Time Management

[Zippy]

So, how do the BearBones gang manage their time? I won’t bore you all with what I’m trying to fit in to my days, but I know I have far less to do than all of you with commitments like other halves, family, children, proper jobs etc, and then not forgetting riding.

I’m quite lucky, I have a job where by and large I’m in a position where I manage my workload to an extent that I’m not working stupid hours generally, so can normally ride to and from work – but then that’s about all I can manage in a mid week day by the time I’ve made some lunch for the next day + eaten etc. Then the other things that take up my time really fixing/maintaining stuff (cars, bikes and anything else I own – computers etc.), will probably attempt getting chartered in the next year. I have very few responsibilities fortunately, don’t really watch TV and don’t play computer games (they’re massive time sucks!)

I know that’s a small list compared to many on here. So how do you all fit in your riding and all your other responsibilities? Any tips or tricks? I know a lot of it is about making time to do things, prioritisation etc. I do a lot of Project Management as part of my job – and filter this through to my own stuff to be fairly efficient with time – but can’t help feeling that I don’t know how everyone else manages it!?

Cheers,

Zip

[benp1]

Stop posting on here and get back to your jobs!

job, wife, 2 kids, 2 dogs, lots of hobbies - it's rare that the balance is perfect

I would say that if I was looking back at my life when I was single, I would have said I should have done more things - disappear for 2 weeks into somewhere random, more long weekends, more travel

Partner/girlfriend/wife doesn't stop that, might change it a bit though

Kids very much change that!

[whitestone]

Interesting subject.

I try and group stuff together so that I'm not wasting time getting the same tools/kit out to do similar jobs. Generally I don't worry about things getting done, just try and be flexible: lawns need mowing and it's raining? Do something else instead.

[Mariner]

Stop multi tasking.
Drives me bananas if you are going to do something get on with it and not leave half done jobs all over the place.
Phew bit of a rant there feel better now.

[Pirahna]

I can't offer any advice at all but thought you might like to know that it's the end of week 2 of my redundancy. It was raining first thing so I stayed in bed, stopped now so I'm off out riding.

[gairym]

I don't manage my time at all.

I just take on too much, struggle to fit it all in, take more stuff on, realise I can't fit it all in and then say f*ck it and go riding!

I'm in the ridiculously lucky position of being my own boss and also living somewhere with non-terrible riding on my doorstep and it's stall hard to find time to ride.

I've recently stripped back my responsibilities in an attempt to de-clutter my life - a couple of months ago I realised that a full time job, being a full time dad (with a 3rd sprog on its way), running an online magazine, organising a bikepacking event and trying cycle enough to burn more calories than I consume (not easy when you eat like I do ) was making me ill.

Less stress now and feeling a lot better about my time management but I'm sure the new bambino will take its toll in October - yay!

[Borderer]

I just neglect everything else and go riding apart from the boy that is, he just comes with me and that solves that.

Priorities man

[Matt]

Bin the job...

[ZeroDarkBivi]

Stop multi tasking.
Drives me bananas if you are going to do something get on with it and not leave half done jobs all over the place.
Phew bit of a rant there feel better now.

My Mrs is dreadful for this; just leaves a trail of half-baked sub standard that was in a better state before she decided to intervene...nightmare!

I decided some time ago that I would not become a slave to the job and compromise living for the slim chance of promotion, however I still find myself staring at a screen wondering WTF am I doing in this dysfunctional organisation jumping through tedious processes that add no value to output- that's government departments for you...

[GregMay]

Stop multi tasking.
Drives me bananas if you are going to do something get on with it and not leave half done jobs all over the place.
Phew bit of a rant there feel better now.

Agree. One of my past failings that I addressed a few years ago. Now, things are much easier.

Biggest change I made to time management - saying no more often.
At work - No, I can't take that project/team/hours on.
Home - No, I can't stay in bed and sleep with you, I have training to do.
Friends - No, I can't go to that party/orgy/thing because I'm spending time with my wife.
Family - No, I'm not travelling home to Ireland because you can't use your PC.
And so on.

Time management is not the problem. Having to many things you want to spread your time over is the problem.

[Zippy]

Thanks for the replies so far (I think!).

Whilst the easy answer is do less, it’s more aimed towards that I know people are able to fit in more than what I am managing, and how you manage it?

As an aside re: multi-tasking, providing you do actually follow through (i.e. not half do something), it’s quite effective. And, when you have a car apart that you need the next day, or a bike apart that you need for an event etc. things do get finished (even if it is a case of cutting your cloth to suit).

Not an easy one, and maybe the answer is there isn’t one! This hurt, but in order to buy time and get the aircon in my car sorted before I pop up to Newcastle for a wedding in a couple of weekends time, I actually paid an AC specialist to diagnose/find my leak for me – but again getting others to do things for you isn’t an answer I’m hoping for!

[mountainbaker]

Good subject. Something I've struggled with for years. Have been freelance for over 10 years now, and exclusively working remotely for the past 5 years. It has taken a lot of that time to get the balance right.

I spent the first 2 years mostly procrastinating, riding bikes and tinkering at other things that I'd like to be my career instead of programming. Buying a house and paying for tour divide really bought things into perspective and I had to sort my sh!t out. I now manage to ride most days, and a decent long ride at the weekend. I work probably 6 hours a day, but it is intensive and highly focused. I quit facebook, as it's bollocks, and I try to not come on forums too often. During a 10 minute scheduled break like now is fine. I go on instagram when I'm taking a sh!t, that's about it. So if I post or like one of your photos, you can be pretty sure I'm laying a cable.

I recently read, and am re-reading "Deep Work" by Cal Newport (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Deep-Work-Focu ... 0349411905) and it's been very helpful and speaks some truths about the distracted state that most of us live in. You might find it helpful.

I don't have kids, and probably never will. I did have a dog for 10 years, he passed last October. But like all responsibilities, I guess you just get on with it, currently thinking about getting two dogs next year. More work!

Also, don't have a TV license, and don't even watch netflix stuff that much, it's just another distraction. Keep things simple, don't have too many expectations, and try to catch your mind wandering off when you should be focusing on something!

[gairym]

I have very few responsibilities fortunately, don’t really watch TV and don’t play computer games (they’re massive time sucks!)

Also, don't have a TV license, and don't even watch netflix stuff that much, it's just another distraction.

This.

We've not had a TV since 2005 and you couldn't pay me to have one now. I'll watch something online every now and then but the easy temptation of sitting down to watch whatever's on sucked so much of my life that I'll never go back.

[voodoo_simon]

Finally a subject I'm an 'expert on'

As above, really easy to say but don't take on many things and it becomes easier. Being anti-social makes this easier but has taken me years to get my wife to think similar, sometimes she would double book herself for parties/outings etc and then end up cancelling both!

Currently have a three year old, dog and I've been working 6 days/week since September! All riding is now done before work (start at 930, so several hours before is manageable and I 'treat' myself to McDonalds pre-work) or after (finish at 6pm and I ride straight from the door for several hours and finish the night with a chippy - not healthy but ace in the winter). Will do a morning or evening ride like this twice a week, sucks in the winter but beats not riding! Thankfully my wife is sporty, so we have a mutual respect for each other in this regard.

Always keep Sundays for family days if the wife isn't in work. Generally putting the little one to bed 4-5 times a week before the wife gets home, so keeps some free time the next for both of us to catch up with one another

Also, I'm really fortunate for child care. Both sets of parents (almost) argue over her. Mini voodoo goes to playschool once a week, but more to socialise than anything else. Think it's her favourite day of the week!

Work is fairly straight-forward for me. It's retail, so you can only take on so much and once is closing, I can't my work home.

Not driving to riding really opens up a lot of free time, and I mean a lot! Even a thirty minute drive really means an hour or so with faff included, so that's two hours not riding. Now I ride straight from the door, les exciting trails but more time on the bike or more time for other things.

Food shopping is done on line, only downside is the dates on food (can always freeze it) and means not supporting the local shops. Does free up loads of time too, especially if it gets delivered at breakfast time

Things can always be left to the next day too, that means washing etc. Ironically, having less time for these things means the house has never been tidier! Tend to keep on top of the small domestic jobs before it means spending the whole day doing them.

Socially, I had my first social outing of 2017 at the end of the April Not proud of that but you have to pick which suits you best. Since I had entered into the Rovaniemi race, I rode by myself too. Much better for training but now it's over, my Garmin rarely gets turned on.

Have the full sky package at home, so always a temptation of a good documentary or some sport, but bike always wins over TV time. Still, it's good to chill with a beer in front of the box.

One thing I do find helpful is too take pictures whilst out on the bike. My Facebook feed is full of them but it gives me time to admire the view and appreciate what I'm doing. Also great for reflection at a later period. Sounds corny I admit

Think that's everything. Basically summed up my life

[ianfitz]

I've guess I've been lucky and chosen well.

Work is 2km away, located at a single base (mostly) but I ride a variety of longer routes to get there. Basically through the side of the Peak District near to south west Sheffield, morning and evening.

Married to a national champion fell runner who obviously 'gets' training and the need to focus on events. We populate an annual calander at the start of the year with our must do events on and work around that.

We live in a big house with mother in law who is long retired, doesn't go out after dark and genuinely likes domestic organisation. So she does large amounts of shopping, cooking and being around for the kids before and after school.

Two kids at 11 and 13 who are into sport means I always have someone to do recovery rides with.

[rando nomad]

I've guess I've been lucky and chosen well.

Yep, that has a lot to do with time management with the spouse. My wife and I prioritize work outs/adventure. No kids and just two cats mean it is a lot easier then those of you with little ones. We (well actually Mrs Nomad) does a bunch of cooking on Sunday's in order to have meals we can heat up after work outs without a big time issue.

It helps having someone else in the house who wants to go and do events etc. You don't feel like you are taking time apart from each other, but working together for a common goal.

Neither of us is any where close to national champ level. Just interested in interesting rides and getting outside.

[slarge]

I try to pack as much in as possible, but it doesn't always work.
Up at 5.30, by the time I've fed the dogs, made lunch, eaten breakfast, packed rucksack I leave for work at 6.45, ride to work, shower and start by 8. Work till 6.30 ish then home by 7.30. Eat with better half and spend an hour chilling or watching crap telly. In bed for 11, repeat.
Friday night is pub night with the Mrs, then weekends are spent doing house maintenance, walking dogs with the Mrs, fixing bikes or cars and maybe riding early on Sunday morning.

I think the question should really be "what would you do if you had more time?".

That would be a very different answer. Why do we need to sleep? It wastes so much time!

[atk]

Owning less stuff, and making sure the stuff you do own (bikes, cars, electronics etc.) don't require constant tinkering to function. Frees up a lot of time to actually do they stuff with them and enjoy it.

The internet was a massive time-suck before I left the UK, since our access is now at public libraries or phone-box hotspots we're maybe spending half an hour online every few days and priorities are emailing family and friends and the odd flick through Instagram rather than reading every forum/thread/blog/tweet etc.

[In Reverse]

will probably attempt getting chartered in the next year.

I've been telling myself that for the last 15 years or so. Just never get time. One year I got quite close then had to move to London for a project and just never got going again. I've decided the benefit of CEng is negligible compared with the time and effort it will take. Like nobody really cares.

I'm crap at time management btw. Everything's last minute. Still haven't packed the bike for the Jenn Ride in the morning.

Hope that helps.

[Wotsits]

I'm crap at time management btw. Everything's last minute. Still haven't packed the bike for the Jenn Ride in the morning.

Hope that helps.

I thought i was bad till i met Andy!

[adjustablewench]

I'm not sure I can really offer any advice as I feel like I'm quite disorganised - however, I'm a single mum with two boys still at home and work full time at a demanding job that takes me away from home several nights a week.

I guess as others have said it's about what you don't do. I don't iron, I don't do everything for the kids as I'm a firm believer they need to fend for themselves. I don't watch TV as it munches through time with little benefit.

Although I don't have help from family I do have my daughters best friend who is like a 5th child to me who moves in for the nights when I need to work away. Without him I'd be lost!

Sometimes I can feel slightly overwhelmed (especially when I'm not feeling 100% - which is a lot of the time atm - but I'm hoping this improves). If I get to that point I remind myself that I previously had 4 children at home and did 2 jobs - all the children survived and I managed to do both jobs well.

Reminds me of a time when I did my degree at Sheffield uni. One of my exams started at 9am. The university day care for the kids during their half term opened at 8.30 and was over half an hour from the Octagon. I made the exam for 9.10 - as I ran in the building I just had to focus on getting on with it. My friends were horrified that I'd have less time - but I'd known it would be the case and just got on with it. I got a decent grade and hadn't allowed myself to get stressed about it. I think that's also key - the minute you start stressing you haemorrhage time

[HaYWiRe]

This sounds like the perfect reason to pursue minimalism.

Its a path ive slowly gone down as my eyes were opened to how cluttered modern life can be, i wasnt stretched thin like some people but felt myself heading there. I needed to do something about it before its too late. Plus health conditions open your eyes to alot of previously cliché life advice.

Im self employed, working with my parents in an embroidery business, recently started dropping down to only 4 days a week which changed everything for the better.
Im lucky i dont commute, have leeway for holidays but i work hard to grow my business which i love doing. Pay is crap, but life is about more than money.

Minimalism in a broad sense helps me stay calm, simplifies my life. In the pursuit for the lightest outdoors kit i was opened up to pursing a lighter financial, mental and consumer lifestyle. We all learn to ge out and do more with less...why not try and live with less?

My wardrobe was first, i just donated clothes i didnt like/wear/fit/suit ect....and such a mundane act has wide reaching effects.
I take no time to choose what to wear (1st world problems i know...but i overthink everything) just the same plain top and jeans, my clothes dont need ironing, heavy washing, dry cleaning. Laundry takes only 90 mins a week, or about 10mins of my actual time to put in/hang to dry.

My wardrobe is nearly empty, easy to clean, same now applies to my room as simplicity spread, cleaning now only takes 30 mins a week, or an hour every month to deep clean.

Less stuff to clean/care for/store/find/fix/choose between means more time using what i have. Shopping is tough but far less time consuming, temptation to impulse buy is gone, money saved. The benifits become endless.

Eventually it speads to my mind too, i used to have quite severe social anxiety, poor speech in public, stress, OCD and regular panic attacks, i get overwhelmed easily. The mountains are my retreat. Cycling was my escape.

Now im better, i still struggle, and panic, and overthink, but im improving. Financially and health.

The most important thing in life is time, we cant get anymore of it, but we can choose how we spend what we have. When we find ourselves running out we have to take a step back, strip away the excess, learn to say no, and simplify our lives so the time we have is spent on what matters most. What that is however? only you know.

[Ian]

Interesting insight, Haywire - thanks for sharing.

I read a book a while back called The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson - the premise is about making small changes to life that have a compound effect, a concept that we recognise in cycling in the guise of marginal gains. Olson discusses the psychological aspects in more detail, with things that are "easy to do" also being "easy not to do". It's easy to spend 10 mins stretching in the morning, it's easy to turn the internet off after 8pm at night, it's easy to avoid eating junk food. It's also easy ignore a stretching routine, surf the net to late at night and eat crap whenever we like, which is the problem.

The multi-tasking vs single-tasking thing is very appropriate too - one thing at a time is by far the best way to go.

I've spent far too much time on here in the past, and I'm getting better. This is about the only corner of the internet I frequent regularly, but I do try and limit my time. Facebook just absorbs time, I have a love hate relationship with it in terms of the "benefit" it provides, I rarely do Twitter now and far less on Instagram than I used to. I haven't written a blog in ages, and haven't made a video in over past two years. Of the things in that list, it's the last two that provide the most enjoyment. Once the move it out of the way, our lives will be very different and easier - not least because moving house is massively time consuming!

[jameso]

Interesting read. I guess I'm lucky in many ways as my life / work mix allows more time for riding and local stuff, faffy jobs etc. I expect I wouldn't last long in a busy, long commute city lifestyle anyway. I think we recognise what we need and try to shape our lives around that, if time and space is what you often need then your work or location needs to allow that eventually.

Biggest timesucks are the internet and TV, there's some good info etc out there but it can go ott. Partly why I'm not a FB or strava etc user, little interest or return when looking at the time cost. Social media for me has to be more about places like this or something constructive, things I can add to and/or get something out of. 2-4hrs a week on that stuff or doing other jobs to buy time on the bike .. easy decision. Not that I stick to it all the time, but generally. Procrastination is the biggest time killer here. Other jobs that are in place of FB etc are also often in place of more important and more dull stuff ..

[mh24]

Finally a subject I'm an 'expert on'

As above, really easy to say but don't take on many things and it becomes easier. Being anti-social makes this easier but has taken me years to get my wife to think similar, sometimes she would double book herself for parties/outings etc and then end up cancelling both!

Currently have a three year old, dog and I've been working 6 days/week since September! All riding is now done before work (start at 930, so several hours before is manageable and I 'treat' myself to McDonalds pre-work) or after (finish at 6pm and I ride straight from the door for several hours and finish the night with a chippy - not healthy but ace in the winter). Will do a morning or evening ride like this twice a week, sucks in the winter but beats not riding! Thankfully my wife is sporty, so we have a mutual respect for each other in this regard.

Always keep Sundays for family days if the wife isn't in work. Generally putting the little one to bed 4-5 times a week before the wife gets home, so keeps some free time the next for both of us to catch up with one another

Also, I'm really fortunate for child care. Both sets of parents (almost) argue over her. Mini voodoo goes to playschool once a week, but more to socialise than anything else. Think it's her favourite day of the week!

Work is fairly straight-forward for me. It's retail, so you can only take on so much and once is closing, I can't my work home.

Not driving to riding really opens up a lot of free time, and I mean a lot! Even a thirty minute drive really means an hour or so with faff included, so that's two hours not riding. Now I ride straight from the door, les exciting trails but more time on the bike or more time for other things.

Food shopping is done on line, only downside is the dates on food (can always freeze it) and means not supporting the local shops. Does free up loads of time too, especially if it gets delivered at breakfast time

Things can always be left to the next day too, that means washing etc. Ironically, having less time for these things means the house has never been tidier! Tend to keep on top of the small domestic jobs before it means spending the whole day doing them.

Socially, I had my first social outing of 2017 at the end of the April Not proud of that but you have to pick which suits you best. Since I had entered into the Rovaniemi race, I rode by myself too. Much better for training but now it's over, my Garmin rarely gets turned on.

Have the full sky package at home, so always a temptation of a good documentary or some sport, but bike always wins over TV time. Still, it's good to chill with a beer in front of the box.

One thing I do find helpful is too take pictures whilst out on the bike. My Facebook feed is full of them but it gives me time to admire the view and appreciate what I'm doing. Also great for reflection at a later period. Sounds corny I admit

Think that's everything. Basically summed up my life

I have to say the above plan is the best way for me - have been trying to for last 10 days or so (!) and it really works - watch Casualty with my wife or go for a ride for a couple of hours.......no brainer, surely! Get back home and go straight out for a ride - back before she knows I have been out! Have one (or two) dedicated night(s) just for you and your choice of hobby.