Three Ways to Keep Your Day on Track

“How did it get so late so soon?” – Dr. Seuss

You have the perfect day planned. You are ready to conquer the world. Your priorities are scheduled for the time of day you are most productive; meetings are confirmed and the information you need for them is pulled and ready to go. And, somehow, you have lost track of time and are now running behind and desperately trying to catch up to get your day back on track.

Even when we start the day with everything planned, there is the repeated possibility that things can go off track. How do we stop that from happening? Unless there is a true emergency or something that really is out of your control, you usually can manage your time with intentionality and discipline.
  •           Set a timer. Relying on your natural clock or glancing at the clock on occasion to keep you on-schedule is risky. When we are engrossed in something, time can slip away. You can go from having ten minutes left and then realizing you ran ten minutes late the next time you look at the clock is too great!

  •           Stick to your schedule and push through. When we aren't feeling inspired to work on a specific project at the scheduled time, it is easy to put it off. Don’t do it! This perseverance may be painful at times, but it will train your brain to work on certain topics at certain times, ultimately improving your productivity.

  •           Respect your schedule and the clock. When time is up, it is up. No matter how good a meeting, no matter how close you are to finishing, stop what you are doing and move on. Stopping in the middle of an enjoyable conversation is a wonderful reason to schedule a follow-up meeting. Working on a project, or in the middle of writing? Jot down your notes or thoughts on where you left off, so your great ideas aren’t forgotten when you pick it back up later.

If these behaviors are not natural to you, it will take some time to develop them. Don’t be too hard on yourself or give up if you slip. No one is perfect, and it can take anywhere from two weeks to one year to develop a habit to the point that it is ingrained in you and is an action you take without thinking.

There are several techniques and apps out there that can help you develop these habits. The Pomodoro Technique is an effective way to stay focused, on task, and on time! Gadgets and apps for the Pomodoro Technique abound.

At the beginning of a meeting, set a timer on your phone to vibrate a couple of minutes before it is scheduled to end. This will give you an opportunity to wrap up the conversation and ask for another meeting before time is up. It shows respect for others’ time as well. Just be sure to have it on vibrate so the chime doesn’t go off!
Although these techniques will help you, the most important part of keeping your day on-track is your personal commitment and discipline.

If you need support and encouragement in developing a routine, managing your time, or organizing any other aspect of your business, Carriage Lane Solutions holds the key to the solutions you need! We provide customized plans to meet your individual needs through in-person and virtual sessions. Visit our website for more information.



Location: Savannah, TX, USA

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