#11. 3 Time Management Tips for Speech Pathologists
If you're a speech pathologist trying to wrangle your busy life into a neat schedule, I've got a juicy secret for you. In this blog post, I’m revealing the biggest secret about time management and—spoiler alert—it has nothing to do with calendars or To Do Lists.
Be an Observer
Ever feel like your day is a runaway train with no conductor? Most of us do! We often have no idea where our time goes.
Start observing yourself throughout the day. What's on your plate, and are you proactively handling it or merely reacting to whatever's thrown your way? The goal here is self-awareness. Don’t shame or judge yourself for anything that comes up.
Take Control
Now that you have a greater awareness of what you’re spending your time on, you can begin to take control. Divide your tasks into "Have Tos," "Want Tos," and "Need Tos." Be honest with yourself about which tasks fall into which category. What do you genuinely have to accomplish? What do you want to spend your time on? What do you need to take time for as you go about your busy schedule?
This small shift—categorizing what you’re spending your time on—helps you prioritize and gives you a sense of control.
Think Deeper
Here's the game-changer: time management isn’t logical. It’s emotional. That's the piece that most of us are unaware of. We've been told that calendars, to-do lists, and minimizing distractions are the keys to time management, but those are just tools. While tools can help, they won’t change the way we spend our time. In order to change how we spend our time, we need to become aware of how our emotions drive our decisions in filling our calendar. Here's the thing: every action or inaction boils down to your desire to feel a certain way or avoid feeling a certain way.
Let's say you're procrastinating on a to-do list because you “don’t feel like doing it.” If you dig a little deeper, chances are the task feels challenging or uncomfortable, so you avoid it. Maybe you say yes to a late afternoon client despite the fact that you prefer to leave the office earlier. I bet you said yes because you didn’t want to feel guilty. See where I'm going with this?
Once you recognize that your thoughts and feelings determine how you spend your time, you begin to make more intentional and informed decisions about how to spend your time.
In time management coaching, we shine a light on those hidden thoughts and emotions, empowering you to use them to your advantage. Whether it's in your business, clinical practice, personal life, or relationships, understanding why you do what you do is a game-changer. Ready to work together? Book a consult today and let’s get started.