Myth #1: There's too much to do; I can't handle it all.
This can't be the real reason why I have a messy house. After all, other people manage. It's encouraging to hear that there are others who also have trouble with the "little" things in life. That means that it isn't just that there are too many things for one person to handle: rather, it's possible, theoretically at least, for me to organize my time in a way that gets it all done.
Myth #2: There's plenty of time; I can do that later.
Funny. This is the exact opposite of time management myth #1. Yet both myths contribute to procrastinating. Rather than switch from one time management myth to the other, I need a consistent, realistic view of how much my time is worth and how much of it there is.
Myth #3: I'm busier than usual right now, so it makes sense to shift some tasks off to another time.
A tricky one. Occasionally it's really true, of course. But usually, I'm about equally busy all the time, really. My time is worth the same all the time, with a few exceptions, like if I'm trying to be on time for a job interview or something.
It SEEMS that I'm unusually busy at any given moment, because at that moment, I'm AWARE of the things impinging on my time right then. A person can only be aware of so many things at once. The detail of the moment seems complex; the future seems simple, free and clear. But really, life is always that complex.
I may think, "This is an unusually busy day because I have library books due." It seems reasonable; I know I only have books due on a small percentage of all days. But really, there are so many other aspects to life: dentist appointments, parties, holiday celebrations, bike repairs, etc etc etc, that taking all into consideration, the other days are really all just as busy.
I also tend to think I'll "have plenty of time" later the same day, too. And of course I don't.
Myth #4: Re-scheduling something to a later time is procrastinating.
No, re-scheduling is taking control of your time management and responding to new information about priorities and time available.
It's only procrastinating if you don't schedule it at all, or if you re-schedule for the wrong reasons -- which will become apparent when you find yourself re-scheduling the same thing more than about 3 times. In that case, stop and think about whether you really want to do the thing. If it's important, go ahead and start.
Myth #5: This little task is not important.
Example: I cut open a package of food and leave the little bit of plastic I cut off on the kitchen counter. Question: Shall I put the bit of plastic in the garbage right now? It seems that doing so is not important. The plastic isn't doing any harm where it is. It won't hurt me if I leave it there. I can always put it in the garbage later.
But actually it is important to put it in the garbage. I ask myself, "Is it important not to have it sitting there on the counter all year?" Yes. I don't want it there that long. OK, then I have to put it in the garbage -- now or some time in the next few days. Next question: Is my time more valuable now than it will be, say, tomorrow? I seem in a hurry now, but I will tomorrow, too. (See myth #3.) Really it's best to put it in the garbage right now. It's important enough to be worth the few seconds of my time.
This time management myth really means, "It's not important to do it RIGHT NOW." However, it is important. Either it's important or it isn't. When it's done doesn't affect that. It's important to wash the dishes before eating on them again; therefore it's important to wash the dishes. If it's important, it's probably worth doing now.
