Protecting Your Time
Jeff Garrett
I help high performing business professionals in Credit Unions, Mortgage and Financial Services become better leaders, work more effectively, and transform their lives and businesses in the process.
Quote for the Week
“If you don’t prioritize your time somebody else will.”
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This Week’s Podcast Episode
Setting Boundaries on Your Time
?(You can also listen on your favorite podcast app)
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From the Skybox
What are boundaries?
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a boundary as something that indicates or fixes a limit or extent.?
There are boundaries that we should all set to protect ourselves.
One boundary to set is to protect your time. It's really important that you take charge of your time and don't let others take control of your schedule.
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Here a few of the ideas I share with clients in taking control of their time and calendar.?
Some of my clients have online calendars that people can set appointments in their calendar. If this is your situation it is very important that you block out the times on your calendar that you do not want to have appointments. This gives you more control of your time and schedule.?
Some people are fortunate enough to have an administrative assistant that can protect their calendar for them. This is one way to protect your time if you have this resource available to you. I have found the administrative assistant is less likely to schedule an appointment that does not fit into your calendar.?
One of the most important skills for controlling your schedule is time blocking. You should schedule personal and work appointments in your calendar.
Many people don’t put personal time or block off appointments as personal time. It is critical to do this in protecting your time. This includes scheduling time for breaks, lunch breaks and the time you want to leave the office for the day. This is important whether you are working from home or from the office. Have a set time you are going to leave the office and work for the day.?
Another way to put a boundary on your time is choosing when your telephone rings to answer it or let it go to voicemail. How often do you just let it go to voicemail? You have a choice.?
Put margins or ghost appointments in your calendar. An example this is scheduling 15 - 30 minutes between your appointments. This gives you flexibility if you have a meeting that runs a little over time. I am sure you have never had that happen.?Well maybe a couple times.?
It also gives you time to return telephone calls, texts, emails get a drink and go to the bathroom.?
Don’t let telephone calls, texts and emails run your day. Schedule time into your calendar to return and send these.?
Taking control of your time can help you to avoid burn out. It is one of the most common issues today. Gallup says that 28% of U.S. employees say they feel burnt out at work very often or always.
These are just a few of the things I cover in my Time Transformation Course.?
For more information on my Time Transformation Course email me at [email protected].
Be Audacious!
Coach Jeff Garrett