TIME MANAGEMENT TIPS  For the Holiday Season and Beyond

We tend to overwhelm ourselves with lists of things to do on a daily basis. During the
holidays that list gets longer and longer as we get more and more frazzled. Here are
some great time management suggestions to help you get through the holidays and
through the next year calmly and with time to spare!

Make a list and check it twice. Cross off all the things that really don't have to get done. 
With the remaining items, put the most important ones on the top of the list.

Review your list on a regular basis and check off completed tasks. And, check to again
make sure that everything on the list is necessary.

Ask yourself, “What is the best use of my time right now?” Then do it!

Be willing to sacrifice “perfection” to get things done. According to a very wise man at
Fairview, use the guideline, "is it good enough for the purpose for which it is intended?"

Say “no” to demands that don’t coincide with your values and with what is important to
you.

Whenever possible, delegate! If you have the mindset that others can't do things as good
as you can, you maybe right. They may do it better!

Don’t waste time on minor decisions. Flip a coin if you have to, but don't take more than
two minutes to decide on things like where to eat or on what wrapping paper to use.

Arrange your time to keep interruptions to a minimum for tasks that require concentration.
This is true for work or home.

And, know when your energy is at its peak. Plan work that requires physical or emotional
energy for those times and use your less energetic times for leisure or even for a nap.

At least one-fourth of the items on your to do list should be things you find enjoyable. If
you don't have enough fun to do's, you won't have the energy to do the not-so-enjoyable
tasks.

                         For more information or for help with personal or professional concerns,
                                   please contact Fairview's Employee Assistance Program
                             612-672-2195, 1-800-CallEAP (225-5327) or eap@fairview.org