The Six Categories Of Time Management
The way we spend our time can be divided into six categories. Defining these categories of time can help you be aware of how your time is spent, and help you decide if you are spending your time to create the life you want.
Forward-moving (Goal) time
This category is time spent “making progress” towards some goal. The goal can be a project at work, or just the simple goal of making coffee. Many people feel forward-moving time is their most valuable time spent
Maintenance time
This is something we need to do over and over in order to maintain a certain condition or state that we desire. An example is washing the dishes. You wash the dishes, use them again, wash them again, etc. The value of maintenance time is to keep status quo, not necessarily a goal “out there”. Some people have difficulty seeing the value of maintenance time, but when we neglect maintenance time, our lives begin to feel chaotic and overloaded. If we take time to get organized, we must make a priority to take time each day to maintain the newly organized space, or we’ll revert back to a state of disorder.
Creative time
This is time spent thinking or doing something creative. An example is playing a musical instrument, painting, or conceptualizing a plan. Creative time spent may or may not have a goal attached to it.
Social time
Included in this category is time spent with friends or family, or even your pet. Ideally, there is no goal intended in social time.
Renewal time
Anything that renews your body, mind or spirit belongs in this category. It can be having a massage, walking, sleeping, listening to music or just enjoying a sunset. This implies no goal.
Wasted time
Time wasted is any time that does not fit into any of the above five categories. Anything you do which does not truly support your life is wasted. Time spent unconsciously is often wasted. Of course, whether time is wasted or not can change from moment to moment. For instance watching TV can be either renewal time, social time, forward-moving time (if it helps move you toward a desired goal) or wasted time, all depending on your state of mind and purpose in watching TV.
Sometimes our time spent might fall into more than one category. It depends upon our particular purpose for doing that action, and our state of mind while we are doing it. Take playing music as an example. You might be playing music for a particular goal – like earning money (forward-moving). You may be playing in an inspired, creative way (creative time.) You may be playing with friends (social), and you may find that you feel renewed while you are playing.
Anyone would assume that living in Paris for 5 months would be a dream life. However, my husband and I had different viewpoints on how our time was spent when we lived in Paris for 5 months. After about 4 months, I became aware that I needed to have more forward-moving time in my life. Although living in Paris was thrilling, I still needed more purpose than simply enjoying Paris. (I know, you think I’m crazy!) I wanted to get back to my organizing and coaching. I also missed the creative time of playing guitar with friends.
My husband, on the other hand, is an artist. He spent a good part of his day painting. It was creative time for him, and he would have been happy to continue painting forever. Now we’re both back in Massachusetts. He’s painting, I’m organizing and coaching, and we’re both fulfilled. But we do miss Paris.
copyright © 2007, by Patsy Murray and SimpleLife Organizers
Patsy Murray is a Professional Organizer and organizing coach working with clients in Watertown, Massachusetts and the greater Boston area. She organizes homes and home offices of people who feel overwhelmed by too many commitments and too much clutter. She helps them manage their time and simplify their lives so they can work more efficiently with more time to enjoy life. For free organizing tips, visit Patsy’s website, http://www.simplelifeorganizers.com
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