These days we get pulled in so many directions it is easy to get lost on a path.  We have work, home and social obligations, and often each of those obligations have additional duties within them.  You have to find a universal system to pull it all together or you will go crazy.

I am a husband, father, freelance writer, military member, college student, friend, entrepreneur, etc.  All of these roles have deadlines and events to meet, and I often feel like I am in a medieval torture device having my body pulled apart.  Things get especially tough when each of those roles have many obligations each.  Balancing everything sometimes becomes a full time job.  Since I don’t have an assistant, it is up to me find this balance.

I have two major principles when it comes to time-management.  First, kill the enemy that can kill me first, and next, schedule each event.  The former is a fighter pilot concept where they target the enemy who could kill them the fastest.  These enemies are the deadlines coming due or emergency appointments.  We need to get these done before something without a time constraint.  Many people drop everything else to put out these fires.  The bad thing about this is when we do this, we end up changing things so much we create another fire or forget about an event or task completely.

What you need to do to combat this is to drop everything that is not scheduled.  If it is not scheduled, it’s probably not important.  Take time away from the after lunch current event reading online and dedicate it to the task at hand.  Give up watching that television show tonight and anything of the sort.  You will be surprised how little bits of time and pressure can produce some results.  If you can’t make the deadline, ask for an extension.  Most deadlines are there to push you, and a late project won’t sink the ship.

Lastly, if it is not on your schedule, you truly have no intention of doing it.  Don’t kid yourself.

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