Time Management Tips from a Busy Professional, MBA Student, and Dad

My life is crazy busy these days. I have a demanding full-time position, and I am in an MBA program at Regis University. Why didn't I complete this years ago? I have a family complete with a beautiful wife, and two of the cutest daughters in the world ages one and five. If that isn't enough, I am a home-owner of a 100-year-old bungalow in Old Town, Fort Collins CO, with many unfinished projects that are constantly calling my name.

Needless to say, my time is valuable and I have to be very careful with how it is spent. Too much time spent in one area, and it can throw off the delicate balance I need to maintain in order to keep everything moving forward. As my first published article on LinkedIn, I thought I would share some of the time management skills I have been forced to learn to keep up with my busy lifestyle:

• Use your smartphone to record ideas. I recommend Evernote. My mind is in constant motion. I know that if I don't record my ideas many of them will be lost. The other night I had an epiphany on the paper I am writing for my MBAcourse at 1:30am. I jumped out of bed, and recorded it on my Galaxy Note II via voice recognition right into my Evernote app. Otherwise, I knew that by morning it would be long gone. Evernote syncs across platforms, and your notes get stored in the cloud so they can be opened on any of your devices.
• Work hard and smart. It has been my experience that there is no substitute for hard work. However, working hard, and strategically at the same time will help achieve goals. If you can do both you will spend less time running in place in the hamster wheel.
• Focus on the things you love. Everything else in life is just a distraction from the things that truly matter.
• Eat dinner with your family every night. Studies show that families that eat dinner together are more functional and loving. With my busy schedule this piece of normalcy helps me maintain sanity. 
• Find outlets for your stress. Mine is tennis! I also enjoy gardening with my wife. There is something about digging in the dirt that is very cathartic.
• Use technology to multitask. I use my laptop and iPad simultaneously. Utilize the amazing technology that is available today to maximize productivity.
• Avoid TV. Enough said!
• Prioritize tasks, and make lists. Start with the most urgent, and work your way down the list.
• Set goals. All successful people are goal setters. Need I go on?
• Socialize with people you do business with. I don't have a lot of time right now for my friends. So, I have attempted to combine business, and pleasure with those that can offer me value in both areas.

Well, that's a wrap. I'm off to a meeting. On the way, I will reply to the two unanswered text messages from my wife. Have a great day everyone, and love what you do!

Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." – Theodore Roosevelt