A weekend away........

I have spent this weekend away in a house by a lake. I have been coming to this place for over 40 years and it still holds the ability to quiet my mind, relax my body and help me find clarity. This weekend my clarity came in new understanding on my life moving forward, writing a first draft of a document for my business and looking deeper into my relationship with my already teenage at 11 y.o daughter. I am always grateful for these weekends of reflection. Even more grateful that my parents had the foresight to buy this place 40 years ago and see in it a respite from city life. I hope that future generations that come here will also see its beauty, find rest and gain clarity. And to boot, Marco (the dog) feels right at home in the house and by the lake.

Flexibility is key...

I work with my clients to build in flexibility to their daily and/or weekly schedules in case they get a last minute work assignment, the kid gets sick or their elderly parent falls and is rushed to the ER. Well, today it paid off for me. My daughter's school bus was running really late, so we and the other parents and kids waiting, hopped the subway to get o school on time. Since I was just headed to the gym after she got on the bus, I had the flexibility to do this. Having kids, makes flexibility a must.

The magazine pile

It is gone, never to return. I looked at my weekly schedule and decided to allow time on Saturday mornings to read the newspaper (yes, I still get it delivered) and magazines. Over several Saturday's, I read through the pile and even had time for the new issues. The result, I have found more time for magazine reading and find myself with a magazine or two on a weeknight. 

A beautiful weekend......

My daughter and I had a staycation using my aunt and uncle's apartment as home base. We walked the city, visited a museum, shopped and had high tea. It was an awesome belated Mother's Day gift to have this time my girl. Some days I feel she is growing up fast and it was just yesterday I was changing her diapers. Yet, she heads to middle school next fall. My mom and I had several mother/daughter trips that hold a special place in my heart. I hope this weekend will remain in my daughter's heart.

Magazines galore....

How many of you get magazines that you  don't read, let alone page through? I do. After spending the last few Saturday mornings reading and paging through my back log, I decided not to renew some. It is not just because I don't read them, it is the fact that I ordered a subscription for a particular reason and the magazines don't meet it. This is why I don't read them. Now I just I need to figure out what to do about my daughter's back log.

Each and every week....

I finally got my new schedule on paper--now to use it.

That sinking feeling....,

I went to get a manicure today. I sat down in the adjustable chair to dry my nails in the dryer and it felt like the chair was getting lower to the ground. The chair wasn't moving, the sensation was coming from me. It was the first time all week I have really set down--I am getting on a plane tomorrow to visit my best friend, have a reception to attend tonight, a client yesterday and a Tuesday that was super busy. I can't even remember Monday any more. Throw in the kid, the dog and packing and a few hours relaxing on a plane will be bliss. I spent the time drying my nails thinking about what's left to do before my taxi arrives. I didn't freak out, I simply planned and even if I stay up late (for a early morning flight) I will go to bed with a sense of accomplishment from today and the week. The relaxation on the plane will be a just reward for my hard work this week.

Wise words....

"Time is a currency you can only spend once, so be careful how you spend it." —Harmon Okinyo

Opposites.....

Last night at 11:30 my daughter decided to stop working on her school project due today and finish it in the morning. She then said to me, "I'm a procrastinator." I thought, "how am I a time management coach and my daughter is a procrastinator." The I remembered the old adage--the cobbler's children have no shoes.

For eternity

I just read Kevin Kruse's 15 secrets Successful People Know about Time Management and now I am reading a book of meditations by Marcus Aurelius. Both books, one ancient (literally) and one 21st century, state that time can't be rented, bought or borrowed meaning wasted time is lost time. If this idea/concept has been around for millenniums, then why do some of my clients not get it? I know-- they want to pretend that time is an unlimited resource, when in fact it is finite. There are only 24 hours in day. On this note, I head to bed for my 8 hours sleep. This is how long it takes to recharge my "battery."

As a time management coach.....

"But Time... You can never lose time and get it back again. You can't spend time and go earn more of it. You can't buy it, rent or borrow it." — From 15 Secrets Successful People Know About Time Management by Kevin Kruse

Thank you my ex for gifting me this book; it is a page turner. Sorry to my ex, some friends and former clients who might recipe this book as a gift in the new year along with my nagging you to read it immediately.

The holiday weekend according to my daughter....,

Small plates all around....

I have discovered in my business as a productivity and time management coach that people like a coaching program that is "small plate" which is why my Spring Program, two sessions is outselling my 2 and 4 month programs so far this year.

(Want to know about my program--spring cleaning your day, then email me at Mali@LifeManagementPros.com)

Time for reflection...

Of late, my blog has been sporadic for two reasons—one, I forget about it with all that it is on my mind and two, this gives me pause as to the concept of blog, so for the coming weeks it will be sporadic as a spring clean the blog and mu concept and my house.

Wednesday's words.....The importance of time management

Vodafone Fiji’s Sponsorship and Marketing manager Ligavatu Gukisuva said: “To succeed in life, one needs to manage their time wisely.”

Wednesday's words from Peter Drucker

"Until we can manage time, we can manage nothing else." —Peter Drucker

Tuesday's Tip: to-do list

No matter what you have to do, writing it all down will make sure you don't forget anything important and the back of an envelope will do if you don't have pad or paper handy.

What's important?

While traveling, I am learning that being there for your family is just as important as having a good time and that you can truly only have a good time when your whole family (those traveling with you) feel at ease.

“Effective time management not only helps to improve productivity but also helps you to achieve your goals. As an entrepreneur, one has a limited amount of time and needs to use it wisely.” —Dr. Subhash Chandra

Tuesday's Tip: Make a meeting

If you want to do go to gym, meet a friend for coffee or have dinner with your partner put it on your calendar like a meeting and then you are more likely to do it.