Remember the old visual aid to the lesson about time management where a teacher puts some sand and gravel in a jar and then asks a student to add some larger stones? The stones don’t fit so the teacher empties jar.
(Image from Monica at http://wholelottasomethin.com/)
This time, she puts the stones in first, then the gravel, then the sand, and finally some water.
The lesson is that if you put in the big things first, there will be room for the smaller things to fill in the gaps.
I’ve been trying to put this in practice in my own life. Get the important things done first because the other stuff will get done anyway. Dishes will get done. Laundry will find its way to the washer then the dryer. I’ll pick up a book and read or catch up on a few rounds of Words With Friends. But if I do those things before tackling my most important task for the day (writing or Bible study), then often I end the day wondering where the time went. I may have played twelve rounds of WWF but not written twelve words on my manuscript.
Lists and goals and prioritizing will only go so far. At some point, you must decide what you’re going to focus on. Actually, I’m talking to “you” but I mean me.
I like my life and I like myself better when I’m working on my goals and feeling productive.
What’s your favorite strategy to increase your effectiveness?
Writer of Sweet Small Town Stories of Love and Family 
So true, Carrie! I love this analogy. Thank you.
Thanks for the “timely” thoughts as I have been planning to sit down today to figure what I need to get done this summer. So I’ll get off FB and DO IT!
I get more accomplished when I actually write a list with pen and paper. I’ve tried making lists on my computer, but it’s the old “outta sight, outta mind” thing when I can’t see that list sitting on my desk. I also recall and appreciate that visual reminder of the sand and stones.
Thanks, Nikki!
Sue, yes, all the social media, FB, Twitter, Pinterest, Linked In, etc. can be huge time sucks!
I find that true for me too, Kim!
I experienced my best success yet by having check boxes of my most important things to do on my refrigerator door. I see it a lot and I can see over the week what has been neglected. I don’t put times to the tasks, though. Just “Walk!”. Then, whatever time of day it is, I think, “Can I do that right, now?” When I stop with my list, my success rate goes down 😦
That’s a great tool, Elizabeth! I love it!