Making the most of your time - are you a planner? - Forum

I have just had one of the busiest periods of the whole year which has left me feeling tired and in the need of a break. This week I have found it difficult to concentrate and my days, of fourteen hours or so are usually productive and energized, but have been a little scatter brained and rather less organised than usual. I am not normally a list sort of a person and I can have two or three things on the go at any one time. I can wake up in the morning and spontaneously go to my workshop and make something or pick up the dog lead and go for a walk with the dogs. I thrive on being busy although I crave peace and quiet at times and the last three days, I have walked with the dogs in the morning collecting thoughts, taking in what is going on around where I live in the hope that I can stimulate something extra. The conclusion is a little rest is needed but what about you. Do you work a nine to five existence or do you have a common start time to your day and no end? Do you work weekends or is your recreation sacrosanct and what happens when you carry over a bundle of unfinished chores from the week before. One of my biggest faults (I liked to think I was being conscientious) was starting to think about the working week at about three pm on a Sunday and sometimes go to bed juggling scenarios for the maintenance and landscape teams should the morning be wet. I would also find myself building a garden in my head and try to solve problems or challenges and sometimes I could not sleep all night. What are your strengths or weaknesses with your work ethic or is there anything that you would change about yourself?

I'm a bit like Craig - I like lists. Having a number of clients on the go at any one time, it can get confusing to change hats after you've spent a day in a totally different garden. It helps focus your mind. I also try and give long term clients a list of things I intend to complete over the next couple of months. It satiates their desire to know that you are organised and professional and that they're getting value for their money (even though they get a breakdown at the end of the month on each invoice). I find they appreciate better what your workload is and what is achieveable in the time they want you there. Most days I'll work from 7.30 am until I finish sometimes 12 hours later (season's permitting) but there's always research to do, or shopping for plants etc. So during the Spring and Summer, it's often back home, supper, shower and sleep. But in the Autumn & Winter, 8am - 4pm is the best I can hope for in the UK for physical working hours. Time for yourself and your family is important. I rarely work weekends - I think you need that balance to re-assess and keep the momentum going. All work & no play... as the saying goes. Tricky though when you work for yourself.

Phil, I would recommend the pen and paper method - give it a go!

Replies

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Craig McGinty October 17, 2008 at 11:33am

Must agree that valuing your time is so important, let it drip through your fingers and it is gone.

A method I am trying is not to store all the ideas and thoughts I have about work in my head, it's exhausting and most probably isn't the best filing cabinet.

Instead I have an A4 pad where I compile these thoughts, even if you make notes on a scrap of paper feed it back to the pad, and there they sit for a few days to stew.

If I think they are still a goer then I move on them and get whatever is required, done.

But having one 'basket' for things is what works for me.
Karen Moorcroft October 17, 2008 at 6:53pm

I'm a bit like Craig - I like lists. Having a number of clients on the go at any one time, it can get confusing to change hats after you've spent a day in a totally different garden. It helps focus your mind. I also try and give long term clients a list of things I intend to complete over the next couple of months. It satiates their desire to know that you are organised and professional and that they're getting value for their money (even though they get a breakdown at the end of the month on each invoice). I find they appreciate better what your workload is and what is achieveable in the time they want you there. Most days I'll work from 7.30 am until I finish sometimes 12 hours later (season's permitting) but there's always research to do, or shopping for plants etc. So during the Spring and Summer, it's often back home, supper, shower and sleep. But in the Autumn & Winter, 8am - 4pm is the best I can hope for in the UK for physical working hours. Time for yourself and your family is important. I rarely work weekends - I think you need that balance to re-assess and keep the momentum going. All work & no play... as the saying goes. Tricky though when you work for yourself.

Phil, I would recommend the pen and paper method - give it a go!
steve loftus October 17, 2008 at 9:13pm

i leave home at 6.30 arrive back at 6-7pm at this time of year,and like phil ,i will be doing scenarios about the day/s ahead.we have an ex music room white-board we use for a 4 week schedule which is great for us and our clients,we can see at a glance where we have ,or not, a slot for a job/customer.then a list of extras next to that,and notes next to that.
as operations manager i dont ever seem to switch off,always thinking,homework on interweb or calling the office to leave myself a message,so i dont forget overnight something important.
im off for 4-6 weeks after a carpal tunnel op, called work at least 3 times a day,just to check all is well.
i bet im back in 3 weeks.
i do work some saturdays,if there is enough profit in the job,catching up after bad weather or that i had promised a customer a job would be done.
weekends are family time, 4 children...2..3...7.......21. plus i like to tinker with the cars and bikes.....and wife!!!!
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Phil Voice October 17, 2008 at 9:35pm

Hi Karen and Paul,

I think I need to qualify or clarify my comment. I do make lists and make notes but I am not a natural at it. Steve will confirm (we have known each other since he was a small boy;-0) that I was very heavy on paperwork when we worked together.

I had to keep a speadsheet just to keep a record of all the spreadsheets we had:)

My biggest problem is I try to do too much.

It is good to hear what everyone else does so thanks for the comment.

Phil
Karen Moorcroft October 18, 2008 at 9:26pm

Sorry Phil. Didn't mean to imply that you weren't organised - I appreciate what you say about office work & spreadsheets - I did a similar thing, tho working for someone else, I did feel I could shut off sometimes and I'm sure you felt the same. But I bet you wouldn't swap what you had now, so enjoy what you've worked for & keep up the good work with LJN - it's great :D
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Phil Voice October 18, 2008 at 10:02pm

Hi Karen,

Don't worry, I didn't think you were implying anything. I am pleased that you like the site.

The credit has to go to all of you for making it a success.