Career Talk with Marie Wetmore

Marie WetmoreTime Management: The 90 Minute Calendar Rule, Part 2

Welcome to part 2 of the 90 minute calendar rule series. In part 1, we discussed how a well-managed work calendar shouldn’t have unscheduled chunks of free time lasting more than 90 minutes. Overly long periods of unscheduled time leave you bouncing around like a pinball rather than intentionally focused on your key priorities.

You do need some wiggle room in your calendar to respond to the unexpected but the majority of your time should be intentionally planned for, so you are working on your top priorities.

Here’s where part 2 of the 90 minute calendar rule comes in: schedule at least three separate 90 minute periods per week for pure, focused productivity. These are appointments with yourself made specifically to work on your deliverables (the projects you are individually responsible for).

No checking email. No procrastinating on little tasks. No chit chatting at the watercooler. This is time for you to get stuff done!

Why carve out these time chunks? Many people complain that they spend their days answering email and responding to so-called crises. Their own projects end up on the back burner because they haven’t protected enough time to focus on their own deliverables. That’s why people feel like they’re working all day, but not getting anything done.

On the flipside, many people discover that just one focused, planned hour allows them to get as much work done as they used to get done in a day. They just haven’t permitted themselves to carve out that time before. Imagine what you could get done with a focused hour and a half.

Technically, these 90 minutes could be anywhere in your workday, provided it’s clearly scheduled. But many people will find that first thing in the morning works best, allowing them to get their most important stuff done before getting caught up in the momentum of the day.

Remember, your appointments with yourself are just as important as your appointments with anyone else. As soon as you start carving out time for your own work, you will immediately become more productive and effective. In other words, you’ll be better at your job – which means you’ll be on the fast track to a flourishing career.

Marie Wetmore
Career, Management, and Performance Coach for Women
www.lionssharecoaching.com
marie(at)lionssharecoaching.com