I decided I need to figure out where to find those extra eight hours (if it's possible to find those hours during a time that I have enough energy to do meaningful things). I'm using a dated diary to do so. I started this project on Sunday, and it's already gone off the rails.
See, I have a really good sense of where my time goes on the level of the hour. But there are large blocks (those when kids are home, say) in which I switch tasks quite frequently. (i.e. I'm cooking, and I'm also answering email. I'm reading for class while Tiny Boy does his math) I don't have enough TIME to track my time every 10 minutes or so, which is really the increment at which I might actually learn something about my habits. So maybe what I really need to do is not track ALL my time but really focus my energy on those unwieldy moments of time? (Yesterday, I know I used an hour, which was supposed to be half an hour, for an on-the-floor [literally] coffee talk with some colleagues. It was one of the weirdest moments of life in my department. Ever. I'm glad I did it. But it can't be repeated again this semester. Or maybe ever.)
Now it's time for walk to school in the rain [Tiny Boy is watching TV right now, having done his math without a fit. Go Tiny Boy!]
See, I have a really good sense of where my time goes on the level of the hour. But there are large blocks (those when kids are home, say) in which I switch tasks quite frequently. (i.e. I'm cooking, and I'm also answering email. I'm reading for class while Tiny Boy does his math) I don't have enough TIME to track my time every 10 minutes or so, which is really the increment at which I might actually learn something about my habits. So maybe what I really need to do is not track ALL my time but really focus my energy on those unwieldy moments of time? (Yesterday, I know I used an hour, which was supposed to be half an hour, for an on-the-floor [literally] coffee talk with some colleagues. It was one of the weirdest moments of life in my department. Ever. I'm glad I did it. But it can't be repeated again this semester. Or maybe ever.)
Now it's time for walk to school in the rain [Tiny Boy is watching TV right now, having done his math without a fit. Go Tiny Boy!]
I applaud you for tracking your time with such a worthy goal in mind. I cannot BEAR to track my time outside of work hours because my job requires me to track and bill in 6-minute increments all day long.
ReplyDeleteI know that I "waste" a lot of time on things like reading, browsing social media, and playing solitaire and Words with Friends on my phone in the evenings, but I guess I have chosen to put a higher premium on these activities (which I classify as "relaxing") than on the things I'd like to get done. . . .
1) Tracking the non-scheduled time only makes sense. You are not going to find significant extra time while commuting, teaching, getting kids in and out of house/activities. YOu may find 3 or 5 minute tiny segments but that doesn't translate to making more REAL time for things that require focus.
ReplyDeleteHowever I once did see a refrigerator posting of things that an adult can do in under 5 mins of spare time. From cleaning out car, to taking out garbage, to making bed to clearing and washing breakfast dishes into drainer, starting the dryer or washer if sorting is done as clothes come out, to wiping down bathroom mirror and sink, etc. But that is really what your purpose is. even though such a list does help overall.
2) Eliminating all your mentioned 'wasted time' activities also isn't really the issue unless you are spending way way more time on them than I suspect. They do give you tiny space break, keep in touch with friends, put a pause that actually does refresh into your day. Just keep an eye on the 3 minute thing that actually sucks you in and takes really 2 hours in one swallow. WE NEED time to think about issues and problems and our emotions! This sort of time is like letting the tea or coffee filter for our minds.
3) What was the story behind 'literally-on-the-floor' coffee hour? I am fascinated. Please. Thank you.
Rose
Yeah, I think that’s right. My campus days largely look the same even if the minutiae differs. It’s what happens when I’m at home that’s worth exploring further....
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