No, this is not a post about making time to watch football (although that WOULD be helpful). This is a post to drive home a key concept – and to bring to light how time management is like football.
Offense scores points. If you are sitting there thinking, “Yes, but…the defense can score ,too”, then stop reading. That sort of skeptical mindset isn’t going to allow you to understand what I’m about to say.
Time management ISĀ like football.Ā Most people don’t manage their time. Many either don’t have a calendar or, if they do, they don’t use it effectively. Instead, theirĀ days are spent reacting to what’s happening to them. They’re in reactive, or defense, mode. The problem is that if you’re just reacting to situations as they arise, when do you important things done? You have lost control of your ability to do this and far too many things – likeĀ your workout for instance – slip through the cracks and don’t get done, or done consistency.
By planning your day, you can get on offense. Every day I have the people I work with do something that I’ve been doing for quite some time. I make a list of 10 things that I’m going to do that day that will push my business forward. Sometimes, that list includes things that need to get done – like taking the car to the mechanic. I don’t wait for things to happen. I take the offensive position simply by planning out my day and giving myself some things to do. I’m in control of that.
You’ll note the absence of a workout from my list above. Tuesday is often a rest day for me because it’s super busy. Today I have Flow and Hard Core Abs from Les Mills. I can guarantee that I’ll fit those into my day, because I like working out. It helps me deal with stress and it makes me feel good. If you don’t feel that way about it, I highly suggest you add it to your list to make sure you don’t take a defensive posture about something so important to every aspect of your being.
So, guess what? Sometimes it doesn’t work. Today I have tenĀ things to get done, one being this blog post and another one after that. I was gearing up for a tremendous day of offense. I wasĀ going to light up the scoreboard today. But, when I went to drop my son off at camp, I found out that he’s not registered this week. My quarterback just threw an interception on my own 10 yard line. So, my planned day of offensive firepower begins with a goal line stand. Stuff like that is going to happen.
Anyone want to bet against me getting those tenĀ things done? I’ll be happy to take your money. I might have to play some defense today and juggle my schedule the rest of the week to do the same, but that’s not going to stop me from getting on offense and scoring points.
So, remember…time management is like football. Play offense by gettingĀ your schedule in order and making a list of things to get done every day and you’ll find the same thing is true.
Here is some invaluable (and FREE) help with time management that will help you prioritize your priorities – a 5 day training that will help you get it done, so you can go have some fun:
Making lists is one of my struggles. I completely agree about working from the defensive side and reacting to everything and how it can be stressful. I’m a sucker for that as well. I’m working hard to push past it and get better. Thanks for this post, it really lets me know I can do better!
It happens to everyone. I think we are conditioned to do this. We certainly are not conditioned to be proactive and take control of our days. This is the kind of life skill that schools are overlooking. It’s vital to get on offense as much as you can.
Love seeing other peoples todo lists. š Great post!