Realistic Time Management

One obstacle on the path I've chosen to take is Time Management. As I've already mentioned, I have a "regular" full-time job, and a daughter, as well as some other commitments. It's enough to keep one quite busy!

So the question is, with all this going on, when and how do I find time to work towards my goal?

The answer is small steps.

In this endeavor, it is of utmost importance to move forward. It can be a huge leap, or a small step, the key here is the forward momentum. Not taking that first step is the path to failure.

You may be saying, "Great words, Jim...but talk is cheap!", and you would be right. Knowing and doing are, and always will be, two separate things. With that in mind, I'm going to share with you an example of how I handled this task last night.

There is an indoor swimming pool in the development I live. My daughter loves going to this pool; she's like a fish in the water! Last weekend was "my" weekend, and I promised her I would take her to the pool. Other things had come up, and we never made it until yesterday. I was determined to keep this promise to my daughter; I feel keeping promises to your children is one of the most important things in life, and I didn't want to let her down. So, as I mentioned, last night, I finally took her to the pool. She had a friend join her so she wouldn't be bored, since Dad here can't seem to find his swim trunks! To pass the time, I brought the previously mentioned Scott McCloud book and my sketch pad. I read and did some sketching, getting in some of that forward momentum I mentioned. There was a swimming instructor in the pool, plus I was never more than a few feet away from my daughter, giving me some peace of mind in that respect.

I also spent my lunch yesterday working on the script/story for a personal project I've had going on for a few years now. It forces me to eat slower, which is supposed to make you feel more full and eventually eat less, another benefit of this option.

The point here is that there are opportunities throughout the day; you just have to notice them. Even if you only do something for 10 minutes, it's a step forward towards your goal. Feel proud of that, not discouraged, because you are MOVING! That, my friends, is the key.

On a final note, there will be times when you can't fit anything in; that is the reality of life. I was sick for a few days last week and did little else but sleep. As creators, we tend to get depressed during this time, as we aren't working. I've found that this type of depression can quickly lead to giving up if you let it, so I want to add that you MUST learn to FORGIVE yourself for those types of days. Life will throw things at you that knock you off the path from time to time; falling off isn't important, getting back on is.

Try to think of at least one thing you can do today at any given time that moves you towards your goal, and feel proud of it. If you are having one of those days, promise yourself you'll get back on track. Don't quit, don't get angry at yourself - find solutions, not problems. This, I feel, leads to more realistic time management, which in turn brings you closer to your goal.