Time Management

There is an expression used in the Army; “spinning plates” was used to describe someone who was typically managing a lot of tasks. Well, I’m spinning a lot of plates right now. Setting up our new home, preparing the old home for sale, full time job, and rental side business. Not to mention my most important duties, father and husband.

I’m not an expert “plate spinner” at any of these tasks, but I’m getting by. I feel fortunate to have developed a strong sense of time management over the years. Perhaps skillful time management is the one trait I learned in the military that I value the most. Somehow, someway in the Army we could always accomplish just about every task, even when we were fresh out of time.

I’ve stressed the importance of developing this enviable quality to my sons and I think it’s one of the few life lessons I’ve tried to impart that they actually espouse. I recall both during the beginning of their 9^th grade year with tears rolling down their face because they felt there was no way they could manage to complete the demanding academic load and sports requirements they were facing. After some teaching moments, they got the hang of it and realized their capacity for “spinning plates” was a lot greater than they thought.

Now they juggle several tasks with ease. In fact, I’d say they have too much time on their hands as I see them “chilling” frequently. Our college student is learning that developing time management skills is a lifelong process. The tricks he learned in high school don’t all apply in college. Not to mention as we grow older there is just more and more “plates” to spin.

Which brings me here, today, right now. I’m trying to find paint to match for our old home, get quotes from several vendors and work off our punch list on the new home. All this while working full time at my day job and the ever-present commitments of our rental property side hustle.  I know it’s all self-induced, but I didn’t know 50 would feel like this!

While I’m confident in my ability to spin the plates, I’m learning it isn’t as easy as it used to be. Moving was a classic example. Back in the day, I’d have our whole 15,000lbs of house hold goods unpacked within 48 hours. This time it took me nearly a week! Of course, rolling my ankle going down the stairs didn’t help much but thankfully that’s healing up. I’m just not as nimble as I used to be!

I think my biggest challenge is convincing myself that not everything has to get done right now or on a certain schedule. It can wait. This is a foreign concept for a former hard charging military person. But you know what, I’m kind of enjoying the shift in thinking. As stressful as these next few weeks could be, I actually feel at peace and am not (too) anxious about all the spinning plates.

I know I can spin the plates, but I will spin them at my own speed and choose which ones to spin. No one is telling me which are most important, except for maybe when the wife gives direction.

Just like those high stress Army days, I’ll get through this period with the help of some good time management. While my mental and physical faculties are not what they used to be I am wiser.  And I think the wisdom makes me just as effective of a time manager as I was 15 years ago, back in my so called “prime”. Anyway, enough time spent typing…I’ve got pictures to hang!

Looking for a good how-to on wealth building? Check out my book, Millionaire on a Worker’s Budget: Five Financial Truth’s to Build Wealth on sale now at Amazon!

Interested in rental property investing? Look for “Collect Rent, Don’t Pay It: A Beginner’s Guide to Rental Property Investing” on Amazon to learn how our family turned rental property investing into a successful side hustle!

The views, opinions and biases expressed in this blog are the authors and do not reflect those of the U.S. Army or Department of Defense.

Use the links in the about section below to follow on social media or subscribe for emails to receive updates on the latest weekly blog at www.normspivey.com!