For many years I never watched television. Now I justify watching selectively because I really like certain shows — mostly reality TV, C-SPAN, PBS and of course WNBA basketball. But it’s not all virtuous: I got started because I couldn’t miss the last season of the Sopranos, my all-time favorite show.
But these days I rarely watch anything live. Even if I watch live I record the shows because I can go back and listen again, picking up what I missed the first time around.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we could manage our time this way?
Fast-forward: Find a way to avoid distractions. Choose experience selectively. I go through the 2-hour Good Morning America show in as little as 15 minutes (while multitasking) because there may be just one segment that I really want to watch. And these days, I no longer feel obligated to read every word of every book, let alone finish.
Pause: Stop the action. Smell the roses. Go back and revisit a favorite book, movie, or person.
Rewind: Go back to the beginning and start over. This one is tough. But we can do this more than we think. Revise a book or report from scratch. Ask for a do-over. Or we just recognize when we entering a new negotiation, business situation or job…it’s a chance to go back and yes, rewind.
I’m fascinated by time management. Check out my own irreverent time management guide.
2 Responses to “Time Management: Pause? Fast forward? Rewind?”
June 1st, 2008 at 6:10 pm
sounds like the adam sandler movie “click”
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:57 am
Wow…thanks for the tip! I like Adam Sandler and just looked up the movie. If it’s on DVD I will rent it.