What;do;you;think;of;when you hear the phrase “time;management”?;Is;it really possible to manage
time? No, not really. Although we cannot
manipulate or control how much time
we;are;given;in;a;day;or;a;week;or;our
lifetime, what we can do is manage ourselves so that we use the time we have in
an;efficient;way.
We can approach each day in either
panic mode or prepared mode. The
choice is really up to us. We need to rea-lize;that;we;can;take;charge;of;how;we
manage our approach to completing
tasks and making it to appointments
on time. Yes, occasionally there are un-expected;factors;that;can;influence;how
long;it;takes;to;get;something;done,;but
we;can;usually;minimize;these;factors;by
being;prepared;instead;of;panicked.
Let’s;take;a;look;at;a;panicked;approach
to;a;day’s;activities;and;then;walk;through
the same day with a prepared approach to
see the differences that just a few choices
here;and;there;can;make.
Panic!
The;day;starts;with;Mom;knowing;that
everyone needs to be out the door by
a certain time to make it to the family reunion. The reunion will be at her
cousin’s;house;in;a;town;about;50;miles
away.;Mom;is;pretty;sure;she;can;find;her
cousin’s;place,;even;though;she;has;never
been there before.
Everyone is to bring a dish to share,
and;as;Mom;is;preparing;to;make;her;fa-
mous;Chinese;noodle;salad,;she;realizes
she . . . has no noodles. She decides to
prepare something else but continues to
lack;necessary;ingredients;as;she;reviews
a;variety;of;recipes.;She;finally;decides;to
stop;at;the;grocery;store;to;pick;up;some-
thing ready-made.
Now Mom is attempting to get her
children dressed and is scrambling to
round up their swimming suits, extra
play clothes, and toys. One child is in-sisting;she;must;wear;that;sparkly;dress
that;Mom;knows;is;in;the;laundry,;and
another child is complaining because
he;can’t;find;his;favorite;ball;cap.;Mom
tells her daughter to wear something else
and;finds;a;different;cap;for;her;son.;The
group;finally;makes;it;into;the;car.
Mom;stops;at;the;store;to;pick;up;her
dish for the reunion and happens to see a
friend from church. Mom and the friend
chat for a while, but when Mom sudden-ly;realizes;how;much;time;has;slipped
by,;she;rushes;to;the;deli;to;pick;up;some
potato salad.
www.TheOldSchoolhouse.com
By;Christy;Acre
Prepared;or;Panicked—
It Could Go Either Way!
.;.;.;The;more;prepared;we;are,;the;less;panicked;we;will;be.
