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Posts Tagged ‘time management’

Do You Know What’s for Dinner?

Posted in Healthy Finances, Healthy People, tagged healthy eating, meal planning, time management, Wellness on February 15, 2024| 1 Comment »

In my house, “Do you have a plan for dinner?” is the dreaded question. If you have faced more than one evening drive home trying to remember what might be in the refrigerator and pantry at home to make a meal, you are not alone. Some days, it’s just all too much and requires a stop at the store on the way home or ordering take-out.

Believe it or not, planning meals or menus in advance really does not take a lot of extra time and can have HUGE benefits. It makes sense that planning our menus encourages cooking at home. Did you also know that menu planning is associated with consuming an overall healthier diet and less obesity? Menu planning can help save money as we use what is on hand and plan to use what is in season and on sale. It reduces stress by eliminating last minute decisions and rushing. Lastly, meal planning saves time by allowing us to prepare recipes or ingredients ahead as needed.

Let me share some examples:

To have a clue of what is “on hand,” do an inventory of your freezer and pantry about twice a year. Post those inventories and edit as items are used.
On weekends or whenever you have time, do what you can to get food prepped for meals and snacks during the week. Vegetables and fruits prepped and portioned. Eggs hard cooked, cheese cubed, etc.
Use a magnetic weekly calendar (or just a notepad) to plan dinners. Take into consideration what you have on hand, weekly schedules, and any good weekly grocery deals. Knowing what is for dinner each night (at least the main dishes), allows you to plan and pull items from the freezer days in advance for adequate thawing.

If you are at a loss for where to start, keep it simple. Plan to include 3 food groups at each meal or 2 food groups at a snack (and make sure one of them is always a fruit or vegetable). You can also visit this Planning Meals resource from CDC. Our Extension colleagues from Texas A&M University have a great program called Dinner Tonight, providing recipes, cooking tips, and resources. If you love your slow cooker, our colleague Amanda Bohlen in Washington County shared 31 recipes during “Crock-tober-fest 2021”.

What makes planning meals easier for you? Please share your tips in the comments!

Written by: Kate Shumaker, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Holmes County

Reviewed by: Laura Halladay, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Greene County

References:

Ducrot, P., Méjean, C., Aroumougame, V. et al. Meal planning is associated with food variety, diet quality and body weight status in a large sample of French adults. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 14, 12 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-017-0461-7

Meal Prep guide. (2020, October 2). The Nutrition Source. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/meal-prep/

Ohio State University Extension (n.d.). Crock-Tober Fest 2021. https://washington.osu.edu/program-areas/family-and-consumer-sciences/crock-tober-fest-2021

Planning meals and snacks. (2023, August 16). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/healthy_eating/meals.html

Texas A&M University (n.d.). Dinner Tonight. https://dinnertonight.tamu.edu/

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Simplify Your Schedule

Posted in Healthy People, Healthy Relationships, tagged balance work life, calendar, priority, schedule, time management on April 21, 2022| Leave a Comment »

As springtime activities get into full swing, are you busier than you’d like to be? Do you find it difficult to get everything done on your to do list? Even more importantly, does your calendar match your priorities in life? If not, maybe it is time to de-clutter your schedule and reestablish your priorities.

planner on table with vase of flowers and jar of sidewalk chalk

Many of us wear our busyness like a badge of honor when maybe instead it’s a burden that needs lightened. Organizational and time management skills can help you be more efficient. But even the best time management strategies aren’t enough to tackle a schedule that is just too full. We tend to over-estimate what we can accomplish in a day, and under-estimate the amount of time a certain task will take. Maybe we need to observe our patterns, acknowledge our limits, and clarify the values that add meaning to our lives. These principles apply to both work and personal life.

There is no easy checklist for finding balance, but here are some things to consider:

Set priorities. Sometimes that means making tough choices… letting some thing(s) go. Before committing to yet another project or volunteer opportunity or an activity for your child, ask yourself if it fits into your priorities.

father-figure blowing bubbles with 2 little girls on grass

Get on the same page. Make sure your family agrees on priorities. Before you add a big commitment to the calendar, check with your spouse or partner to avoid unnecessary time crunches.
Acknowledge your limits. As much as we try to do it all, we have limits. Be realistic with your calendar and your energy level on the number of commitments you have, and do the same for the other members of your family to avoid having overscheduled kids.
Say no. We probably kick ourselves more often for saying yes when we should have said no (than the other way around). No is such a little word, and yet it holds so much power to free up the schedule.
Keep your focus. Reestablishing priorities is a cyclical process as we go through life. Make sure those priorities show up on your daily to do list, as a way of being intentional about keeping your focus on what is most important.

For more information, check out these blog articles about how to create margin in your life and find balance.

Writer: Shannon Carter, Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Fairfield County, carter.413@osu.edu

Reviewer: Jenny Lobb, Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Franklin County, lobb.3@osu.edu

References:
Carter, S. “Creating Margin in Your Life.” Live Smart Ohio blog, Ohio State University Extension, August 2017.

Carter, S. “Overscheduled Kids.” Live Smart Ohio blog, Ohio State University Extension, May 2017.

Price, R. et al. Time Management: 10 Strategies for Better Time Management (C 1042) University of Georgia Extension, April 2020.

Treber, M. “Balancing Act – Helping You Find Your Balance.” Live Smart Ohio blog, Ohio State University Extension, September 2015.

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Overcoming Pandemic Paralysis

Posted in Healthy People, Healthy Relationships, Mindfulness, tagged anxiety, Mindfulness, pandemic, Stress, time management on January 28, 2021| 2 Comments »

I sat for what seemed like a frustrating amount of hours and minutes every day… zooming, teleworking, watching television, healing from back pain (exacerbated by long hours on the computer)… almost immobilized by fear, depression, anxiety, lack of motivation… and I felt guilty… why wasn’t I connecting more with my teen children, who are struggling through this pandemic with their own issues; connecting more with my husband who is a teacher and so exhausted from teaching all day, trying to motivate his students to hold it together, that he is crashed out napping in the other room? Why wasn’t I more effective with supervising my work teams? Is this all that life has right now? Is this what the next several months will be like? Maybe.

Have you been here? When there are things you must do, but you just can’t move? This phenomenon has been termed “pandemic paralysis” recently by psychologists and popular press. This paralysis can leave us feeling defeated, deflated and depressed.

And then one evening that just seemed to drag on endlessly, I got up and cleaned the bathroom in my home. That felt motivating in and of itself, as it had been too long-neglected. So I cleaned another bathroom, then the kitchen. I asked my husband for help on a project I couldn’t do by myself. Then my kids came home and my daughter asked for help with studying, and my son needed to talk through an issue that was bothering him. And I had energy and desire to assist. I re-connected with a sense of purpose even in my own home. With the next workday, I was re-committed to the teams and staff I support and supervise. I want to help others be their best self, contributing to the best team. I reached out to a couple friends and acquaintances to check on how they were doing.

How can we switch from that time paralyzed on the couch to feeling productive and worthwhile? Sometimes, we just need to do something. Living with the uncertainty of so many issues in this pandemic can be exhausting and paralyzing. But take heart, there are some things we can do.

Start with what you CAN do. Try to impact some things you can control.

Shift from worry and problem-focused thinking to solution-focused thinking. Focus on aspects of a problem that you can do something about, and you’ll enter a mode of active problem-solving.

Chunk your time – This term is used by mental health professionals to help people understand how to break tasks into smaller, more do-able segments. Creating just the right size chunk of a task helps you feel a sense of accomplishment. This helps us not to feel so overwhelmed, which can snuff out any degree of motivation. This is a good approach to ‘one day at a time’ or ‘one moment at a time.’

Deal with your emotions. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with fear and anxiety. Try to deal with those negative emotions instead of ignoring them. Allow yourself to experience these emotions during times of uncertainty, and they will eventually pass.

If you struggle greatly with the need for control and certainty, perhaps that is something to learn to let go of. Helpguide.org has lots of practical tips and a meditation.

If you literally don’t have the strength to get up, get some help. Call your doctor, talk to a licensed mental health practitioner. Please reach out to someone!

If you can impact your immediate environment enough to make a small, motivating change, you can create that power in your own life. The power of now. The power of the positive. The power of finding purpose. What if the ‘something’ you do is so much greater than cleaning a bathroom? What if what you decide to do is help someone beyond your family, reaching out to those in need. How much more will that help you feel empowered to do something? Do anything!

Other Live Healthy Live Well Blogs to help on this topic:

Sources:

Cloyd, S. “Productivity: The Time Chunking Method.” Rhodes College Academic and Learning Resources. https://sites.rhodes.edu/academic-and-learning-resources/news/productivity-time-chunking-method

Robinson, L and Smith, M. 2020. “Dealing with Uncertainty During the Coronavirus Pandemic.” Helpguide.org. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/anxiety/dealing-with-uncertainty.htm

“Your Mental Health During the Covid-19 Pandemic.” 2021. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. https://labs.icahn.mssm.edu/brycelab/covid-19-guidance-for-our-spinal-cord-injury-community/your-mental-health-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/

Written by: Shannon Carter, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Fairfield County, carter.413@osu.edu.

Reviewed by: Jenny Lobb, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Franklin County, lobb.3@osu.edu

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Time Flies When You’re Busy

Posted in Healthy People, tagged busy, priorities, schedules, time, time management, To Do List on October 19, 2020| Leave a Comment »

I heard a quote recently that stood out to me: “The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.” I feel often like the days are flying or moving faster than I would like. This quote reminded me that I am in control.

Controlling your time and schedule isn’t easy and something that takes constant adjustments and awareness.

Dwight D. Eisenhower shared a matrix that he used to help with tasks and prioritizing his time. It can help you with that list as you:

1. Identify at a glance what needs to be done.

2. Move tasks around based on how important or urgent.

3. Have an overview of where you need to focus your attention in the short and long-term.

4. Stay on top of all your to-do lists.

Let me share an example from my own life. While working from home I knew I would miss the movement that accompanies my usual daily tasks. I am not often confined to a desk and I prefer moving around. I look forward to classes at the gym for the movement and socialization. Using Eisenhower’s model I went through each step with my movement and working from home concerns in mind.

Identify at a glance what needs to be done: I need to work some walks and movement into my new workday, as well as other times throughout my day.

Move tasks around based on how important or urgent: I will start my day with a workout; an exercise video or a run. I will also take a stretch break in the afternoon and stand to complete some of my work tasks. I can listen to music and I gave myself permission to dance. Occasionally, I’ll even invite my new “coworkers” join. 😉

Have an overview of where you need to focus your attention in the short and long-term: I set reminders on my phone and log my workouts in an app to track progress.

Stay on top of all your to-do lists: each week I look at my tasks, my needs and make any necessary adjustments.

With so many of us moving our offices to our home, some kids schooling from home, gyms closed, activities reduced and more it can disrupt our normal routines. These disruptions can throw us off balance and create extra obstacles to overcome. Using these to guide your priorities and the matrix to determine your schedule and to-do list can help with any changes you might be dealing with related to staying home and other battles.

I am no Dwight D. Eisenhower commanding the Allied forces in Europe or a president making decisions for the entire United States, BUT I am in command of my own time and to-do list, and you are too!

Writer: Alisha Barton, Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Miami County, barton.345@osu.edu

Reviewers: Courtney Woelfl, Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Chuyahoga County, woelfl.1@osu.edu

References:

Eisenhower’s Urgent/Important Principle: Using Time Effectively, Not Just Efficiently; http://commonhealth.virginia.gov/documents/wellnotes/UsingTimeEffectivelyNotJustEfficiently.pdf.

Midgie, BillT, Mind Tools Content Team, Mind Tools Content Team, & Mind Tools Content Team. Eisenhower’s Urgent/Important Principle: Using Time Effectively, Not Just Efficiently. Retrieved from https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newHTE_91.htm

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Enjoy the Inhale

Posted in Healthy Relationships, tagged healthly people, healthy holidays, holiday planning, Holiday Stress, Holidays, stress management, stress reduction, time management on December 19, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Inhale. It means to breathe in. Slow or controlled breathing is often used to reduce heart rate, calm emotions, and lower stress. This controlled breathing technique has been around thousands of years in yoga, meditation, and other health practices. I saw this advice recently reminding me to inhale during this holiday season, and I loved it.

When I saw the admonition to inhale, I took it as a reminder to take it all in. That is the inhale; be purposeful in choosing what to take in and what to pass on. Our holiday schedule looked extra hectic this year with one daughter dancing in a professional nutcracker production, a new college student rejoining our family for her extended break, travel for work and a visit from my parents. I knew with all this I had to be extra careful about what I inhaled.

Taking that same definition of inhaling and applying it to our holiday busyness can be difficult. We are often rushing from event to event, and tackling a never-ending list of holiday fun. Advice is always easier to give than take in and follow. Several friends shared with me what they do to inhale the holidays. These can be simple, such as:

Spending a quiet morning before everyone is up, enjoying coffee and the Christmas tree and remembering why we celebrate the holiday. ~ Sarah

Making an effort to turn off the TV and put away phones so that family time can be enjoyed. ~ Amanda R.

Spending some quiet time and making sure to get quality sleep. ~ Jessica

Making an effort to start each day with an intention and not rushing out the door. ~ Amanda W.

Admiring a Christmas tree in the darkness and taking a moment to be grateful. ~ Lorrissa

Taking a few minutes after work to take some deep breaths, and reflect and center before joining family and evening activities. ~ Amanda B.

Other ideas included some simple planning to emphasize the events and traditions that matter most, such as:

Making a December bucket list of the most important activities and traditions and hanging it up for the family to see. This makes it easy to say, “This isn’t a priority for us” when things come up. ~ Becky

Make an effort and a plan to focus on small acts of kindness and simple holiday experiences. Leaving treats for a mail carrier, dancing to Christmas music, or driving around to look at lights, have these things planned out so they can be included and enjoyed. ~ Amber

Besides having a plan and making simple changes, prioritizing and self-care can help with your holiday inhale. Other ways to inhale include:

Reflect on what is important to your holiday celebrations. Realize that this may change over time. Thinking about what is most important will help you to be intentional when choosing how and who to spend your time with. It is hard to make your holiday meaningful if you don’t decide before the rush starts what gives it meaning.

Ask for help. Let your family know how they can support or help with holiday tasks and plans. Accept their offers to contribute. This will help involve them, as well as lighten your workload. This can also be a way to share traditions or teach skills with children and other family members.

Keep in mind the holiday season is a marathon, not a sprint. In other words, pace yourself. If adding an extra party or gift to your schedule causes you stress, then don’t. The parties, events, gifts that you do choose to participate in- inhale! Be present as you experience and participate in them.

Take care of yourself. Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Extra social gatherings can be fun, but do not compromise your physical, mental or financial wellness by doing too much. Acknowledge that you cannot do everything for everyone. Practice saying “no” without guilt.

Do not throw out your routine. Do your best to make healthy food choices, relax, exercise and get plenty of sleep. Sticking to your routines will help with your endurance and patience as you manage the holiday.

Most importantly, whatever you do this holiday season, enjoy the inhale!

Writer: Alisha Barton, Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Miami County, barton.345@osu.edu

Reviewers: Lorrissa Dunfee, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Belmont County, Dunfee.54@osu.edu

Sources:

LifeCare Inc. (2011). Managing Holiday Stress. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.wfm.noaa.gov/pdfs/Conquering_Stress_Handout_1.pdf

Butanis, B. (2014, June 9). Ten Tips for Enjoying the Holidays. Retrieved from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/stories/ten_tips_for_enjoying_holidays.html.

Keep it Real This Season. (2019, December 4). Retrieved from https://livehealthyosu.com/2019/12/05/keep-it-real-this-season/.

LifeCare Inc. (2011). Managing Holiday Stress. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.wfm.noaa.gov/pdfs/Conquering_Stress_Handout_1.pdf

Russo, M. A., Santarelli, D. M., & O’Rourke, D. (2017, December 1). The physiological effects of slow breathing in the healthy human. Retrieved from https://breathe.ersjournals.com/content/13/4/298.

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Need an Energy Boost?

Posted in Healthy People, tagged energy, goal setting, stress management, time management on March 14, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Do you ever feel like you have too much to do and not enough time to get it all accomplished? If that sounds like “the story of your life,” you are certainly not alone!

A few months ago, I had the opportunity to attend a training in energy management offered by my employer. At the training, I learned that the average person’s energy capacity peaks around age 25 or 30, but demands on our time increase with age. Many of those demands are due to responsibilities we choose to take on, such as raising families and taking promotions at work. However, that doesn’t lessen the squeeze we feel trying to do more in less time. While we are unable to add more hours to the day no matter how hard we work, experts suggest that managing energy rather than time can help you feel more satisfied and less stressed in your life. It may also improve your physical, mental and social health, since we tend to sacrifice sleep, relationships, exercise, healthy eating and more when we feel caught up in the demands of day-to-day life.

To begin managing and maximizing your energy, see the infographic below to learn about the four different dimensions of energy and strategies you might use for improving each of them in your own life.

As you review the dimensions, take inventory of whether you are engaging in energy promoting or energy depleting behaviors in each realm. To maximize energy, you need to recharge yourself every time you expend a significant amount of your energy. This means incorporating energy promoting behaviors into your routine in place of any energy depleting behaviors that you regularly engage in, despite how hard it may seem to make a change. But, rather than viewing the change as “one more thing” you have to do, try to view the change as an investment in yourself. You might ask yourself the following reflection questions to identify realistic, attainable changes you could make:

Who or what is getting my energy?
Is my energy flow aligned with what I want or value in life?

If the answer to the second question is “no”, it might be time to make a change in the direction of your energy flow. Your life will feel more purposeful and meaningful when your energy flow aligns with your ultimate life goals and values. Take some time today to evaluate whether you are using your energy in a way that invigorates and revitalizes your whole self.

Written by: Jenny Lobb, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Franklin County, lobb.3@osu.edu

Reviewed by: Shannon Carter, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Fairfield County

Sources:

Schwartz, T. and McCarthy, C. (2007). Manage Your Energy, Not Your Time. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2007/10/manage-your-energy-not-your-time

The Ohio State University College of Nursing (2018). Are You a Health Athlete or a Nurse Athlete? https://healthathlete.org/

University of Michigan, Ross School of Business (2017). Ross Professor Shares 11 Ways to Boost Your Energy and Get More Done. http://positiveorgs.bus.umich.edu/news/ross-professor-shares-11-ways-to-boost-your-energy-and-get-more-done/

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Swinging In To School

Posted in Healthy Finances, Healthy People, Healthy Relationships, tagged back to school, family, savings, time management on July 31, 2017| Leave a Comment »

It’s hard to believe that summer is coming to an end. The family day trips to the amusement park or zoo, and our time lazing around the pool will soon be over until next year. Do you find the transition from summer into the routines of the school year school-1549880_1920 difficult? I find that I sometimes struggle with the back-to-school schedule more than my two children (who are now a freshman and a sophomore in high school). Because of my struggles, I want to share some tips from Kids.gov and USA.gov. Both sites create and organize timely, needed government information and services that is accessible anytime, anywhere, via your channel of choice.

Ease into the School Routine
- Start going to bed and waking up on a schedule similar to the school year. Remember that teens need 9-10 hours of sleep per night, school age children need 10 hours and preschoolers need 11-12 hours.
- Make a family docking station in the living room or kitchen for mobile phones and electronics. By not allowing these in the bedrooms, teens and pre-teens will get a better night’s sleep. You can also set a house rule that phones may not be checked until the morning routine is complete. Purchase a cheap alarm clock if you hear, “I need to have my phone/tablet/etc. in my room because it has my alarm on it.”

Teach Time Management
- Routine is very important. Talk to your children and set a daily schedule together and follow it. Don’t forget to include wake-up, showering, teeth brushing, homework, (outdoor) play time/physical activity, screen-time, reading together, family meals, and bed time. If something unscheduled comes up, see if other things can be adjusted to accommodate it.
- Use pictures for your preschoolers and early readers and a checklist for the pre-teens and teens. Don’t forget to agree upon the outcomes if the schedule is followed (a special privilege) or if it is not (a consequence). Your weekend schedule will most likely be different so map that out too.

Pack a Nutritious Lunch
- A well-balanced meal will help provide the nutrients to get through the long days.
- It helps to allow your children choices when packing their lunch. Allow them to pack their lunch (and even yours), so that together your family is making the choice to eat healthier.

Listen
- Talk to your children about what’s coming up in the next few weeks. Talk through the schedule and the changes that will be happening as school starts. Listen to their excitement and their fears. Make a plan together for having the best school year yet.
- Don’t forget to check in with them each day and listen for what they say (and what they don’t say, especially with the pre-teens and teens).
Shop Smart
- Pick up the school supply list now and take advantage of the many sales and coupons that are available. Use your mobile device to download coupons and always ask if a store has any coupons available. Check the closets before you head out shopping and only purchase what you need.
- Take advantage of Ohio’s tax free weekend for more savings: August 4-6.

Good luck getting back into the swing of the school year. May your school year be blessed with many wonderful memories! Enjoy every teachable moment and find something fabulous in each day!

Written By: Jami Dellifield, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Hardin County

Reviewed By: Misty Harmon, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Perry County

Sources:

https://kids.usa.gov/parents/health-and-safety/back-to-school/index.shtml

https://www.usa.gov/features/get-ready-for-school-8-tips-for-parents-from-kid

s-gov

https://www.freetaxweekend.com/ohio-tax-free-weekend/

http://health.uncc.edu/news/electronic-devices-may-hamper-teens%E2%80%99-sleep

https://www.cps-k12.org/families-students/health-wellness/healthy-lunches/teens/lunches

Photo:

https://pixabay.com/en/school-holidays-recovery-leisure-1549880/

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Are You Overscheduled?

Posted in Healthy Relationships, tagged busy, priorities, Stress, time management, Work–life balance on May 8, 2017| Leave a Comment »

Do you find yourself running from one activity or commitment to another? Do you find it difficult to get everything done on your to do list? Do you get to the end of your week and wonder where it went? If so, maybe it is time to reestablish your priorities.

Many of us wear our busyness like a badge of honor when maybe instead it’s a burden that needs unloaded. Organizational and time management skills can help you be more efficient. But even the best time management strategies aren’t enough to tackle a schedule that is just too full. David Goldsmith in his book, “Paid to Think: A Leader’s Toolkit to Redefining Your Future” recommends scheduling only up to 60% of your day. That leaves you a cushion of 40% for interruptions, delays and the unexpected. We tend to be over-optimistic about what we can accomplish in a day. This principle applies to both work and personal life.

There is no easy checklist for finding that balance, but here are some things to consider:

Set priorities… and that means making tough choices… letting something go. Before committing to yet another project or volunteer opportunity or an activity for your child… ask yourself if it fits into the 60% of your life. Does it align with your family’s priorities?

Get on the same page. Make sure your family agrees on priorities. Before you add a big commitment to the family calendar, check with your spouse to avoid unnecessary time crunches.

Realize you cannot do everything. As much as we try to do it all, we have limits. Be realistic with your calendar and your energy level on the number of commitments you have.

Say no. We probably kick ours family-2149453_960_720 elves more often for saying yes when we should have said no. Such a little word and yet so much power to free up the schedule. There is a great Live Smart Ohio blog for points to consider about overscheduled kids .

Keep your focus. Reestablishing priorities is a cyclical process as we go through life. Make sure those priorities show up on your daily to do list, as a way of being intentional about keeping your focus on what is most important.

Written by: Shannon Carter, Extension Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Fairfield County

Reviewed by: Misty Harmon, Extension Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Perry County

Sources:

Chapman, S & Rupured, M. Time Management: 10 Strategies for Better Time Management (C 1042), University of Georgia Extension, April 2014.

Goldsmith, D. Paid to Think: A Leader’s Toolkit to Redefining Your Future. BenBella Books, Inc., Oct 23, 2012.

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Time and Life Management: Choose Your Life Principles!

Posted in Healthy People, Healthy Relationships, tagged life principles, Lifestyles, time management on October 26, 2015| Leave a Comment »

What is the difference between right and wrong? How are you affected by success or failure in your life? How do you deal with the realities of life and the challenges of our quick-paced social, media and technology world? What Life Principles have you internalized and incorporated into your daily activities so that you have a better quality of life?

What are Life Principles?

Life Principles are universal laws which are changeless and if they are at the center of your life, they will make the quality of your life much, much better. A moral rule or belief that helps you know what is right and wrong and that influences your actions is a Life Principle.

What are the benefits from having Life Principles?

They are numerous and unlimited and include some of the following: Flexibility; Trust; Love; Courage; Effectiveness; Positive Energy; Pride; Creativity; Self-esteem and Confidence.

What are the Life Principles you live by?

It is important to reflect upon, appreciate and choose what is important to you and the life you want to live. It is even more important to choose Life Principles which support your beliefs of family, friends, work, home, spirituality, community, relationships, self-awareness, education, happiness and helping others.

What are some important Life Principles?

Contribution
Integrity
Reciprocity
Positive expectations.
Being what you seek.
Connectedness
Love
Self-Discipline.
Moderation
Patient Persistence.

What’s one final thought about Life Principles?

Remember to choose your Life Principles before someone chooses them for you!

Written by: Janet Wasko Myers, Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development, Ohio State University Extension, Clark County, myers.31@osu.edu

Reviewed by: Kathy Green, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Clark County, green.1405@osu.edu

Source:

Time and Life Mastery – Putting First Things First, Developed by Kurt Utterback, Presented by Communicate Institute Training and Development in partnership with Walsh University, North Canton, Ohio, Graduate courses for teachers, WEB: www.communicateinstitute.com/

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Time and Life Management: What is your Destiny?

Posted in Healthy People, tagged healthy choices, Healthy Living, Lifestyles, Stress, time management, Wellness on October 2, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Are you stressed out about everything and anything? Does your life lack direction and focus? Are you trying to get more done with less time and fewer people to help? Well, I believe it’s never too late to challenge yourself to become more effective and efficient in everything you do. NOW is the time to learn about yourself and develop those habits and skills which will help you to choose your destiny!

Which “quotes” will inspire you?

Find inspirational quotes which will get you moving and post them at locations where you will see them often such as your work desk, refrigerator, entrance to your home, car, computer, etc. In the words of Oliver Wendell Holmes, “The great thing in this world is not so much where we are, but in what direction we are moving.” Booker T. Washington knew what he was talking about when he said “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.”

What do you value and believe in?

It’s important to reflect upon, appreciate and acknowledge what is important to you in your life. How would you rank the following on a value and belief system: Family; Friends; Work; Home; Spirituality; Community; Relationships; Self-Awareness; Education; Happiness; Helping Others; etc.?

What are some important Time and Life Management Tips?

Choose Your Attitude and make it positive and proactive.
Set Goals which lead to a successful and productive life.
Make a Priority List because not everything is of equal importance.
Analyze and Evaluate to determine where your time and life are going.
Plan to “Get It Done” with intent and determination.
Keep to a Schedule as your way of keeping a promise to your commitments.
Eliminate Interruptions as much as possible.
Condense Paperwork so you aren’t surrounded by stacks and stacks of it.
Delegate to others and involve them in the process of getting things done.
Do Not Procrastinate because everything will eventually hit at the same time.
Create a Team that works together and pulls in the same direction.
Select Values and Principles which are appropriate for you and your family.
Be Efficient with tasks.
Be Effective with people.
Seek Positive Relationships which build you up.
Avoid Negative Relationships which tear you down.
Choose Quality over Quantity so that you do your best at fewer things.
Develop Character which makes others want to be like you.
Become a Leader within your family, friends and community.
Live in Harmony with as many people as you can.
Put “First Things First” and make good choices about what comes first in your life.
Maintain Balance by using important Time and Life Management Tips.

What’s one final thought about Time and Life Management?

Remember that you don’t have to know exactly where you’re going every single second to be headed somewhere great!

Written by: Janet Wasko Myers, Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development, Ohio State University Extension, Madison County, myers.31@osu.edu

Reviewed by: Marilyn Rabe, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Franklin County, rabe.9@osu.edu

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