Day 187 - What's On the Menu?

Last year I went to a birthday party for some friends. The guy had me laughing, as he always does. He told me he doesn't go to a birthday party until he knows what's on the menu. It was his party! 

I thought about it and there is some wisdom there. I am a guy who has a hard time saying no and managing my time well.  I get easily distracted and end up wasting time and being unproductive. Since I know that about myself I have had to make some changes in order to be a better Christian, husband, father and boss. 

When I realized I couldn't continue to waste time I identified some things that were time wasters or time takers. Time wasters included some social media, e-mails, and other distractions that I could manage. Time takers were often people or situations that I knew of. In order to manage my time properly I had to make sure I knew what was on the menu before I got to the party (see what I did there?). 

If I know that there is a time waster on the menu I will pass. If I know that there is a time taker I will either delegate or put that situation to rest quickly by calling it out. Most of the time when it comes to people I try to be sensitive and not just shine them on until I can get away. I genuinely care for them and want to help them. That being said if I know someone isn't being sensitive to my time when there are important things that need to take place I will kindly let them know what is going on and dismiss myself (rather than dismiss them). Most of the time when I do this people respond postively or if they really do have an issue I am able to schedule a good time to talk and give them the attention they deserve (even time takers are people with needs). 

How do you manage your time? What time wasters or takers can you identify? (No names please!)

Day 86 - Running Late

"I got there 15 minutes late and thought everyone would be there laughing that I was late. Much to my surprise I was the first one there all by myself."

I am not a fan of being late. I don't even want to be late for the previews to a movie (until I am sitting through 15 minutes of them). Maybe it is OCD or type A personality or even a pet peeve but I want to be early or on time. 

When I am late I currently have the prime excuse that I have three small children who make me late. I guess I will have to blame my wife when they grow up and move out. 

At home we set all of our clocks a few minutes ahead and we set the cars even further ahead so we will be early. I am not too sure why we set the cars so far ahead because it only makes us run the risk of getting a speeding ticket if we think we are late. For the most part this has worked for us. 

Do you have any tips on being early? How do you feel about being late? 

Day 49 - Stuff you have to do

"Jess and I spent the better part of the day doing our tax preparation. Every year at least one or two days is spent preparing to file."

There are things in life you just have to put your head down and get to work on. If you don't do them they won't get done. As awful as tax prep and many other painful operations of life are I am thankful for things like returns, the feeling of a job well done and the sense of accomplishment when you can mark something off your list. These rewards can go a long way. Little by little you get stuff done and then you can relax and play. 

What sort of tasks do you dread but know you have to do them? What is your reward for completion?