Last week I “attended” my first webinar. There’s nothing like watching a slideshow online, with a phone to your ear, listening to a “life coach” to make you feel like a professional.  The theme of this was “Manage your energy, not your time,” and it started with a quiz to assess my “competency-based behaviors.”

Umm, what?

First off, I had no idea it would be a conference-call with the addition of an online slideshow. I thought I’d literally watch a lecture, streaming online. So, as instructed, I called the number and entered the conference “key.”  When no one answered, and instead I heard clicking noises here and there and the distant sound of somebody talking in an office, I realized what was going on. Since my partner and I were both partaking in this webinar, I immediately looked over at her (as she’s getting the laptop ready) and mouthed “You need to dial in! This is over the phone!” …trying not to make any noise, because 100+ other people would’ve heard me. 

The first question from our speaker: “What do you want to do, that you just don’t have time for?”

The first answer: “Travel the world, and keep my job.”

Uhhh, did we dial the wrong number?

Within minutes, and after already realizing we were about to be on the phone for an hour, we threw all expectations out the window. We knew this would be about “time management.” We did not know that we, the “interns,” were on the phone with CEOs, CFOs, managers, VPs, supervisors, etc. We were listening to somebody whose career involves “coaching” people, helping them make more time in each day so that they can fit in 50- to 60-hour work weeks, family, gym, travel, e-mail, meals, leisure, more work, career advancement, etc…..and still have room to breeeathe.

Needless to say, we initially felt a little out of place. We work eight-hour days, have weekends off, do a little homework most nights, and have plenty of time to watch the morning news and enjoy  “The Office” on Thursdays. 

But, once we got into the details, there were definitely plenty of good ideas to walk away with. Things that will help us as we get into the thick of this internship, and habits to form that will help us be that much more successful in any career.  And since I’m here to help you, and share my experiences with you, here they are…..

• Think about this: How do you feel at the end of each day?......Then think: How do you want to feel at the end of each day? There’s probably a pretty big difference between the two.  Find the balance.
• A year from now, what has happened? If you are celebrating your “Most xtraordinary Year,” what will that mean you’ve accomplished?
• Tip: Quit focusing on time, and start focusing on your personal energy.  You could be working 70+ hours per week, feel stressed 24/7, and still not be accomplishing what you truly want to. Because you don’t have the energy. There are simple ways to reduce your hours, but increase your productivity (we’ll get into that next…), which will result in more energy. To do what you want, the things that make you keep on keeepin’ on. 
• Look at your to-do list (Do you love to make them too?? Ah, it keeps me sane! Really, I just love to check stuff off. Doesn’t that feel gooood?).  Focus on three high-value activities, no more and no less. These are things that must get done that day. No excuses!
  Sometimes we put wayyyy too many things on our list, and get over-whelmed. Which means, we do none of them. Instead, focus on three things. Do them. And you’ll feel (and be) more productive.
• Give yourself “Scheduled Thinking Time.” A literal block in your schedule—whether it be 30 minutes in the morning, one hour at lunch, or two hours after dinner—when your energy is high and you can concentrate.
• Decide on how often you will check your e-mail each day. And Stick To It!! This is something I’ll always struggle with. If there’s a computer in front of me, I probably check my e-mail twice every hour…..um, if not more than that. It’s completely ridiculous, and unnecessary, and a waste of time. Now, I’ve decided I have three times per day to check my e-mail. Before work, when I get home, and before I go to bed.

It’s hard for most, if not all, of us to do this.  We get e-mails consistently throughout the day, and feel compelled to respond right away. Or we get an e-mail, which leads to another web page, which will consequently distract us for the next 15-plus minutes. It’s a vicious cycle. And a huuuge time-waster.  Especially with g-mail and its “chat” option. Ugh. Don’t get me started….

I feel like this is definitely the hardest tip to implement into your daily schedule, but will also be the most effective change. Trust me, try it….. and you’ll be amazed.

Well, there ya have it. It’s not everything I learned in the short hour with my ear pressed to a cell phone. But it’s what I felt was most important. And will be most useful to you.  Maybe by next week you’ll be booking a flight across the Atlantic. And I’ll be happy that I have one more hour in my night to absorb nutrition therapy in Renal Disease.

Posted by Mary Ellen Nunes at 10/07/2008 02:40:55 PM |