Time Management and Organization

[cozydaisy]

For the next month or so we will be posting polls focusing on time management and organization. Your responses to the polls will help us know which topics, resources, and tips might be helpful. Here is a link to the first poll: http://groups.ebay.com/forum/Ebay-Selling-Tips/Home/1500002338 (It should be on the right side of the page) Feel free to post your questions, tips, or struggles relating to time management and organization in this thread. Looking forward to some great questions, tips, inspiration, and motivation.:-x -- -- Edited by cozydaisy at 06/04/2009 5:27 PM PDT

[cozydaisy]

So far we have had 12 responses to our new "time management" poll and it seems that 66% of the respondents are choosing all of the above(unexpected events, family interruptions, staying focused, and underestimating time requirements of tasks). I found this poem and it helped me remember the value of time.... This is the beginning of a new day. God has given me this day to use as I will. I can waste it or use it for good. What I do today is important, because I am exchanging a day of my life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever, leaving in its place something that I have traded for it. I want it to be gain, not loss; good not evil; success not failure; in order that I shall not regret the price I paid for it. ---Author Unknown I think it is important to realize that for each day that passes it is one we can not gain back, thus making managing our time a great investment. Below are a few tips: 1. Plan your day. 2. Prioritize your plans 3. Say "No" to things not included in your daily plan. If someone interrupts your plan politely ask if you can call them back or reschedule for another day. Don't make another person's time more important than your own. 4. Delegate. 5. Do things right the first time. 6. Break down large task into smaller chunks of time. 7. Don't pack your day to full. Leave a little open time in there for special opportunities, emergencies, etc. 8. Strive for balance (family, fitness, recreation, social, spiritual, and career) One of the things that has helped me greatly with time management is a timer. I set it for a predetermined amount of time and until it dings I do not work on anything but the task at hand. This has helped me eliminate wasting time on "nonproductive" tasks and it helps eliminate distractions. How do you control daily distractions? -- -- Edited by cozydaisy at 06/05/2009 5:31 AM PDT

[treasurecoop]

It's not always easy. Mon. - Thurs. laundry. While laundry is in washer & dryer, on to other tasks. When DS is home, there are constant interruptions always around the early evening. Sometimes I "threaten" to lock the door of the den! :) I have alloted at least an hour each weekday morning after DS is off to school, to have coffee & check email, etc.

[kalamazooclipper]

Whenever I need to say no to a request, I sadly shake my head and reply, "I'd like to *****, but I have an appointment this afternoon." No-one has ever asked me about my 'appointment.' For eBay, I have a set task for every day to do once the daily orders are filled & shipped. Following my schedule keeps everything running well...no coupon listings with expired coupons, Turbo Lister is thinned out after listing expires, and so on. Lorna

[sandies_treasure]

I don't know what's happened to me. I used to get SOO much done every day. Now I can seem to get anything done. The timer is a good idea. I first found it when "flying", then grandmother moved in, passed away, and my schedule has gone to pot and can't seem to get back on track. It's been nearly 3 years now. I get constant interruptions, mostly mother and she doesn't understand the word NO. This week I pulled out my old "flyin" TODA sheets that I'd made and use wipe off marker to check off what I've completed. Worked well for 2 days, now today I'm back off track ..geeesh. While "all of the above" does describe most of my days the staying focused and the taking longer than expected seem to be some of my worst enemies right now. I have a hard time deciding which tasks are more important than others and if some even need to be done at all. I'm bookmarking this discussion as it really hits home with me right now and I need all the advice I can get. --

[whittaker3]

Time management is a biggie for me. In addition to selling online, I teach in a GED Online Classroom and substitute at various GED sites. I do use a timer to track my time especially for the GED Online Classroom duties. When I was on disability, I became involved in several non-profit activities. I still enjoy being involved in them, but I've had to prioritize which ones are the most important to me and say "No" more often. Also, my husband is preparing to retire so has had lots of days off using vacation time, etc. When he's home, he expects me to do almost everything with him. I'll be looking forward to reading more ideas on this topic. -- Whittaker3 :) 🙂 🙂

[lisodys*gifts]

Hi Sandies Treasures. I'm in the same identical boat. That's how I've been feeling lately too, seems I don't get half the stuff done that I want to do. I believe that I need a schedule? That's a word hardly found in my daily vocabulary, haha. I just got back into selling on ebay, this week. It's been quite a few months. I felt so rusty at it at first. Took me a bit to get the first one up, lol. I plan to list in the mornings, while my boys are at school. I work weekends - outside the home, housecleaning --so only have the weekday mornings. Staying focused, is hard sometimes though. A constant work in progress managing my time. Organization! What's that..haha. My next work - soon in progress.

[cozydaisy]

Sometimes it is hard to know what to spend time on and what to let go of. Just recently I explained to a dear friend that I had a vision of myself holding double handfuls of balloons. I could not hold on to them all but as one would slip through my hands I would jump to recapture it. I soon realized that the only way not to lose them all was to let a few float gently away. Letting go of a few allowed me to access what I was left with and mentally going through this process helped me to pick the things that were worth focusing my time and attention on and which things were best left alone. You can do the same thing by examining your goals and developing steps to reach them. Heck you could even buy a bunch of balloons, label them, and hold a letting go ceremony of your own. Remember the important thing is to know at the end of the day you have used the gift of your 24 hours wisely and to close your eyes on the day with no regrets. ((HUGS)) Ginny
-- -- Edited by cozydaisy at 06/05/2009 2:25 PM PDT

[lisodys*gifts]

I'm loving this thread! So many great ideas and inspirational thoughts and suggestions! Ginny - I run a home based balloon biz--I'm going to try that,hehe. Hopefully -- I'll be turning over a new leaf on my time management. 😄

[dealsonwheelsboutique]

Wonderful ideas here! 🙂 I will be putting these suggestions to use as well! ~Tammie --

[paulajeansjewelryandcloset]

Great topic for conversation Ginny. Something that helps me make it on a daily basis is a to do list. I have used one for years and I love doing them. My problem was hanging on to ideas for the future, my sticky notes would get lost and my notebook would get closed and I would never go back.....so I bought a big white board and a big chalkboard. The white board is for my future goals and ideas and the chalkboard is for my daily to do list. These "tools" help keep me focused on what I need to do. :) Paula --
Paula Jean's Jewelry and Closet

[nnnlingerie]

I do the list type thing too and I try to schedule everything, but life does get in the way! Usually, I try to schedule groups (ebay and yahoo and others) in the morning, followed by networking sites. In the afternoon, I try to work on emails and other store stuff. Evenings is for listing and packaging. Doesn't always work, but sounds like a good idea huh? -- You don't stop laughing because you grow old; You grow old because you stop laughing!

Naughty and Nice Lingerie Ebay Store

[paulajeansjewelryandcloset]

Something that I found makes my shipping easier is not having a set time for shipping. I do the majority of it in the mornings but I leave all my supplies out and if I have extra time in the afternoon I will package up something to make my next days shipping lighter. :) --
Paula Jean's Jewelry and Closet

[msleo816]

In January this year, I bought a planner and vowed to use it properly. I have to be very specific with my words because I am too clever sometimes for my own good. The idea is, that if I write something in my planner, I have to DO it. It has a monthly layout, a weekly layout and a place for notes for the week. It was rough starting out because I realized I was doing too much and too many 12-14 hour days. I take a lot of online classes and seminars for both business and spiritual endeavors. I counsel a lot of people. I wear many hats. (I like hats) Somehow my eBay business had moved down the list a little. This is always a month of reflection and regrouping for me, as well as now trying to understand where I am going. The timing of this thread is perfect. Thank you for starting it. MsLeo -- If you want to know what I'm REALLY doing Tweet Me

[msleo816]

"Good Morning! This is God, I will be handling all of your problems today. I will not need your help. So, relax and have a great day!" -- If you want to know what I'm REALLY doing Tweet Me