Managing Your Time for Work, Learning, and Fun

Dev2Next presentation:
You know how some people appear to have more than 24 hours in a day? I’m one of them. In addition to having a full time job, I write books, mentor a high school robotics team, am active in Toastmasters and much more. I also make sure to have lots of time for friends and fun. How do I manage to do all this? Numerous people have told me I have the best mastery of time management they have seen. In this session, I’ll share some standard tips with you and some ones that you might not find in your standard time management book!

Transcript

1. https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky 1 Managing your time for work, learning, and fun Jeanne Boyarsky 10/1/24 Dev2Next speakerdeck.com/boyarsky
2. https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky Why me? 2 NYC - busy! Parents every week: • Square dancing • Country dancing • Dad: apt board of directors • Ate out They and their friends seemed to have more hours in a day.
3. https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky About me (August Snapshot) 3 Full Time Job • Developer • Scrum Master • Committee of Sept and Oct conferences • Toastmaster Club VP Membership • Various workgroups • Table tennis • Pickleball • Lunch/virtual coffees
4. https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky About me (August Snapshot) 4 Non-Full Time Job • Final edits for OCP 21 book • Continue writing Real World Java • Edit Deitel book • Write time management presentation • Fun - events, movies, friends, etc • Exercise - walk/swim • Chores - clean, laundry, food, etc • CodeRanch volunteering • Help mother remotely
5. https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky About me (August Snapshot) 5 Paused • FIRST robotics • Toastmaster outside activities (ex: trainer) • Anything beyond minimum for • CodeRanch • JavaSig Leader Committee • NYC Scrum Organizer Committee
6. https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky Exercise 6 Write down (on paper or electronic) your major activities for October. • Can choose to focus on work or non- work or both • Only you will see this unless you chose to share parts
7. https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky 7 Dragon boat Dragon boat Evening/weekend drill down from planner Weekly see how much laptop time pm calls (x3) pm bar Robot reveal Bdwy show Balloon art Movie pm call movie pm call Battery dance pm call Battery dance Battery dance Battery dance Battery dance pm call Battery dance friends pm call US Open US Open US Open US Open pm call (x2) pool pm call Ultimate Tennis pm call pm call friends pm call 4+ 5+ 4+ 8+ 1 2 0 0 4+ 8+ 2+ 0 0 0 0 0 8+ 8+ 0 3+ 4+ 0 1 6+ 8+ 4+ 5+ 2+ 4+ 0 8+ pm call
8. https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky 8 Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Most time consuming items Highest cognitive load FIRST Robotics Write Real World Java OCP 21 Full Time Job Start after robotics season
9. https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky 9 Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec June Replanning FIRST Robotics Write Real World Java Write OCP 21 Full Time Job Mom stroke + help recovery
10. https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky Adjustments 10 • Planned and unplanned • Kid sick is both - don’t know when, but will happen
11. https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky Examples: Priority & Time Box 11 • Fun/friends - highest priority but (large) timebox • Exercise • walk - daily life, stairs • swim - medium priority • table tennis/pickleball - as time permits • Chores • food - high priority • cleaning - do less often when short on time • CodeRanch volunteering - only minimum Time
12. https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky Exercise: This month 12 • What are your highest priority things for the month? • What is timeboxed?
13. https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky Brainpower 13
14. https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky Focus 14 • Identify which activities need focus • Time of day • Duration
15. https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky Compartmentalization 15 • Examples • only focus on current book chapter(s) • don’t open PDF to review as soon as get it • Write stuff down • Have a place where other thoughts go • Email (ex: work thought) • To do list (ex: non-work thought) • Text file (ex: key chapter thoughts)
16. https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky Caching 16 • Wiki/OneNote/etc • Both personal and shared • Spend less time looking stuff up • Just in time notes so ready when need - ex: to do list
17. https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky Fire and Forget 17 If something is written/ emailed, it doesn’t need to be in your head! Ex: Scott book review emails
18. https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky Make it Easier to Start 18 • End day with a failing JUnit test • Write a blog post outline • Note the first thing you want to do in the am
19. https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky Writing This Presentation 19 Task Focus Where/when do Generate ideas No As think of Create slides/order/organize Yes At computer. Weekend. Chunks of time. Review/practice myself Yes Printed doc. On commute. While waiting for people. UsOpen Apply changes, add animations, graphics No At computer. After work in small time blocks. Practice with Neha Yes Scheduled meeting
20. https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky Exercise: Planning a task 20 • Pick something you do periodically that is a large activity • Divide into logical tasks • Which require focus? • How long is each? • What part of the day is best to do them?
21. https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky Planning Time and Tasks 21 Whatever you choose: daily and weekly time for planning
22. https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky Uses of Calendar(s) 22 • Work - time, just in time notes, blocks • Personal - planner and weekend time/priorities • Wall - travel, birthdays • Overlap - ex: robotics on work calendar Tracking kids and spouse activities: https://trishagee.com/2024/05/19/time-management-for-parents/ Remember to create blocks for focus and self
23. https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky Work To Do List 23 • Paper • OneNote (previous Excel/Outlook/Planner) • Tabs by • Day • Future months • Future followups • When have time (but should do) • Low priority (may never do)
24. https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky Personal To Do List 24 • Todoist (previously used ToodleDo but harder to enter tasks) • Projects • Filters (ex: priority, location/context) • Recurring • Start date vs due date • Subtasks - small enough to actually do
25. https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky Other Shared To Do Lists 25 • Copy into Todoist when I have a task • Groups use • Trello • Word/Google docs • Memory
26. https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky Finding Time! 26
27. https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky How much time in your day? 27 24 hours - sleep —————— 16-18 hours? Tip: Sleep may or may not be constant, but is an investment
28. https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky Optimize your habits 28 Leaving for office Original Time (News radio 880) New Time (Now 1010 WINS) Wake up 6:24 6:26 Personal care part 1 (shower at night) 6:25 6:27 Eat breakfast while listening to traffic/ weather/news 6:27 6:29 Rest of personal care 6:33 6:35 Take stuff by door and go 6:44 6:46 Habits change
29. https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky Techniques 29 • Microhabits • Habit Stacking (or chaining) • ex: brush teeth, shower, take out clothes • Placement of things (or rooms) • Don’t think about each thing
30. https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky My Commute 30 • Morning: read news and social media • Evening: read computer book or blog or problem solve or think! • If you drive: news or ebook or… You own this time!!!!
31. https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky Opportunities to Read 31 • Magazine or book • Before bed • If eating alone • While waiting for bus/train/ friend/event
32. https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky Eisenhower Matrix with a Twist 32 Do Decide when do it. Time? Focus? Delegate Pay? Quality? Schedule Subtasks help start! Delete Separate list Ok to have dreams Important Not Important Urgent Not Urgent If takes 2-5 minutes, just do it. Otherwise decide when next want to think about it
33. https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky Exercise 33 Talk to a neighbor about where you might find time. Parallelizing things? Travel time?
34. https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky Other tips 34
35. https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky Pomodoro Timer 35 • 25 minute pomodoro • 5 minute break • repeat 4 times • longer break Many free and paid apps. I use Be Focused Pro ($6) Have 5/15 minute chores to do during some computer breaks. ex: clean up, shower
36. https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky Paperwork 36 • When tired • End of day • During calls that don’t require attention but must attend - actual multitasking is bad • Listening for a small piece of (ex: condo meeting) • Identify tasks where quality doesn’t matter. 80/20
37. https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky What about IRL Meetings 37 • Pay attention If required to sit there • Daydream? • Problem solve - paper notes
38. https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky Not Waiting for Deadlines 38 Technique Example Commit to yourself “I will do this by X” Accountability Tell a friend or teammate will do by X Motivation “IM me to do my appraisal today” Artificial Deadlines Practiced this talk with Neha on 9/6
39. https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky Planning Around Events 39 Sept 15 Fly Sept 16 Chicago Sept 17 Chicago Sept 18 Chicago Sept 19 Fly home Sept 20 Home Sept 21 Home Sept 22 Home Sept 23 Home Sept 24 Fly Sept 25 Atlanta Sept 26 Fly Sept 27 San Jose Sept 28 San Jose Sept 29 San Jose Sept 30 Fly Oct 1 Denver Oct 2 Denver Oct 3 Denver Oct 4 Fly Oct 5 San Diego Oct 6 San Diego Oct 7 San Diego Oct 8 Fly home Oct 9 Get Home Oct 10 Home Oct 11 Home Oct 12 Home What do before/after/while away. Context/time matter When events planned?
40. https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky Saying No 40 • “Learn to say no” • Negotiate time and scope • Identify tasks that no longer need doing • Boss doesn’t know/remember all you do No
41. https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky Enlist Others 41 • Scott - no book until after back from robotics champs • Scott - limit WIP on discuss chapters • Friends - away/busy times
42. https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky Questions 42 ?