IUPUI Human Resources

Strategic Time Management ©

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Step #1 - Make a list of all the things you do (you might have to log your time for a few days/weeks to get a complete picture) during your personal time (school/sport/church activities, cooking, cleaning the car/house, errands, etc.) and indicate how often you do each (daily - D, weekly - W, Biweekly - BW, Monthly - M, Yearly - Y, etc.). Add things you would LIKE to be spending your time on but have been neglecting. For example: If you have not been getting time for yourself to read, pray or pursue a hobby; time with spouse/friends/relatives; or time for volunteering in the community but would like to, don't forget to include those in your list. Note: You can also do this for things related to your job.

Step #2 - Beside each thing that you do or would like to do, tell why you do or would like to do that activity. For example, if you listed washing and vacuuming the car as a task, you might say that you value having a sparkling car.

Step #3 - Assign each item on your list a number from one to four (ones for those you value most, fours for those you value least). Note: If you find that you have all ones and twos assess whether your expectations/standards are unreasonably high. Then mark each "4" item with one of three "change" codes (L, B or E). If the item is still somewhat necessary (though not very valued), mark it with either an "L" for "spending less time on it" and/or a "B" for "figure out a better/more effective way to do it. The remaining items should be marked with an "E" for "eliminate" because you don't value them much and they are not necessary. Because the items you marked as "2" and "3" are not your highest priority items, assign Ls, Bs or Es to them, too, as you are trying to gain time to focus on the #1 items - those you most value. You can even code your 1s with Bs and Ls because while you highly value the item there might still be a better way to get it done. Note: If you are having trouble assigning Ls, Bs or Es to items, assess whether you are really ready to change that item right now - read Step #5.

Step # 4 - Identify the obstacles to making the change (guilt, personal standards too high, living in chaos, no assistance from others, others' expectations unreasonable, failure to set boundaries on personal time, etc.).

Step # 5 - Remind yourself that the disconnect between what you value and what you spend your time doing can be a source of great stress. Change, which is key to making your values and your use of time match up, will take more than knowing what to do. You've got to motivate yourself to do it by reminding yourself that if you do, you'll be rewarded with less stress and more happiness/balance/accomplishment in your life. A book that a work/life professional recommends to help you get out of life's ruts and change is, "Getting Unstuck," by Sidney Simon. You'll know you're on the right track when you can say, "I just want to achieve something today and I want to enjoy something today," like Jim Bird of worklifebalance.com says.

Step # 6 - Decide which neglected area to focus on first and decide on your plan of attack. If an item for improvement is time alone to meditate, plan to get up five minutes earlier or stay up five minutes later just to do that or, if you want more time with your child, plan to read a story to the child each night or if time to develop your relationship with your spouse is an area for improvement, plan to take five minutes after the kids are in bed each night to sit on the couch with your spouse and talk.

Step # 7 - Look at the obstacles listed for the item you plan to work on and if they will impede your ability to accomplish the plan of attack you just decided upon, take steps to reduce or eliminate your obstacles to success by doing some of these practical things.

Step # 8 - Go for it and when you've handled this item successfully, reward yourself and move to the next.