WAHM Tips: Put the Big Rocks First

Do you ever have one of those days when the day isn’t enough to finish all that’s listed on your to-do list? When you feel like you don’t know what tasks or errands to do first because the list seems unending?

Today, I hope I can give you an inspiration or a light bulb moment on how to manage your time as a work at home Mom, as a Mom, as a wife, as a daughter, as a friend and as you.

For a time, I was always thrown at days like the ones I mentioned above. It felt like I needed to finish everything, so I start everything all at once and ending up mostly with unfinished tasks or I end up unsatisfied with my results. Not until I watched Steve Covey. It’s a video clip from a seminar he did a long time ago (you’ll see from the video how long time ago it was…lol.. )

Read more and watch Time Management Video by Steve Covey

I love the concept and the point of the illustration. The point being, you should put the most important tasks first and then do the menial tasks next.

Here’s another nice post about giving a point via nice and inspiring illustration

Source: http://www.appleseeds.org/Big-Rocks_Covey.htm

Dr. Stephen R. Covey,
First Things First

One day this expert was speaking to a group of business students and, to drive home a point, used an illustration I’m sure those students will never forget. After I share it with you, you’ll never forget it either.

As this man stood in front of the group of high-powered over-achievers he said, “Okay, time for a quiz.” Then he pulled out a one-gallon, wide-mouthed mason jar and set it on a table in front of him. Then he produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar.

When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, “Is this jar full?” Everyone in the class said, “Yes.” Then he said, “Really?” He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. Then he dumped some gravel in and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the spaces between the big rocks.

Then he smiled and asked the group once more, “Is the jar full?” By this time the class was onto him. “Probably not,” one of them answered. “Good!” he replied. And he reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in and it went into all the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once more he asked the question, “Is this jar full?”

“No!” the class shouted. Once again he said, “Good!” Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim. Then he looked up at the class and asked, “What is the point of this illustration?”

One eager beaver raised his hand and said, “The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard, you can always fit some more things into it!”

“No,” the speaker replied, “that’s not the point. The truth this illustration teaches us is: If you don’t put the big rocks in first, you’ll never get them in at all.”

What are the big rocks in your life? A project that you want to accomplish? Time with your loved ones? Your faith, your education, your finances? A cause? Teaching or mentoring others? Remember to put these Big Rocks in first or you’ll never get them in at all.

I hope this has inspired you to create meaningful schedules everyday. For me it meant being smart with your schedule. Understanding what the BIG ROCKS are would help a lot in making your decisions too.

Written by: Reena Alcantaraon February 14, 2013