this affected me was as follows. Having a busy schedule means waking early and staying up late. Fatigue lurked around every corner. I would find myself ready to pass out around seven or eight in the evening. Partially, this was related to getting up at 4:00 AM. But it had more to do with the high carbs and sugar I would consume at lunch. Where I would be during the day, food options were limited, and packing a lunch wasn’t always something I could do. Frequently, I’d grab something at a greasy spoon with a soft drink. (Soft drinks aren’t something I normally consume, and I dislike the diet versions.) By the evening, the crash would begin, and I’d not have the energy to do much. This wasted precious time in the evenings. And this would occur day after day. Thus, I would go for weeks being unproductive in the afternoons.Fatigue. Getting adequate rest is imperative. As I mentioned previously, I wasted so much time to not having energy. And fatigue is something that can lag over. I was tired at times I shouldn’t have been. Not being a person who is accustomed to taking naps, if I fell asleep early, I would wake feeling more fatigue than before the nap. Not to mention, I would often doze off in places other than a bed or sofa. My muscles did not appreciate it. So, atop of feeling tired, I was also sore. The battle against fatigue begins with taking breaks, even if you think you can’t afford to or are “on a roll”/“in the zone.” Take the break anyway. It doesn’t have to be a long break.Sprints. Work in sprints. This relates to the previous point. Set a time for how long you will work before taking a break. Most people consider a sprint to be something short in duration. They aren’t wrong since the definition of a sprint is an act or short spell of running at full speed. However, work sprints allow a person to set the pace and duration. For example, a person may decide to work for two hours and then take a break. During that time, the person works as hard and fast as he/she can. That may not sound like a sprint, but it could be if the person is working a sixteen-hour shift. a person may decide on a twenty-minute sprint but works slowly but diligently during that time because the work is tediously detailed. Speeding through that type of task may not be beneficial. Work sprints aren’t about speed. They are about productivity. What good is finishing a task quickly if is incorrect and has to be redone?Rabbit holes. Avoid these at all cost. Sometimes, I found myself getting lost in the purpose of the task. I’d begin one place, and before I knew it, would be on the other side of the earth with a whole lot of uselessness. You may think wandering down one of those dark tunnels is worth it, but really consider it before jumping in. I was given a simple task of determining if certain forms were located in a certain area. Upon looking around, I discovered several other issues. Instead of remaining focused on the forms, I added all the other stuff to the to do list—meaning, I was attempting to solve multiple issue simultaneously. And the more problems I attempted to resolve, the more that popped up. It became overwhelming, and nothing was getting done. Well, that wasn’t true. Things were getting done, but the progress was so slight that it was barely noticeable.Negative people. Oh gosh, could I say a lot about this, but I’ll keep it simple. There are people who are going to do, and everyone else who are going to run their mouths with worthless criticisms and opinions and not do jack. Tune them out. I invested in a new pair of earbuds. A stellar playlist can work wonders.

With that said, that’s all that I have for today. What did you think? What is your take on the subject? Did you find this information helpful or informative? Did you learn anything new, or did it change your opinion? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Also, let me know if you would like me to cover more of these types of topics or dive deeper into this one. If you like this post, please click the “Like” button and share it. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read. If you’re not following me on Creole Bayou blog, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

Get ready. It’s time to hit the ice again. Future Goals has arrived and is available.

When a college hockey player needs the help of an attractive older attorney, he gets more than he bargained for when trying to sort out the troubles in his career. Falling in love was never part of either man’s plan, especially as Corrigan’s and Sacha’s lives should never have collided. Now they’re left questioning if they’re standing in the way of the other’s future goals, or if there’s room for redirection.

Order your copy at:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RjPYb9

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Did you miss the first four books in my hockey romance series? No frets.

Out of the Penalty Box (book #1), where it is one minute in the box or a lifetime out, is available at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be ordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links on where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.

Defending the Net (book #2) can be ordered at https://amzn.to/2N7fj8q or www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.

Ice Gladiators (book #3) is the third book in my Locker Room Love series. When the gloves come off, the games begin. Available at https://amzn.to/2TGFsyD or www.books2read.com/icegladiators.

Penalty Kill (book #4) retakes the ice. Get a copy at https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p or https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p and let the pucker begin.

For more of my stories, shenanigans, giveaways, and more, check out my blog, Creole Bayou, www.genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com. New posts are made on Wednesdays, and everything is raw and unscathed. Climb on in a pirogue and join me on the bayou.

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Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.

Author Bio

Genevive Chamblee resides in the Bayou country where sweet tea and SEC football reign supreme. She is known for being witty (or so she thinks), getting lost anywhere beyond her front yard (the back is pushing it as she’s very geographically challenged), falling in love with shelter animals (and she adopts them), asking off-the-beaten-path questions that make one go “hmm,” and preparing home-cooked Creole meals that are as spicy as her writing. Genevive specializes in spinning steamy, romantic tales with humorous flair, diverse characters, and quirky views of love and human behavior. She also is not afraid to delve into darker romances as well.