I often excuse myself for not accomplishing more because I don’t have enough time. Sometimes I decline invitations because I don’t have enough time. Seems like there’s just never enough time; or is there?

In media relations, it isn’t uncommon to think in terms of small increments of time, such as 90 seconds. When facilitating a live shot and the person scheduled to be interviewed is not in sight, they get a “We go live in 90 seconds!” text. Time to hurry up, get going! However, if a pitched story gets 90 seconds of air time, you happily say, “My story ran a minute 30” (one minute and 30 seconds).

It’s the same amount of time whether you say one minute and 30 seconds or 90 seconds, so the difference is just perspective. If I’m waiting on hold for 90 seconds, it seems like forever, but if one of my granddaughters’ visits is ending in 90 seconds, time flies!

I began mulling over the long and short of 90 seconds while waiting for something to heat in the microwave (another thing that seems to take forever). Rather than just listening to the hum of the microwave for 90 seconds, I could possibly do something productive. There’s always something that needs a little attention in the kitchen. In 90 seconds you can empty a few items from the dishwasher, wipe a counter or sort through some mail.

I have the same 24 hours a day that everyone else does, so it’s not about whether I have enough time, but how I use my time. My time management skills need a little *finesse, but I’m getting there, 90 seconds at a time.

My time management *finesse level:  Novice     Advanced beginner     Competent        Proficient        Expert

What’s your time management finesse level?

*finesse (skill, flair, grace elegance, poise, assurance)