Creating quality time.......

By Jayne Walker

When we do get some time, it can be difficult to enjoy it as we may feel guilty that we aren't 'doing something' - even when on holiday.

We become like hamsters on a wheel not knowing how to get off..............

As creatures of habit, we can make positive changes by first looking at how we spend our time.

Try this exercise by dividing your activities under the following headings:-

1.Important & Urgent Activities that we have to do and so we make time for them.
It can sometimes feel like we are being very productive and may also be exciting and/or make us feel in control.

2.Important but not Urgent These are important for our core values and aspirations but have no urgency attatched to them- family time, leisure pursuits,exercise,creative hobbies,counselling and anticipating and preventing problems.
Complementary Therapies for relaxation, stress release and self development also belong here.
We intend to do these things but are often sidetracked into the other catagories.

3.Unimportant but Urgent Activities which for others are important but not for us as they do not involve our core values.It can be difficult to say no for fear of upsetting people, but being a people pleaser eventually leads to feeling powerless and dissatisfied.

4.Unimportant and not Urgent. These are activities which can take up a lot of time, but do not achieve anything- couch potato land,the pub,compulsive shopping etc.
( Note that genuine leisure activities aren't here as they are important.)
We often go here to 'escape' quadrant 1 & 2 .This is not survival but deterioration.

As we learn to spend more time section two, our self-esteem increases and we are clearer as to what is important and life-enhancing.

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To learn more about the 4 catagories and how to manage time more effectively read 'First things First' (or audio tape) by Stephen Covey.

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