May 2003

Manage Your Life — in 15 Minutes

With all of the technological improvements we have at our fingertips, you certainly would think we would get more done. Yet studies show that people today feel more overwhelmed and accomplish less than they did during the last century — before technology came along to improve our lives. This issue of The Beacon sheds some light on how a 15 minute block of time can help make goals become reality — without the click of a mouse or a touch of a keyboard.

Do you feel like you rush around from the moment you get up until you collapse into bed at night without the satisfaction of accomplishing anything of significance? Does it seem like you take care of the minute details, but never have time for the bigger goals in your life? If so, you are not alone. In fact, most people feel that way. But why?

The answer to that question can be found in one word. Deadlines.

The details of our lives have deadlines attached. Client meetings, staff reports, doctor appointments — even phone calls to return and meals to consume. But ironically, the larger goals — such as consistent exercise, spending more time with family or working toward that next degree or promotion — rarely have deadlines attached. And without a deadline we feel overwhelmed, and our dreams fall victim to procrastination.

But there is hope. By following the steps listed below you can make progress on larger goals while still maintaining your sanity and staying in control of life’s other details. And yes, you only have to carve 15 minutes out of your day.

  • Write down three things you want to accomplish this year. Be specific. Do not write "lose weight" or "spend more time with my friends." Commit to how much weight and how much more time with your friends.
  • Rank your three goals in order of importance. You can work on multiple goals but you must be clear about your priorities.
  • Next break down your goals into bite-sized pieces. This is the secret to success. Review each goal and identify interim steps that can be accomplished in 15 minutes. (See example below.) It should be noted that some goals require longer blocks of time — aerobic exercise or a lunch with a friend. If this is the case, you might need to spend two to three hours every other week. The key is to find a realistic time frame for the goal and for you and then stick to it.

  • The Miller-Schmidt 15 Minute Method at Work:

    Writing this article required the following types of 15 minute blocks:

    • 15 minutes brainstorming article ideas
    • 15 minutes creating an outline
    • 15 minutes doing research (15 minutes per article, several articles)
    • 15 minutes writing a rough draft (three 15 minute sessions)
    • 15 minutes editing (two drafts)
    • 15 minutes working with my editor (two 15 minute sessions)

    The entire process took me about two weeks. I had been procrastinating for six months.

    Now on to the next goal!
     

    Now start working toward your goals. This requires you to set 15 minute appointments with yourself to work on your prioritized projects. These appointments become the deadlines that ensure success. You can work on more than one project at a time, but make sure you spend an average of at least 15 minutes a day doing something that will help you make progress toward at least one goal.
  • Can’t find 15 minutes a day? Try for 30-45 minutes per week. If work is slow on Fridays, take 30-45 minutes to work on a longer-term project (work related of course); get to work a half hour early or stay a half hour late. Look for similar patterns when working on personal goals. You might have 15-30 minutes while your toddler is napping, or if your child is always the last one off the athletic field, turn the time you spend waiting in the parking lot into "me time" and work toward one of your goals.

Most important, whatever you do, make your 15 minute segments into appointments (deadlines) that you must keep with yourself. Your family and friends won’t miss you for 15 minutes, but they will surely notice if you are cranky because you feel like you are not making progress.

So go ahead now. Write down those goals. You know you have 15 minutes. No more excuses.

Written by Christy Schmidt, president of Miller-Schmidt & Associates, The Beacon delivers timely and actionable editorial dealing with the challenges and issues business leaders face each day.

The Beacon is an electronic newsletter published monthly by Miller-Schmidt & Associates and delivered free to business professionals working in a wide range of industries worldwide. If you are not already subscribed, Subscribe to subscribe. To unsubscribe, Unsubscribe.

Copyright 2003, Miller-Schmidt & Associates. We encourage sharing The Beacon in whole or in part if copyright and attribution are always included. For additional information please contact Miller-Schmidt & Associates at 562.927.1077