Time Management – A 4 part plan for lazy people.

I like to consider myself  an organized person – my husband may think otherwise, but when it comes to what I do each day I’m logical and can get to a solution quickly.  However, when it comes to my time management and personal organization – I’m not good at all.  Quite frankly, I stink.

So, after a very un-organized and unsucessful day and staff training day (due largely to my unorganization) I spent some time thinking about ways to help myself become more productive and organized.  I came up with what I like to call a 4 part time management plan for lazy people.

I’ve never read a time management book, but I’m going to give this a shot the next few days.  We’re about to get extremely busy and hey- any attempt at organization is better than none, right?  My fingers are crossed.  I’ll check back in, in a week and we’ll see how things are going! So here goes:

The first thing to know is my plan is that it is based around deadlines.  I like deadlines. It’s also made for me – I use vendors that schedule every two weeks – it works for me, maybe not you.

Each day will be include 4 scheduled segments: Forecasting, Planning, Scheduling and Dreaming

Part 1 – Forecasting. Look at your calendar for a week out and then two weeks out. Request all vendors for 2 weeks out, confirm all vendors for 1 week out.  Get all upcoming rehearsal schedules on your calendar and ready to schedule.  Update your calendar.  Forecast any performances, events or tasks to delegate.  Make forecasting task list

Part 2 – Planning. Getting down and dirty with the events, performances and meetings of the week.  Make task list.  Plan for upcoming meetings, delegate tasks, set goals for the week.

Part 3 – Scheduling. Schedule set times each day for certain items on task list.  Sample items on schedule are:  Task list blast hour, Request and confirm vendors, update front of house briefing book, Long term planning, check staff schedules, etc.

Part 4 – Dream.  Think big.  Think long term.  Take one step towards making a long term goal happen.