Page 14 - Mini-Module 10

Your first step is to find out exactly what you are doing at present.
There are a number of ways of doing this.

Shadowing

Have someone follow you around for a set period of time – a week is
the ideal but this is usually not possible. Even asking someone to
spend half a day with you can be revealing. Ask the person to
observe and record everything you do.

Diary/Self-Observation

This method involves shadowing yourself. This may involve
recording your actions at five, ten, fifteen or thirty-minute intervals.
Once you have recorded how you spend your time, you need to
analyze what you’ve been doing. To do this you might ask yourself
questions like those suggested below.

1. Which of my constructive activities took most of my time?

2. Which of my non-constructive activities took most of my time?
3. Which of my constructive activities were not worth the time I
spent on them?

4. Which of my activities were worth more time than I spent on
them?

5. Which were my busiest times of the day?

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