We are all given the same 24 hours - how are you taking care of your time?
Receiving a year’s review of my mobile phone usage made me think about what percentage of my time could have been better cared for. Self–help books abound about time management. Eisenhower's Urgent/Important Principle was developed into a matrix with 4 quadrants and Stephen Covey expanded the concept in his books about positive habits.
I’ve devised a time management matrix of 4 quadrants: IMMEDIATE, SCHEDULED, DISCERNING, or DISCIPLINED attention.
Quadrant 1: Important and Urgent ( IMMEDIATE attention )
Medical emergency
Critical issues to solve
Deadline-driven projects
Relationship or financial crisis
This quadrant demands essential priority but spending too much time in emergency mode tasks can result in being overwhelmed and not feeling in control of your life.
The strategy for this quadrant is to manage the stress of time-dependent commitments.
Quadrant 2: Not Urgent but Important ( SCHEDULED attention )
Clarifying beliefs, values, and goals
Recreation, self-care, personal development
Building and nurturing relationships
Health choices, vehicle/home maintenance, financial status
This quadrant adds quality to our lives through focused planning and high priority. Jacki Hart (Business Consultant), calls this quadrant, “sow now and reap later.”
The strategy for this quadrant is to manage long-term commitments and goals.
Quadrant 3: Urgent but not Important ( DISCERNING attention )
Low value ‘busy’ work
Attending to unnecessary interruptions
Activities and tasks urgent for someone else, not you
Distractions from fulfilling Quadrant 2 priorities
This quadrant is where people want to impress, or please others. The urgency of Quadrant 3 activities is frequently determined by the priorities and expectations of others. If an important task can be delegated to someone else, allow it.
The strategy for this quadrant is to manage interruptions and distractions
Quadrant 4: Not Urgent and Not Important ( DISCIPLINED attention )
Trivial or nonbeneficial activities
Impulsiveness to avoid boredom or stress
Mindless screen viewing, social media scrolling
Unnecessary interactions or conversations with people
This is the quadrant of the escapists. When dealing with urgent matters of Quadrant 1 and Quadrant 3 temporary relief is found here, but it can lead to excessive timewasting and addictive behaviour. The strategy for this quadrant is to manage or delete low-priority activities.
Prioritising our time allows us to determine which activities are important and which activities are becoming distractions in our lives. How are you taking care of your time?
Trish: Life Coach & Counsellor
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