Friday, November 21, 2008

TIME MANAGEMENT: THE ETERNAL STRUGGLE!


Since everyone is always asking me how I do everything, I thought I would post the best visual demonstration of time management that I saw once at a seminar.

Picture a BIG jar sitting on the table. First put in large stones that fill up the entire space. (these represent the activities that are most IMPORTANT to YOU! ) Next pour in gravel until the jar is filled. Looks full? Next pour in sand until the jar is full. Can't get another thing in? Take a pitcher of water and pour it in. Everything fits. Now, if you filled the jar in reverse order, YOU WOULD NEVER GET IN THE LARGE STONES (YOUR PERSONAL IMPORTANT THINGS). You don't need to schedule time to wash clothes, etc. because they will always get done in and around the other things. Maybe at midnight or a load in the washer while you are eating dinner etc.

The other visual I remember, (which I have acted upon ever since) is this: A large glass is on the table. If you try to pour anything more into the glass, it will overflow and nothing new gets in. There is no room. In order to add more to the glass, you have to empty part of it out! I evaluate all my activities at least once a year, sometimes more often. I sometimes have to let go of some activities to make the time for something else which is more important to me.

We are creative people. There is always a creative solution to life, including time management. I still manage to kill quite a bit of time but even that is important to me. I don't want to live a constant harried lifestyle. I have periods of hectic, frantic pace, but not constantly.

I did work on preparing a piece of watercolor paper for the drawing marathon on Sunday. It's not very interesting to look at right now, so here is the next Everyday Matters Drawing Subject: Draw your hand. This comes from my sketch book preparation for my "Reflections on Turning 65" painting. I will draw my hand again tomorrow but til then....

10 comments:

Alison said...

ITwo very expressive drawings and the visualisations are good to be reminded of. Procrastination is soo easy.

andrea joseph's sketchblog said...

great drawings. your banner is very nice too.

Nava said...

...and here I am, sitting in front of the computer, reading your blog instead of painting.

I'd better get into my studio now!

Timaree said...

This will take some pondering. I like thinking early in the morning while the house is quiet and I am just woken up. Now it's late at night so I'll think about this glass thing tomorrow but you just reminded me I have one more load in the dryer getting wrinkled since it stopped a long time ago.

Christie said...

Invaluable advice. And wonderful sketches, too!

David Lobenberg said...

I have drawn my left hand for many years now. By its lonesome self or holding things or coming out of things. My left hand is named Handsome Hand.

Myrna Wacknov said...

I'm hoping to meet "handsome hand" in person one of these days!

Kathleen said...

love the time analogies - thank you so much for remembering them and blogging them - and of course the sketches are - wonderful

David Lobenberg said...

Maybe we will one fine day, Myrna. I met fellow artist/ blogger, Craig Stevenson today at a paint out in the Old Sacramento Cemetery, and on Dec. 5, Mike Bailey in Santa Cruz will be my co-instructor ( or guest instructor) at my Sac. City College watercolor class in Davis, CA. Hey, if you could manage it and if it sounds fun and worth your while, you might want to do the same at my fall semester, 2009 water color class on campus in Sacramento.

Myrna Wacknov said...

David, that sounds great. Let's talk.

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