Time Management: The Writers Friend or Foe

Introduction
One of the struggles many writers are faced with is managing time. Many of us work from home where we are faced with many distractions and pressures

on our time. Procrastination and distractions are dangerous on a profession that is driven by strict deadlines. The key to time management is knowing ourselves, as we can't actually "manage" time; all we can manage is our own behaviour.

Time management personality "types"
For many of us this is more than enough of a challenge. While we claim that effective time management is a top priority and that we just have to get more organized, our actions don't match our stated desires. These time management personality "types" describe patterns of behaviour that sabotage many writers attempts at time management.

Which of the following time management "types" are you? While intended as fun, this time management exercise may provide you with some clues for more effective time management.

The Fireman
The Fireman - For you, every event is a crisis. You're so busy putting out fires that you have no time to deal with anything else, especially the boring, mundane things such as time management. Writing assignments are a constant crisis, submitting articles minutes before the deadline.

Typically seen - Frantically typing while keeping one eye on the clock.

The Over-Committer
The Over-Committer- Your problem is you can't say 'No'. All anyone has to do is ask, and you'll write another article or edit someone else's article. You're so busy you don't even have time to write down all the things you do! At the end of the day, are tired but have not completed the work you needed to.

Typically seen - Hiding in rest room..

The Aquarian
The Aquarian - There is such as thing as being too "laid-back" - especially when it starts interfering with your ability to finish tasks or bother to return phone calls. Getting to things when you get to them isn't time management; it's simple task avoidance. Famous quote, "I have lots of time, I'll do it later."

Typically seen - Hanging out with feet on desk dreaming about vacation spots.

The Chatty Kathy
The Chatty Kathy - Born to socialize, you have astounding oral communication skills and can't resist exercising them at every opportunity. Every interaction becomes a long drawn out conversation - especially if there's an unpleasant task dawning that you'd like to put off. Writers do not get paid for talking.

Typically seen - Talking on cell phone, logged on to Facebook, or organizing a party.

The Perfectionist
The Perfectionist - You have a compulsion to cross all the "t's" and dot all the "i's", preferably with elaborate whorls and curlicues. Exactitude is your watchword, and you feel that no rushed job can be a good job. Finishing tasks to your satisfaction is such a problem you need more time zones, not just more time. Perfectionist writers can often miss deadlines convincing themselves that the assignment is , "not ready yet,".

Typically seen - Hunched over latest project, sweating and potentially gnashing teeth.

Conclusion
Hopefully none of these time management personality profiles is a photograph of you! But perhaps these descriptions will provoke some thought about the different ways we manage or mismanage time, and some clues about how we might change our behaviours to make our time management efforts more successful.