Do You Need a Self-Management System?

JT - EThe key is in not spending time, but investing in it

So today I thought I would share some questions that may help you decide if you need a wholistic self-management system. The reason being a lot of people ask me to coach them is to manage their stress and linked to that is overwhelm. Having a self-management system can help with both of those things.

Three Types of People…

Over time, I have come across three types of clients or people when it comes to self-management. Essentially they are –

  1. Someone who knows that a self-management system would help them, however they are so overwhelmed and almost burnout out they do not have time to add another thing to their long list of things to do,
  2. People who are really organised in their career and that is going along nicely, so they choose to focus on that and hope that the rest of their life continues to go ok, and
  3. Someone who is doing the best they can and are reacting to life and haven’t invested time stop to think how they can be more proactive and focus on their priorities in their life (not someone else’s dreams and goals).

So before we answer the question of whether these people may need a self-management system, lets have a look at the main role of a self-management system or energy allocation process.

What is the Primary Role of a Self-Management System?

When you wake up each morning, do you have clarity on what your focus is for the day ahead?

Or maybe as you go to sleep on a Sunday night, are you clear on what your weekly appointments are, friends’ birthday, expenses that need to be paid, work priorities?

If you answered yes to each of these questions, congratulations! You may already have some a system in your life that supports your whole life.

However, if you answered no, maybe it is time to think about a self-management system. Having a self-management system in your life can help you to –

  • utilise your time more effectively as you know what your priorities are,
  • focus on your non-negotiables (i.e. self-care) and what you can control,
  • limit procrastination and doing lots of ‘busy’ work,
  • focus on your whole life (not just your career or those bright shiny objects), and
  • increase your self-confidence and self-worth.

In saying that though, the primary role of a self-management system is clarity, so you know what you are doing and have prioritised.

Self-Management Can Be Simple…

Quite often people think that a self-management system has to be complex, however it doesn’t. It can be very simple. In a recent post, I used the following definition of self-management –

“The act of taking responsibility for your behaviour, health and happiness, or for the organisation of your work activities” ~ Oxford Learning Dictionaries. 

Also – self-management can also be referred to as an energy allocation process. I also like to use that term as it helps to remind me to be mindful of my energy and where it goes 🙂

5 Reasons Why A Self-Management System Is Helpful…

Having a self-management system can be helpful if you –

  • want to move closer to your goals, intentions and/or outcomes (not someone else’s),
  • lack focus and direction and find things are continually arriving on your to-do list,
  • are thriving in your career, however find your self-care is continually falling off the list or are focused on other people’s needs before your own,
  • find yourself unsure of the next step in when you are working with other people in your career or life,
  • are unsure how you are performing in relation to your key priorities.

1. Helps You Move Closer to Your Goals and Notice the Small Steps

Do you notice the small steps each day that you are taking towards your goals, intentions and/or outcomes? Within a self-management system, you can tick off the steps you take towards your dreams. This can also help with your motivation.

“You need to be content with small steps. That’s all life is. Small steps that you take every day so when you look back down the road it all adds up and you know you covered some distance.” ~ Katie Kacvinsky

2. Helps You to Prepare and Supports Your Focus / Direction

Imagine setting out for a hike without a walking plan and some way to navigate the territory. Most people wouldn’t do it as the terrain could be quite dangerous. However, for some reason many of us don’t invest the time to prepare and focus on the actions that will support us to get to where we want to go. to manage our self and actions. If you don’t have a clear plan, how will you know if you are on track to where you are going?

“You see, success doesn’t just suddenly occur one day. For that matter, neither does failure. Each is a process. Every day of your life is merely preparation for the next.” ~ John C. Maxwell

3. Helps See the Big Picture and Manage Stress

Have you ever found yourself more focused on your career than your wholistic life? Don’t worry you are in good company. Investing time to look wholistically at life can help to see your whole life, manage stress and develop greater harmony and balance in your life. You develop greater self-awareness about what to say ‘yes’ to and ‘no’ to and help limit those times when you feel completely overwhelmed.

“When you say ‘Yes’ to others, make sure you are not saying ‘No’ to yourself!” ~ Paulo Coelho 

4. Helps Increase Responsibility and Accountability

As individuals, it is important to respond to situations with response-ability as opposed to react, which in turn increases accountability.

“You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself. That is something you have charge of.” ~ Jim Rohn

5. Helps to Enhance Courage and Support Evaluation and Performance

By having a self-management system you can invest time to reflect on your actions. Over time this can support you to identify if you are moving towards where you want to be.

“Courage doesn’t happen when you have all the answers. It happens when you are ready to face the questions you have been avoiding your whole life.” ~ Shannon L. Alder

Aligning Planning to Self-Management

Over the years, I have found the following layers helps to align planning to self-management, they are –

  • Yearly Planning (i.e bigger picture),
  • Quarterly Planning,
  • 28-Day Planning or Monthly Planning, and
  • Self-Management or Daily Planning or Energy Allocation Process.

You can read more here if you want to find out more about each of the layers.

Over to You…

I hope this post has helped you to identify if you need a self-management system.

If you are ready to reclaim your courage and take the next step towards freedom and opening your heartwhy not join our Toolkit?

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