Time Poverty

There is a misguided thought that being busy is the same as making progress. With shorter deadlines, competing priorities, interruptions and even higher quality expectations, it brings today's time challenges to another level. Yet the number of hours in the day has not changed.

If you feel the pressure of time poverty, read on.

A common mistake that most people make is not allowing for a balanced life-style. Remember, one's overall health and well being require attention to these six important life areas:

Physical (exercise, nutrition, sleep)
Intellectual (cultural, aesthetic)
Social ( intimate and social relationships)
Emotional (expression of feelings, desires)
Spiritual (quest for meaning)
Career (career goal directed work)

Naturally you don't need a required amount of activities in each of these areas, but if you neglect one entirely, you may be ignoring an important part of yourself. For example, if you set aside time for exercise you will improve your overall functioning and better manage your stress. If you take time for your intellectual growth, you will gain new perspectives on life, experience different pleasures, and be better able to focus on your goals.

Consider your biological prime time - the time of day when you are at your best. Are you a morning person, a night owl, or a late afternoon whiz? Knowing when your best time is and planning to use that portion of the day for your priorities is effective time management.

You can conquer procrastination using Alan Lakein's method of "Swiss Cheese". When avoiding something because you dread the task, break it into smaller bits and do just one of the smaller tasks. If this is not possible, set a timer and work on that biggie for just 15 minutes. By doing a little at a time (I hate filing), eventually you will reach a point where you'll want to finish it once and for all.

For me, learning to say "no" was next to impossible. Such a small word, but I wanted to please no matter the cost to me. But focusing on your goals may help. You must be convinced that you and your priorities are more important -- that seems to be the hardest part in learning to say "no". But it does get easier when you simply can't find the time and refuse to be derailed for that hour or that day.

In the Malaysian culture, only the gods are considered capable of producing anything perfect. Whenever something is finished, a flaw is left on purpose so the gods will not be offended. Of course some things need to be closer to perfect than others but perfectionism can be a form of procrastination. Shed the stress of always being perfect. Eliminate altogether the trivial tasks or those tasks which do not lead to your long-term goals.

About the Author: Smith has published numerous articles and writes a blog for all artists: http://the-self-taught-artist.com/blog.html She also coaches new students on how to leave the time-for-money trap and set up Leveraged Income for life. http://thepermanentventure.com/dcc.htm If you can’t sing or ride a bull, you better learn how to make your money work for more money.