Time Management is a Myth

Next time you hear the term time management, conjure up an image of cowboys in Wranglers with lassoes trying to capture and tame a flock of unruly ducks.

It's comical, right?

Try as we may, we cannot "manage" time, it flies away before you can even catch it.

Maybe a better term would be time budgeting.

We all have the same 24 hours in a day, right? How we choose to spend our time comes down to the following things:

• our values and priorities

• how realistic we are about what we're trying to achieve within a certain time frame

• how good we are at delegating

• how good we are at saying no

• how much wevalueour time and expertise

Time is Time. It exists on its own and Time itself doesn't care how you spend it.

Ultimately what we're after, I believe, is a work life and a personal life that feels fulfilling and where it feels like we're succeeding at both.

For many bookkeepers, that balance is a fine line, and I often say that the two are so intertwined that it's hard to determine where one ends and the other begins.

We are often creating bookkeeping businesses, or working as bookkeepers, so that we can have flexible work hours along with uncapped earning potential.

Many of us, as I did, do this in order to work around children and family life.

What often happens though, is that we end up stretched so thin trying to "have it all" that we don't feel like we're succeeding anywhere.

Tell me if any of this sounds like you?

• You're not meeting clients' or your own standards. You're constantly on the back foot and rushing, not checking work properly and apologising for late replies.

• You're being short with the kids or trying to work when they're around, so they're not getting the best of you (Mum guilt anyone?). The whole point of starting this bookkeeping business was to workaroundthe kids but now you feel you have no choice but to workwiththe kids around.

• You've taken to working nights and weekends because your workload can't all be done during work hours and at least you can get stuff done then with no interruptions.

• You're not getting any personal time. Between work and family obligations, that's all you do. You dream of time to yourself but it feels like an impossible thing.

A lot of bookkeepers come to me for coaching when they are at a point of overwhelm. When all of the above is true.

The good news is that there are practical strategies that you can put into place to change this situation.

Would you like results like these?

"Stephanie is a game changer. As soon as I signed up with her coaching, my life changed dramatically." - Asami Wisjneury, DAP Business Solutions (NZ) and winner of the 2022 ICNZB Bookkeeper of the Year.

"Stephanie did more than change my business, she changed my life and I could never thank her enough." - Tasha Glasman, Mint & Honey Bookkeeping (USA)"

😃Stephanie

PS: Interested in working with me as your bookkeeping business coach? Send me an email or Message me to start the conversation.