{"id":15258,"date":"2023-07-11T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-07-11T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/?p=15258"},"modified":"2023-07-11T09:23:02","modified_gmt":"2023-07-11T13:23:02","slug":"time-wasters-schedule","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/time-wasters-schedule\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Find Time Wasters in Your Schedule"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"682\" height=\"681\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/time_wasters.jpeg\" alt=\"Laptop sitting on a patio table\" class=\"wp-image-15259\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/time_wasters.jpeg 682w, https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/time_wasters-480x479.jpeg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 682px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Are you tired of having countless time wasters in your schedule?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Would you like to locate the exact source(s) of wasted time and energy at home, work, school, and beyond?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On one level or another, we all have an inkling about the time wasters in our schedules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These can be tasks we\u2019ve consciously <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/schedule-tasks-into-your-calendar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Why You Should Schedule Tasks into Your Calendar\">scheduled<\/a> into our calendars or can they be tasks that have somehow popped up into our daily routines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While we know time wasters exist in our busy calendars, we rarely take the time to stop, take a good look, and promptly remove them from our lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The good news is once we determine what is truly wasting time in our schedules, we can take back those minutes and hours for what is truly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/7-reasons-why-its-important-to-be-on-time\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"7 Reasons Why It\u2019s Important to Be on Time\">important<\/a> to us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this post, I offer nine tips on how to find time wasters in your schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Time wasters can quickly derail carefully laid plans and schedules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All the more reason to get clear on what is truly draining our precious minutes and hours\u2026and commit to eliminating these time wasters in future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, are you ready to uncover the time wasters in your schedule?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s get to it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Time Wasters: Defined<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>What exactly is a time waster?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For the purposes of this post, I\u2019m going to define a time waster as something or someone who distracts, detracts, diverts, or otherwise distances yourself from the plans, activities, appointments, goals, and events, you\u2019ve so carefully crafted for yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Time wasters can cut through a carefully tailored schedule like a hot knife through butter. What\u2019s more, they can leave you feeling <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/how-to-plan-without-getting-overwhelmed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"How to Plan Without Getting Overwhelmed\">overwhelmed<\/a>, stressed, and frustrated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Time wasters come in many different shapes and forms. They can be a location, an environment, a task, a project, a meeting, an appointment, an activity, or even a person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And of course, time wasters can be both unpreventable and preventable. There are certain things that are within your control, and there are certain things that are not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, while we can\u2019t prevent all time wasters, such as mandatory work meetings, we can take charge of those lurking in the nooks and crannies of our calendars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s some tips on how to find time wasters in your schedule:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Identify troublesome scheduling issues.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Sure, looking directly at pain points in your schedule isn\u2019t the most obvious place to look when it comes to finding time wasters, but it sure is a great place to start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll want to open up your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/time-management-tip-the-right-way-to-review-a-schedule\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"The Right Way to Review a Schedule\">schedule<\/a> and locate calendar entries that are causing you some sort of frustration, annoyance, or grief. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These could be assignments, meetings, projects, activities, events, tasks, or any other type of entry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you\u2019ve found a troublesome spot in your schedule, you\u2019ll need to ask yourself a simple question: What\u2019s holding you back when it comes to finishing the task or completing your work?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Are you simply <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/how-to-stop-procrastinating\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"How to Stop Procrastinating\">procrastinating<\/a> on a task?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Or perhaps is there something else at play? Is your work is being influenced by a time waster?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you suspect something is wasting your time, you\u2019ll want to eventually\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Locate common time wasters.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>More times than not, your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/stop-overbooking-schedule\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"How to Stop Overbooking Your Schedule\">skewed schedule<\/a> may be out of control thanks to any number of common time wasters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These are the tried and true time wasters we all know and love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These time wasters can be started in a blink of an eye and can subsequently eat up hours out of your day! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You might even have a handful of time wasters that you regularly fall back on out of habit or routine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/what-to-do-when-youre-feeling-stressed-out-about-your-schedule\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"What to Do When You\u2019re Feeling Stressed Out About Your Schedule\">schedule<\/a> could be needlessly suffering from common time wasters such as the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Gossiping with coworkers and friends<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Automatically checking your phone for email, texts, and social media updates<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Spending inordinate amounts of time surfing through your email inbox with no goal or aim<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Playing mobile games constantly on your phone, tablet, or computer<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reading click-bait articles<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Watching movies or tv shows non-stop<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mindlessly surfing the internet, chats, and forums<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The solution to combat time wasters is painfully simple. You simply identify the time waster, then eliminate the time wasting activity from your routine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How can you do this? Some ideas include: temporarily switching digital devices to airplane mode, logging out of your email inbox, and temporarily turning off the wi-fi connection to your computer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In some cases, you may want to avoid the office kitchen or use a productivity app to lock yourself out of programs for a few hours until you finish your work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ensure tasks support your goals.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The next step in preventing time wasters from entering your schedule is to determine if a task or activity is truly aligned with your goals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This may not be quite obvious at first, so you\u2019ll have to take a giant step back from where you are so you can see the bigger picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What are your true professional, personal, spiritual, mental, and physical goals for this year and beyond?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you haven\u2019t written down your goals for this year, you\u2019ll want to write them down now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, do you want to get a new job this year? How about committing to a regular exercise routine? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What about spending more time meditating, reading, coloring, or writing? How about spending more time with your family and friends?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re not clear on your goals, time wasters can quickly sneak in, and take over your precious time and energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, what do you want to be, do, or have in the next several months, year, or beyond? If you need help setting your goals, you should check out my <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/goal-setting-how-to-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Goal Setting How-to-Guide\">goal-setting<\/a> post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you\u2019ve identified your goals, you can then ask yourself: \u201cDoes this activity help me take a step closer towards my goal or not?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If the activity doesn\u2019t support your goals, you\u2019ll want to do your best to remove or eliminate it from your schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What are some other ways to find time wasters in your schedule? Here are some additional ideas to consider:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Evaluate your physical location.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>One way to determine if you\u2019re wasting time is to evaluate your physical location. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In other words, are you spending inordinate amounts of time in one location, when in fact you\u2019re supposed to be somewhere else?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Where are you physically? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, are you standing at the water cooler gossiping with coworkers when you should be at your desk? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Are you binge watching your favorite TV series on your computer in bed when you should be at your desk writing a report?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ask yourself this question during the day to get an idea as to whether you\u2019re spending time in the right places\u2026or simply wasting time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Deal with distracting people.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We all know that other people influence our work and goals, be it positively or negatively. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And while we can\u2019t always change who we work, live, or associate with, we can take steps to reduce the amount of interaction time we spend with others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That being said, what are some ways you can avoid distracting people? One way is to physically limit the amount of time you spend with someone in-person or the time you spend with them via phone, email, and text interactions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, you know you need to work on an assignment, but you always find yourself dragged into a long conversation when you call your friend Joe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this case, you\u2019d probably want to avoid speaking with Joe until after you\u2019ve finished your work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another way to avoid distracting people is to remove yourself from a situation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Make it clear to the other person that you don\u2019t have time to speak with them as in: \u201cHi, sorry I can\u2019t speak with you right now. I\u2019m on a deadline,\u201d and leave things at that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So what if you\u2019re having a tough time cutting the cord? You might have to temporarily relocate yourself to a different location in order to do your work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Purposefully pay attention to procrastination.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As I mentioned earlier, procrastination and time wasters go hand-in-hand. Time wasting can come in the form of procrastination, so you\u2019ll really need to keep your eye out for this one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, if you want to truly stop procrastinating, then you\u2019ll have to do some deep personal work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You&#8217;ll need to identify what is holding you back from completing a particular task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, are you procrastinating on a task because you are avoiding someone or fearful of something? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Perhaps you are poorly prepared or unsure of your next steps? Once you figure out the cause of your procrastination, you can take steps to remedy the situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This can include plowing through your work, learning a new skill, or getting some additional help or support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Review your calendar for lost time.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Have you ever completely lost all sense of time when working on a personal or professional task?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ve all been there, even when a clock is sitting directly in front of our noses!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to find time wasters in your schedule, think about where and when you seem to lose track of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Where does it feel like only a few minutes have passed when in fact a handful of hours have flown by?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What specific activities, events, gatherings, or meetings seem to gobble up those minutes, only to your disappointment?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, this isn\u2019t to say that you shouldn\u2019t enjoy a relaxing carefree Sunday afternoon with friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But if more of your daily activities make it seem as if the day is just flying by, then you&#8217;ll need to reevaluate things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Determine projects are completed.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Another way of locating time wasters in your schedule to find out if (and how) things are accomplished in a particular <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/4-last-minute-tips-for-a-productive-meeting-at-work\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"4 Last-Minute Tips for a Productive Meeting at Work\">meeting<\/a> or gathering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Based on the information provided to you has a group or group of people done what they\u2019ve said what they\u2019ve done?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What have you read or heard in a flyer, brochure, website, lecture, or presentation?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Are there statistics, facts, data, results, or testimonials available to back up their claims?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll get the most value out of this tip if you simply observe the situation at hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How are things progressing in a meeting, gathering, or series of repeating events?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Are things moving along quickly and effectively in the group&#8230;or not?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you\u2019ve collected your data, you can make an educated decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Is it worth your time to stay with the group or not?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Bottom Line: Don\u2019t let yourself doubt time wasters.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember, you don\u2019t have to stay in one place wasting your time with something that is a complete waste of your time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In fact, the sooner you come to realize this, the better!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Be honest with yourself. How do you feel about this time waster in your schedule?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Is this meeting\/appointment\/activity\/event\/relationship something that will truly change yourself for the better?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Or are you simply attending or showing up out of habit, wishful thinking, or pride?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You deserve to have a schedule that supports your goals and lifestyle and sets you up for success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In conclusion, once you identify a time waster, gracefully remove it from your schedule, and move on to bigger and better things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>How about you? How do you go about finding time wasters in your schedule? What time wasters are you going to eliminate from your calendar? Join the conversation and leave a comment below!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full pinterest-hidden\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/howtofindtimewasters.png\" alt=\"Laptop sitting on a patio table\" class=\"wp-image-15266\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/howtofindtimewasters.png 683w, https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/howtofindtimewasters-480x720.png 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 683px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Are you tired of having countless time wasters in your schedule? Would you like to locate the exact source(s) of wasted time and energy at home, work, school, and beyond?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":15259,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[325],"tags":[355,142,184,364,72,881,130],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15258"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15258"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15258\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24777,"href":"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15258\/revisions\/24777"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15259"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15258"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15258"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15258"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}