Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Winner and Time Thieves

Congratulations to Stina Rose, winner of an electronic copy of Lynnette Bonner’s new release, Rocky Mountain Oasis. Stina Rose, Please send your email address to me at jeanettelevellie (at) gmail (dot) com and I will forward it to Lynnette. I am so happy for you!
Thanks to all who participated in the contest.

And now a word about time thieves:



Everyone wrestles with the monster of overcrowded schedules and time thieves. At a recent writers’ conference I purchased Time Management for the Creative Person by Lee Silber. My only problem is, I don’t have time to read it!

Until I can carve out some time to read Mr. Sibler’s new wisdom, here is a favorite old strategy that’s saved me tons of time:

1. Even if I’m doing nothing the following day but staying home to write, I choose my outfit the night before. Staring into the closet at five-thirty in the morning trying to match a blouse to pants while I’m half awake takes me three times as long as picking something out at eight-thirty the night before.

What are some time management strategies you’ve discovered that work for you? Please share and possibly help a fellow traveler who's struggling this week. Thanks and blessings on you as you write for your Audience of ONE,
Jen

15 comments:

  1. Congrats to Stina!

    I think about what I want to get done ahead of time. I try not to overload myself and usually leave my afternoons free for reading and outside time with the kids.
    I do things based on what the kids are doing. ARe they eating? Great, that's a good time to clean the toilets so they won't get into poison. If they're playing, I fold clothes. :-)
    Not sure my schedule is the best, but it works for me. :-)

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  2. I take a nap to renew my mind. It also keeps me from pinging all over the place trying to make the unorganized organized!

    The nap gives me a fresh start and I do not feel overwhelmed.

    smooches,
    Larie

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  3. I plan out a monthly menu. At the beginning of the month I get all of the main groceries (actually most of the time hubby does!), then I cook up and freeze the meat, so that my meal prep time on a daily basis is cut in half.

    Maybe you'll have to do a future post listing all of the suggestions you get today! I definitely need more tips on how to save time!

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  4. My biggest time saver is to put everything back in its place. Saves tons of time "looking" for things. :O)

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  5. Congratulations, Stina!!

    Multi-tasking is my thing to help with time management, but I still never have enough time.

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  6. Great ideas, ladies; thank you!

    Yes, I will definitely do a future posting on time saving techniques for the busy writer. Thanks for the idea, Jody!

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  7. Popped over from On the Path. Hope you don't mind if I splash around a bit here. Your words are encouraging and it is a pure joy to meet writers who are using their syllables for HIs glory.

    Blessings from Costa Rica,
    Sarah Dawn

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  8. Congrats to the winner!

    Time management...hmm.. If I have a ton of energy I try and do as much housework as possible. I'm always thrilled when that's out of the way and I like the house neat and clean ;) How is your WIP coming?

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  9. Thank you for all the congratulations, and thank you Jen for the giveaway!

    My biggest timesavers would be my to-do list and keeping things put away where they belong.

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  10. I lovc these!
    T Anne, my wip is inching along slowly. I'm at 34% now; would love to be at 76 or 100, but God will help me get there. Thanks for asking!

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  11. Someone told me a time management tip once that stuck with me. She said if there's something you're dreading doing, go ahead and do it. You waste a ton of time just THINKING about doing it.

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  12. My kids are grown, but my folks don't drive--so after my part time work in the am, I'm driving to grocery, and lots of doctors offices. I've started bringing my books, notebook and pen to the waiting rooms to get some work done there. Now if I can just get my dear folks to stop asking me what's going on in the book or what am I writing the whole time, that might be a great idea...snicker.:)

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  13. Get up at 5:00 and glue your behind to the computer chair until you reach your page goal.

    Stay off of Facebook.

    Stay off of all blogs--except this one.

    Eat chocolate. No. Matter. What.

    You are the best ever. Love you.
    Patti

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  14. Whew! And I thought I was doing well to be up at 5:30!

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  15. When it gets really bad, I make a list and I love to cross off things for the week! My time slips away when my husband is around and that is hard! Today, just getting my hair dryed and going to Walmart is eating up my time!

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Oh, it's YOU! I'm so happy to see you here today, and look forward to reading your comments.