Time Management

I am writing this both for you, and for myself. We all know that we should manage our time, but the question is how do we manage our time?

It has been over two months since my last post on this blog. That, regrettably, tells you all you need to know about my current time management practices.

If you are starting out in writing, there may be a reason that you and I are so closely related in regard to our horrible time management skills. We are busy people. I work a fulltime job, have normal responsibilities, and write. When I began my writing journey, I wrote in my spare time. I wrote when I felt like it.

That was all well and good, and it took me three years to finish my first book. Now that it is out, the people who have read it are practically knocking down my online doors asking when the second will be completed. Do you see my dilema? Perhaps it is yours as well, and that is what has brought you to this blog.

The thing about writing is that it should never be to benefit yourself. We writers feel a sense of duty to our readers. So when I am asked, when do we get book two... it hurts me inside to say, hopefully within six months. That's why I've decided to change my patterns. I am going to dedicate myself in order to bring my readers what they want. Here's how you can do it too!

Effective Time Management Basics

1. Make a list of your goals

2. Create deadlines

3. Keep your deadlines

4. Set up minimum requirements

5. Use alarms and notifications to stay on track

Step 1: List of Goals

Create a list of goals for yourself. Trust me, it won't take long to put it together. Just think of the things you want done. Don't limit to timeframes. What do you want to do this week? This month? This year? If you never set goals, you'll never attain anything.

Step 2: Create Deadlines

Now that you've set up goals for yourself, plan out how you're going to get those goals to work out. I created deadlines for myself based on when I wanted my goal to be accomplished. Make your deadlines steady, but attainable. Don't make them too hard, or you won't keep them.

Here are examples of my goals made into deadlines.

• Seeker - 2500 words/ day (Due in April)

• The Unloving War - edits need completed by the end of the week

• 1 blog post/week (Tuesdays)

• 1 tweet/ day

• 1-2 FB or Insta posts/ week

Notice how they aren't terrifying? By doing little deadlines like these, we can set ourselves up to accomplish our big deadlines. Being a procrastinator, if I just wrote in April SEEKER NEEDS TO BE COMPLETE nothing would happen. By making smaller goals, it is easier to get yourself to do the work.

Step 3: Keep Deadlines

The whole point of the deadlines are to hold you to your work so you don't slack off. Do not stray from a deadline. Complete the work you need to complete that day. Once you get one day behind, you'll tumble back into the hole of your old, stagnant life. We don't want that!

Step 4: Minimum Requirements

You'll notice in my deadlines, that I set my main one about a month or so down the road (I don't trust myself to keep up with anything that goes further than that.) After I do this, I set up weekly and daily requirements. I suggets you make the daily requirements relatively the same so that it becomes more habit than struggle.

Step 5: Alarms and Notifications

The key point of this system lies in the notifications you set up for yourself, and how well you track your progress. I like to have information in various spots, so that I don't accidentally skip anything. I'll go into my outline in further detail below, but you can use whatever system will work best for you!

My notifications and alarms

I, personally, keep a calendar in my room where I layout timelines and due dates. I put it on the wall across from my bed so that I see it when I wake up and when I go to bed. It reminds me of everything that still needs done. this helps me get active early, and sometimes even keeps me up later that I'd like.

Beyond this, I have a daily planner. This is mostly because I have to go to work, and I cant take a 18 X 26" wall calendar with me. Even so, the daily planner is filled with the things that need done (based on the calendar) and the things that I have gotten done. If I ever get a spare moment (e.g. my lunch break) I can look in the planner to see what needs done and do it).

I also use text messaging, emailing, and alarms. This is because when I get into something, I usually just keep going until that particular thing is done. For example, I worte this entire blog in one sitting. That's just who I am. I use texts, emails, and alarms to message myself and say, "You should be doing this right now."

Usually, I'm never doing what I should be even though I know I should...

I set up these notifications using a Google Workspace. you can use the Google Calendar to map out things within specific hours of the day to ensure you get through your list of daily to do items. then, you can use options to have Google notify you around 15 minutes before you need to be doing said thing. this is just a helpful reminder to keep you on track. You can also just schedule-send an email to your future self.

I actually use schedule-send alot for meetings in particular, because I have a bad history about remembering to meet people. True story... This one Friday night, I was laying in bed (obviously not working like I should have been) and I got a text. "Where are you?" I texted back, "In bed, why?"

Why? Because they were waiting for me at a resturant 45 minutes away from my house... and I was the one who invited them to eat with me! Yeah. Notifications are important! You may feel silly at first, but they will be your saving grace one day.

Concluding Thoughts

The first step in time management is to understand what you are hoping to get out of reconstructing your daily life. Once you have your goals in mind, you can come up with a plan to attain them. Don't make a wall against youself by setting up unaccomplishable goals, give yourself reasonable expectations that will lead you where you want to go. Stick to your schedule once you've made it. The best way to do that is to set up reminders for yourself that hold you to your word. Hope this helps, or was at least enjoyable!

Sincerely yours,

The Snodster