AboutJan Hayner Expertise I can give you tips and hints on how to use your time efficiently, shortcuts to make this possible and the importance that great time management can have on every aspect of your life, home, job and family relationships.
Experience I am a Professional Organizer and one of my specialties is 'time managment'. I am an advocate of the saying "Work Smarter-Not Harder' and I show you ways to accomplish this through smart and efficient time management.
Organizations NAPO
Faithful Organizers
Publications Mature Resources.com
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SelfGrowth.com
Education/Credentials School of hard knocks,
6 years of being a Professional Organizer
Expert: Jan Hayner Date: 4/9/2008 Subject: need to manage my time
Question I am stuck up with a very serious problem.Its like reaching nowhere.I am working for an MNC and I am also very fond of music and love producing music.
Something is bothering me very badly.Thinking abt music takes most of my time.I cannot concentrate on work and just keep on thinking on ways to improve my music.It badly effects my work efficiency,You can say approx 80% of my day goes in thinking abt music and that leads to nothing as neither I am making music at that time and nor working constructively.
Its has also effected my other day to day activities.Can you please give me some guidance on how to manage my time effectively so that I can start giving in 100 % to my work when I am working and 100% to music when I am producing.This problem also leads to confusion at times.Awaiting your response.
Thanks
Answer Hi AJ;
In other words----you like music!! Well, I am with you on that one, I have the radio going morning noon and night. My problem however is that I can't carry a tune and haven't any music ability what so ever! But, I am A#1 at listening to it!
So, now to get to your problem.
If you think about it, you say that you are not giving 100% to your work, which is very true. But, whether you realize it or not, you aren't giving 100% to your music talent either. Which sounds scary to me, especially since you have such a love for it.
You see, this is how it works. If your mind is side tracked, by feeling guilty about doing or NOT doing something, you have a place in it (your mind)that isn't focused on the task at hand (at this point, it would be music) and so you aren't giving it your all. Does that make any sense?
The reverse is true for your work. If you are thinking about music and can't do anything about it at the moment, that means your work isn't getting done 100$ either.
In other words, you have to focus on the task at hand! Sounds like a smart mouth comment, right? But it is the truth!
Give yourself a break and when you are at work, do the job in small amounts of time. Finish one small project and then go on to another. In between, you can let your mind wonder, write down a few ideas for your music and then go back to work, giving it your all 100%.
This might give you an idea of what I mean. I write a lot of articles for various places on the Internet, some I have deadlines for and some I don't. However, my job is being a Professional Organizer. So, I still have to figure out other peoples organizing problems and make workplans. Sometimes it is hard for me to focus one the workplans if I am supposed to be writing an article by the next day. Soooooo, to make a long story short. I focus on the workplan, take a 10 minute rest, write down a few ideas for the article and clear my brain and go back to the workplan.
For me, it doesn't work to try to clear my brain and only focus on the workplan, I wouldn't get anything finished, my brain focuses on the thing that I like to do the most.
That, is what I think is your problem. You LOVE music! It would be impossible for you to totally 'stop' thinking about it (like the experts tell you to do). But, by organizing your time, you would be able to concentrate more on work when it is needed and still have all of your notes handy with your thoughts about your music, for when you need them and have the time to work on them.
Try it and see if it helps. The other thing that you can try (it may work for you) is to Designate 15 minute time frames where you can think about the music and what you want to accomplish. Just keep in mind, the job you have is what pays the bills at this time and you need it to eat! Besides that, it is also going to pay for producing the music, the paper for writing down your thoughts, the ability to pay for gas so you can get to the studio to produce the music and to pay for whatever it takes to write edit, produce and advertise your music. So, your job is more important than you think and you need to be the best that you can be at it so you can get pay raises fast to supply the money for your music. Now is that incentive, or what?
I hope that I helped to give you some ideas and things to try and good luck on your music career and getting your next pay raise!
Jan Hayner
