I have now been on Steemit for about weeks and the I have now realised that I have a new problem in my life:
Time Management
Before I joined Steemit I already had a problem with my busy life and now I am on Steemit whenever I have a chance!
I find the platform amazing and I really enjoy the posts, stories and new ideas that are posted. I spend a lot of time reading and deciding what to upvote. I am a great believer that the good, honest posts deserves the recognition for the time people have spent to create the perfect post in their eyes. A lot of good content slips through the cracks. I always make sure I go down the Active and New pages as far as possible to find interesting and worthwhile content. We should actually all do this as I do not see any other way to give get more good content voted up.
Back to the Time Management.
My real job as a Business Development Executive in the ICT industry, is very time consuming. I sell solutions to problems for a living. This take a lot of time and I always need to be up to speed with the latest trends in ICT for corporates and the government sector. I read a lot, I mean really a lot, so Steemit is a natural extension to what I do.
My problem is however that time is consumed at an incredible rate. Do you experience the same? If the answer is yes, my question to you is : How good is your time management?
Time management is defined as The process of planning and organizing your time between specific activities. This enables you to work smarter and not harder :)
This is however much easier said than done. In my life there are always things like tenders or new customers that always need assistance... like in yesterday, which confuses any management of time that I planned or organised.
This new platform is so exciting that it adds to the problem.
So I decided to implement some time management strategies, and I thought I will share it with those that are experiencing the same problem. I am not sure if the strategy is going to work, but I will provide feedback as I find things that work.
My current attempted time budgeting strategy is as follows:
Step 1 : Monitor time use for a week or so. Collecting as much data as possible. SO start keeping a record of what I'm doing every 20 minutes or so. Keep a chart, Excel Spreadsheet or whatever works.
Step 2: Examine the time used. Now that we have some data to work with lets analyse this. Categorise the information into sensible categories. Stuff like "work", "sleep", "social time", "meals", "tender response", "customer meeting", "STEEMIT READING", "Steemit Writing!!" etc.
Step 3: Add to a spreadsheet and Analyse the general pattern of time used. So answer a few questions. Is there something in the pattern that was not expected? What is not working well and what is?
Step 4: Go into more detail for the categories believed to be important.
Step 5: Examine the use of talents - We all have specific talents and specific things we HAVE to do. Make notes of these talents and things that I did not do.
Step 6: Look at the overall use of talents and talents not used.
Step 7: Ask the question : How do I really want to spend most of my time… I know the answer is to be on Steemit as much as possible…
Step 8: Do some problem solving. What things in life can be eliminated or combined? Could I watch a bit less TV? What activities can be combined. Example: Combine fitness time with family time?
Step 9: Do a reality check. - Easy to say I'm going to do something, but is it practically possible?
Step 10: Monitor for a while
Step 11: Schedule some time to review progress.
Hopefully the approach to my new problem will help me free up some time in the long run to spend in Steemit! Thanks again to the steemit team.
I do not mind having this new type of problems.
If only I can have the time to do this on a more permanent basis.
Happy Steeming!
@gavvet features authors to promote new authors and a diversity of content. STEEM Dollars for this post go to the featured author
Your strategy reminds me of https://alexvermeer.com/8760hours/
This is a thorough method how to get the most from your next year (a year has 8760 hours). I have been following this plan for 11 months and it's helped me enormously!
Thank you @hr1 , I will have a read through and hopefully add something to my strategy. Thanks for sharing the link :)
Good stuff, @jacor!
As @evan7 mentioned, I highly recommend RescueTime. I don't use it any longer as I have calibrated myself to manage time, but helped me greatly to reign it in. It'll examine the time for you - after all, maintaining an Excel spreadsheet and keeping track is a waste of time in itself :)
Thank you @liberosist
Rescue time for everybody! we can go to an elections with such slogan)
For collecting as much data as possible (Step 1) about your time spent on your computer or mobile device, categorizing time spent (Step 2), and analyzing that data (Step 3), I highly recommend RescueTime (https://www.rescuetime.com/). I see that I have currently spent 16 hours and 51 minutes on steemit.com for the month of July, and I spend the most time on steemit.com during the 4 pm hour. Thanks for bringing my need for more effective time management to my attention!
Excellent that you already have some data to work with @evan7
just remember, dont forget to be happy
And have a purpose in life.
What a wonderful feeling to wake up on a Monday morning and finding your post at the top of the trending page!
@gavvet, thank you for featuring me in your posts. You area a great promoter of the next generation of Steemit authors. Some more gratitude in my post Reputation, Reputation, It works to build a reputation
And to top it all, guess where I find myself now ...First Steemit post from my hospital bed
A lot of people that I'm around in the internet marketing world swear by the Pomodoro method of time management. It's basically the idea that you do short segments of time (about 40 minutes) on a single task to the exclusion of all else, then move on to something else, or begin another segment.
Further reading: http://pomodorotechnique.com/
I came over to post this. I couldn't have said it better. I personally use Clearfocus - an android pomodoro app.
@infovore, nice to see you here again. Thanks again for the feature in your article last week. It asssited a lot with my reputation building mission!!. I will check out Clearfocus. I hope it helps. Chat soon
Looking forward to a chat with you ;) and yeah, you should check it out....it's simple and light.
Time to check out my latest post :)
You won't believe where I am ... Hospital, luckily it has nothing to do with Steemit!!!
Clearfocus - I'll have to check that one out. Thanks.
Awesome stuff brotha!
I've used it. It is a great way to get things done and minimize outside distractions. It's also easy to customize to suit your needs if you need frequent breaks from certain tasks or you have tasks that you can work on for longer periods of time without a break.
All you need is a timer & a prioritized list of things to do. There are various free/paid apps out there too.
👍nice post and great strategy budgeting @gavvet
Thank you @oliverb . I will check out Pomodoro. Hopefully it helps with what I now believe is my Steemit addiction :)
It is hard to come up with the time needed to put out quality posts. Especially most having full time jobs and family. I see this all changing in the future. Most users are tying to get on the "trending page". I see this evolving over time here at Steemit. I think that people or users will do more SEARCHES for the content they like. Like I do when I go to YouTube. I go strait to the search bar an look for my favorite things. That's how I see it going here when it grows to hundreds of thousands of users. Then you would want to just write on your favorite topic or passion. Maybe you will want to be on the "trending page" of YOUR category. Anyway, when everyone stops trying to get to the main page I think users will look at the site in an entirely new way. Good Post. :)
You couldn't have said it better @peacekeeper . I am also using Steemit with the future in mind, and allthough my votes don't count for much at the moment, it will through time. I am trying to vote for a variety of good content. You will see in my post What topics are trending on Steemit , when you remove the Steemit and Introduceyourself tag, we are building a community of diversity.
For those Non-technical newbies who are struggling to search on the site - Use the following in the Google Search Type search steemit.com "Your search Criteria"
Very good piece on "what topics are trending" Jacor.
Here is the thing, Most average writers will never see the main page or "trending page". There is a growing talent entering the Steemit Community everyday and I don't expect to compete with these brilliant writers and bloggers. What I do think I can do in compete in my area of interest or my hobby. I think a lot of the non-skilled users believe they will come in here and attempt post after post trying to make it to the trending page.
Time will tell if this cycle can be broken or redirected to some sort of middle ground. I am very excited about the possibilities of Steemit. I just hope we don't forget about that diversity because the platform will need it in the long term.
https://steemit.com/steemit/@spatowt/is-steemit-a-scam-i-translated-a-post-form-wykop-pl
Thanks @gavvet i've written something similar on work / life balance but in essence it is what you are saying with time management.
https://steemit.com/travel/@cryptofunk/letting-off-steem-with-friends-in-girona
Nice post @gavvet
nice article.. thanks for you sharing @gavvet
I've dropped TV completely. Switched to steemit instead. Much more rewarding. :-)
Very useful thank you for taking the time to help us all out in - time management is a huge issue right about now with heavy Steem users.
Honest post. I don't understand what is happening here on steemei! Last post I wrote ~ 11 hours. Because translating into English is hard to me. So what I have? Nothing! Even bots do not like my unique content :)
I really need your opinion! What is wrong with this post? https://steemit.com/steemit/@terrycraft/craft-hard-three-years-of-experience-in-small-business-handmade
@terrycraft, I also try to inspire people on Steemit and hope to inspire you as well. It all takes time. I had many posts with no Upvotes whatsoever and I still do. The point is that I a still posting, still building a reputation and I will not give up!!!
We just have to push through and get into a rhythm of of posting good content. English is also not my first language, although I speak it on a frequent basis as my 2nd language. I do understand your point that it is difficult to get a message across when translating. Some of the message get's lost in translation.
I've found this is my problem too. I want to write more, develop new ideas to post. It's almost become my hobby and it's taking over allllll of my time. :')
I am so with you on this ! I need to do less steeming :)
Pretty much sums me up. I was low on free time already and now i've found steemit. Even when i'm out i'm on my phone, before bed on my phone, in the morning on my phone. This is madness i tell you!
@warrensteem, I am 100% with you. My wife is also picking up that I have less time. See her tong-it-the-cheek message in her post Fore-PLay Steemit style
Excellent post @jacor. Steemit takes time, but without spending enough time to carefully read as many post as you can and also think and plan before you upload your own post, you’re just posting/voting in the wind. One has to vote based on your agreement and enjoyment of the post. With proper time-management (and a good wife to pick up the slack), you can do it all.
Dankie my Plankie :) Some Afrikaans on Steemit....
Thank you for picking up the slack :)
Ever since I joined Steemit I have a few hours too short in my days. I want to write and post but also read and read some more. Did I check my facebook daily a few times now I find myself checking Steemit even more. I think a whole lot under us steemers have a new HUGE but amazing problem. We are steemhooked!
Yes! Also, I love your screen name! :)
It always seems like there isn't enough time in the day for things. Yet managing and rewarding yourself when you stick to a schedule have always been an effective in being productive. daily. I always look to mange my time wisely and I'm looking forward to trying your technique.
Thank you for your valuable thoughts, @jacor. And thank you @gavvet for promoting new authors.
I would like to share simple but effective tips on time management that have helped me.
First of all, time management is easier when you have a lot of time :) So it would be good to reduce the time allocated for sleep. I personally try to sleep 6-7 hours a day. In order to spend less time on sleep, you should go to bed early. Ideally, I have the lights out at 8-9 pm. And I get up often at 3 am. But to live in this mode, you must modify eating habits. I personally have more than 10 years adhere to a vegetarian diet, and in recent months experimenting with raw food. I can say that thanks to this diet, I sleep less and stay awake more. The mind is very clear and alive. And when you have a lot of time, time management is much easier.
And I heard that Donald Trump sleeps 4 hours a day. This schedule really gives many benefits :)
Thanks @omfedor, I like your approach. I am one of the lucky ones who have a very fast metabolism, I do not need to sleep much, by design. I can carry on for weeks of 5 hour sleep cycles, but then I need to catch up. I do this by taking a weekend of doing nothing, vegging in front of the TV and sleep when I need to. Another one of my weird characteristics, I can sleep VERY well in front of a TV. Opposite of my wife, who cannot sleep of there is a light on or any noise whatsoever.
That's a superb approach - gather date, analyse it, "trim the sail" & iterate 'round until you have found the sweet-spot. I've literally just stumbled across Steemit, so this is very, very timely :)
Dez.
Great point. I've been struggling to put stuff up, but it takes time to produce quality! Trying to find that balance without losing track of topic when I'm away lol
Im with you @gavvet, i felt the same thing too. When I got into steemit I was so excited and thought a lot of what to write even until now Im still thinking of what topic I will be posting. I have not even posted a good introduction about myself, hopefully I can in the next 12 hours. I invited a lot of people to join steemit, in my office desktop you can find few browser tabbings of steemit and few tools that were introduced by some developers who were also steemians. Later I thought that I was cheating with my job because I check on steemit every now then. Good thing I was able to adjust and managed my time now, maybe that was the result of my excitement with steemit.
Thank you for commenting @juvyjabian , I am glad I am not the only person in the world struggling with this problem. It will be a dream to be able to do this on a full-time basis, don't you think?
How I wish I could do that @jacor.
Thanks for a logical explanation for doing something that many of us find difficult. For me, I find myself steeming in what would otherwise be my downtime. So instead of chucking on Netflix after dinner, I'll spend a couple of hours on steemit, for me it is both relaxing and productive. :)
Fully agree, less TV, deleted Clash Royal (I found the game very frustrating in any case), Much less Clash of Clans, maybe one attack a day. All thanks to this platform!!!
nice to meet you @gavvet !
I am a 14 year old actually 15 year old today on summer break so time is on my side!! Haha
dont be so happy and careless... It is only fiction...
I think these tips are great because it's true, budgeting time is not easy. It's beneficial to set time frames for each activity. Thanks!
man @gavvet you are always killin it!
i love it m8
I personally use 3 things for time management:
I made a post with a couple of detials . Maybe you can find them useful.
time management is important.
thanks a lot, i will show this post to my father!) He have no time at all.
man good stuff @gavvet
IM trying out a funny experiment , would you like to join in ?=)
funny to se how easy it is! check this out :)
https://steemit.com/vote/@baconwish/1000-comment-share
This is the reason why some people success and some people fail!
this is not ONE reason.
maybe this is the greatest one?
Time management is deffininately a weakness of mine . Great post
Good for you
Just wrote about this issue yesterday looking at this from a different "soul" angle !
i always have some problems with my time. I dont have enought it for all my deals. Maybe your article will help.. Thanks
Time management. Mmm, this needs some time on :)
Also wanted to mention that since you got in the TOP 10 Trending articles on Steemit I've added your article to the Flipboard Steemit Trending Magazine for everyone to see it.
good stuff
cool post ,
Upvote Done @gavvet
Thanx for writing on this. Maybe there will be fewer steemit burnouts or writer block moments with the tips on your articles.
Good budgeting strategy!
Well, you are not alone in this kind of problem or shall we say opportunity. Even in my case, time flies really fast when I am focused in doing difficult task at work. I couldn't take time anymore in doing the other tasks at hand.
That's why Franklin-Covey company enumerates the tasks that belongs to less urgent to the most Important ones.
Anyway, thanks for the post. Its a helpful post!
Exelent post!
nice post..^^
yes you are controled by time the only time you control time its when you think and are able to do money
Good job.. thanks for you sharing @gavvet
I don't mind this problem either :) . Thanks for you post!
Nice post @gavvet