The Great Wall of Time
Clients, who try to cram their many electronic calendar task items onto a line or fill their small calendar pages with action steps, feel their life is overcrowded. They can’t imagine how to fit their goals into their week. I’ve always coached clients who feel restricted or overwhelmed by this restriction of space to write their goals in a large timeline.
To be able to see it clearly and realistically, I invite clients to get large butcher paper or tape several 8 ½ x 11 pages together and pin it to a wall. Then create what Tim Hurson in Think Better calls such a time grid, “The Great Wall of Time.” The header on this large page should be labeled time periods from days to weeks to months, a month at a time, or however it’s easiest for you to visualize and plan your objective’s timeframe.
It’s an amazingly simple process, yet immediately feels less restrictive. To make it even more playful, I suggest using colored crayons or markers. You can underline or highlight the main steps underneath the time periods with your sub-action steps below each of these main steps. There’s no reason that working out your timeframe for action steps should be a painful, laborious process. It should, however, be clear, complete and simplify what actions need to be taken.
What time management system do you find effective?
