Five Ways to Master Your Calendar

If you prefer the video version, click here https://youtu.be/sQygOXbRZFU

Take a look at your calendar is it full of

• Days of back-to-back meetings,

• Determining which meetings during which you can work on something else

• Checking which calls you need to take from the car as you race to sports games or getting kids to practice or other activities

• A lack of time to get work done

If you said, “YES”, it is time to stop!

That pace is not sustainable and will only keep you from your goals.

Your calendar should have all of these:

• Time to think

• Time to focus on producing quality work

• Opportunities to delegate and grow your team

• Down time

• Time to breath

How do you get the space, the permission for these?

Stop blindly accepting meetings!

A client implemented this one change and was able to free up hours a week.  

It will make you more productive too. 

If you stop and look at what the meeting is about you may find:

• This can be a quick call
• You are not needed
• Can delay it to better prioritize your time
• Come better prepared which can also improve your peer relationships.   Personally, nothing was more frustrating than taking the time to send a detailed invite and have peers show up with no clue what the purpose was or what you needed from them.

• Plan and prioritize.
  • Do not just plan where you and your family have to be every day, evening and weekends. 
  • Prioritize.  If a meeting is about a long-term deliverable question if it has to be this week, can it be pushed out to give you some tine for thought work.
  • Plan your week for your entire self. 
  • Schedule time for you/down time

• Treat your time like is it cash!
  • We are often cautious about how we spend money, but do not apply the same caution towards our time.  You can make more money; you CANNOT make more time.
  • Are you spending it wisely?  If not, don’t spend it there.

• Look for opportunities to delegate.
  • This is not passing the buck, it is giving your team opportunity to grow
  • When you change your mindset that delegating is an opportunity it will be easier.  Afterall, you want to grow your team.

• Define your non-negotiable.
  • Find at least one self-care habit and make time for it. 
  • You wouldn’t skip brushing your teeth find a few minutes for meditation, breathing, walking, whatever helps you turn off your mind and refresh.

Remember it is not a one size fits all, so try these and see what works best for you.