AAUW North Carolina Report from SAR 2002: Finding Time

Finding Time When You Don't Even Have Time to Look for It.
Facilitator: Fawn Germer, Author, Professor, Journalist, Management Consultant
June 8, 2002, AAUW SAR Conference, Tampa, FL
reported by: Gloria Blanton, AAUW Raleigh/Wake County

List things to do - can do a lot in day when you must; focus or lose time.

Review use of time for tasks/activities -consider whether important or enjoyable, amount of time used. Can you do task faster or eliminate or do it less often? Her list of tasks: read paper, check e-mail, use internet, workout, shower and get ready, do writing/other work, TV news, telephoning (say what you want up front) try voice mail, screen, limit to 3 minutes or 5.

Smart manage your work - delegate and give enough time plus guidelines and reminder, can give input or clarify directions, meet deadlines, ask boss to prioritize *to do* list

Use time in transit - make phone calls, check e-mail by phone, read when in air or on bus, listen to audio courses, rehearse preentation, use as quiet time, check e-mail only at specific times, limit internet use, turn off cell phone, get rid of beeper.

You don't have to be perfect! Be excellent at some things and average at others, write some things off completely.

Know what matters to *you*; be who you are, grow, *live* your life.
Her priorities: spiritual, family, friends, body fitness, travel, learning, outdoor activities.

Rank your priorities. What is needed to survive? What makes you happy? At life's end, what will have mattered to your soul?

Ms. Germer asked participants to answer the following questions and then asked for sharing of responses.
What matters most to your soul?
What must you see and do before you die to feel you really lived?
Have you been spending time on things that matter most?

*Live* your life. Don't micromanage your minutes but don't waste time either. Live!!

Last updated: 21-Jun-2002
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