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GMC Forum _ CHILL OUT _ How Good Is Your Time Management?
Posted by: PosterBoy Apr 3 2013, 01:07 PM
I firmly believe if we structure our free time (even though it almost takes away the meaning of free time) we would be happier, more relaxed, more successful and achieve so much more than if we just do things as we feel like it.
In practice I suck at pulliing this off, it's not completely my fault, sometimes life and those we do life with, get in the way, but sometimes it's just my laziness and lack of drive.
Posted by: klasaine Apr 3 2013, 01:33 PM
Maybe for some but definitely not me.
I want as little structure as possible for my 'free' time.
Posted by: PosterBoy Apr 3 2013, 01:58 PM
I find I do very little without structure.
My list of things to do is
spend quality time with my wife (that feels wrong to schedule)
Practice guitar
gym
learn portuguese
singing practice
then there's always housework and cooking etc that needs doing.
Currently the gym seems to take priority as it's something the wife and I do together.
Posted by: Jouve Apr 3 2013, 02:37 PM
Yey I try to follow that "getting things done concept" but mostly at "hard times". At first i thought that it's difficult to plan your moves, but my lack of time during last academic session forced me to do some intense studying 
I used Pocket informant soft for my phone and had a perfect marks in my academic record. Now i don't really do that much planing(besides guitar and German studying), but in two weeks i gotta have my exams. So i'm back on a schedule
Posted by: thefireball Apr 3 2013, 02:51 PM
I can see your point. I think my free time could be structured more. I am on vacation before my new job in a couple of weeks. So I have lots of free time. 
For the family guys, I can definitely see how a structure would help more.
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Apr 3 2013, 03:33 PM
Yeah, time management is the key to happiness and to achieve your goals. Some time ago I found a book that was very well organized to help us to be more effective. The name is "7 habits of highly effective people".
https://www.stephencovey.com/7habits/7habits.php
Posted by: Ulrik Apr 3 2013, 03:53 PM
Oh, I need structure I tells ya.
I just made a schedule for all my running and weight training the next month, because I know I won't reach my goals, if I don't make some agreement with myself for the near future. The trick is to put up realistic goals, and then you are happy, if you do better than expected.
Then one day each week I have nothing planned a head, so maybe that is my only free time?
Same with guitar, I must plan ahead, and make sure I have a weekend with some time before I choose to join a collab. And I'm really neglecting Gab's Army becuase I have so much other than guitar I want to do, and I feel a bit bad about that!
Posted by: mroberts70 Apr 3 2013, 03:54 PM
My wife is a school teacher and they have been implementing the 7 Habits at her elementary school where she is currently teaching.
It has been very successful, and the kids are becoming more involved in themselves by learning these 7 habits. They are also being placed in "Leadership" roles that will help them understand the importance of what it means to be a leader. It is a very good program and it, or at least something like it should be implemented in all schools.
https://www.stephencovey.com/7habits/7habits.php
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Apr 3 2013, 04:01 PM
I just made a schedule for all my running and weight training the next month, because I know I won't reach my goals, if I don't make some agreement with myself for the near future. The trick is to put up realistic goals, and then you are happy, if you do better than expected.
Then one day each week I have nothing planned a head, so maybe that is my only free time?
Same with guitar, I must plan ahead, and make sure I have a weekend with some time before I choose to join a collab. And I'm really neglecting Gab's Army becuase I have so much other than guitar I want to do, and I feel a bit bad about that!
Start your plan mate! The army is waiting for you.
It has been very successful, and the kids are becoming more involved in themselves by learning these 7 habits. They are also being placed in "Leadership" roles that will help them understand the importance of what it means to be a leader. It is a very good program and it, or at least something like it should be implemented in all schools.
Awesome!! This sound really cool. knowing these habit when you are at school would be something very useful for a whole life. I'm curious about knowing a bit more about how they implemented this program! Please share with us more info!
Posted by: klasaine Apr 3 2013, 09:59 PM
Well 'planning your time wisely' ... for stuff that needs to be done, isn't what I'd consider 'free time'.
Free time is for when all that's finished ... isn't it - ?
Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Apr 4 2013, 12:01 AM
Free time is for when all that's finished ... isn't it - ?
Thats how I feel, free time is lazy time.I do my essentials when it needs done. I know the first pay of the month I pay all the bills, after that its just first come first serve and I don't try to push things to the back burning and procrastinate. After all that I just am the laziest man alive, watch movies, play video games, and eat.
Posted by: TreyDeschamp Apr 4 2013, 12:33 AM
As an 18 year old on the way to college I feel right now is where my free time needs to start getting more structured.
I'm going to really have to crack down on when I have the actual time to play around and when it is time to get serious.
Posted by: Socky42 Apr 4 2013, 12:38 AM
I'm going to really have to crack down on when I have the actual time to play around and when it is time to get serious.
As an 18 year old at college right now, I wish I was in your position and started doing work instead of playing guitar all day.
Posted by: TreyDeschamp Apr 4 2013, 12:43 AM
Never too late! I'm actually excited for college because all I'll really have to worry about is studying and guitar.
Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Apr 4 2013, 09:40 AM
Free time
I think I have a bad habit of taking everything I do so seriously, that even free time is a challenge to me
I tend to be over organized, because I am being involved in a lot of activities - I feel guilty sometimes for not being able to cope with everything quite like I'd want to. My free time is usually the time when I sleep 
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Apr 4 2013, 03:16 PM
I think I have a bad habit of taking everything I do so seriously, that even free time is a challenge to me
I tend to be over organized, because I am being involved in a lot of activities - I feel guilty sometimes for not being able to cope with everything quite like I'd want to. My free time is usually the time when I sleep
I feel very identified with your story mate. I wish days would have more hours or weeks more days!
Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Apr 5 2013, 07:25 AM
Tell me about it..
I for one have to learn how to cool it down sometimes - in the mind that is - because I feel like there's something stuck there if I skipped guitar/ sword practice or fitness or whatever needs my daily dedication.
Posted by: wollace03 Apr 5 2013, 07:51 AM
thats an interesting topic!
I am quite organized in my work time (which is a large part of my week) and I need to be structured there so it feels natural to me to plan my work and the work of my teams....
(un)fortunately I am the complete opposite character at home/free time (which not all people find good - you should ask my wife about it). So a have dozen of things to do (family, house, garden, ....) that cut my time for practicing the guitar and I dont have a good schedule of all the things I have to do. I play around with my kids, read something drink coffee and so on...
Therefor I have very limited time for practicing the guitar (beside the rehearsals for the bands I play in).
In the busy times (which is always from october to june) it really gets bad (thats the reason way I´ve been working on my last homework for gabs army for month now....).
but I´d rather have it this way then also keep a thight and structured schedule of my "free time"....
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Apr 5 2013, 03:15 PM
I for one have to learn how to cool it down sometimes - in the mind that is - because I feel like there's something stuck there if I skipped guitar/ sword practice or fitness or whatever needs my daily dedication.yeah, this can be unhealthy. When I was a teenager I used to feel a strong guilty feeling if I didn't play at least 3 hours the guitar a day. I used to play more hours but if any day I wasn't able to do it I used to feel too bad and this wasn't healthy. In the long term I started to have problems enjoying other activities and this became a problem.
Posted by: PosterBoy Apr 5 2013, 03:58 PM
How funny is it that a couple days after posting this, I'm being squeezed to give more of my 'free time' up!!!
Posted by: klasaine Apr 5 2013, 05:08 PM
If we're just talking about trying to find time for guitar then you first need to assess your musical priorities.
Are you in a band with upcoming shows?
Are there songs and/or solos that you need to work on because they are not performance ready?
Are you trying to get to a point where you're good enough to be in a band that performs?
Do you have an audition coming up?
Are you about to get kicked out of your current band because you're not cutting it anymore due to lack of practice time?
If any of these are yes, then one most definitely needs to adjust their time. And if music is that serious for you(?) then practicing - either solo and/or with the band - doesn't count as 'free' time.
I've mentioned this before in a thread but if I don't have something to practice for i.e., new tunes to learn, a new project or I'm just plain not inspired - I don't play for a few days. It doesn't hurt anything. I take two to three solid weeks off every year from guitar. It takes me 'maybe' three days to get the rust off. *(Keep in mind I've been playing for YEARS and I definitely did the 3 to 6 hours a day almost every day for probably close to 6 years solid.)
*I know Gab's read it but I can't recommend enough Julia Cameron's book "The Artist's Way". Anyone who does any type of art seriously (not necessarily for a living - but at least takes it seriously) NEEDS to read this book. It will help you understand what it is you are trying to 'time manage' and why some of things that you think are a waste of time aren't. Along with all the cool and analogous Zen and Ninja volumes you WILL find this in the shelves of most professional artists.
Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Apr 6 2013, 12:56 PM
Thanks for the suggestion Ken, I'll check it out
Posted by: klasaine Apr 6 2013, 06:29 PM
Here's a interesting site regarding practicing and time management ...
http://www.bulletproofmusician.com/how-many-hours-a-day-should-you-practice/
Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Apr 7 2013, 12:13 PM
Thanks for sharing this Ken - Great reminder on looking in our personal practice mirror!
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Apr 8 2013, 03:01 PM
http://www.bulletproofmusician.com/how-many-hours-a-day-should-you-practice/
This is a very interesting article! I read some parts but I'll analyze it deeply later. Thanks for sharing!!
Posted by: Slavenko Erazer Apr 8 2013, 04:58 PM
It's Bad.!
Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Apr 9 2013, 08:05 AM
It's not bad at all man I read the article yesterday and it seems to me that we should all be much more mindful about how we practice.
Throughout time, I read about all sorts of practice routines, including ones which state that you can watch TV and practice in the same time, on autopilot. WRONG! When you do something, focus only on that thing in order to see the right results - there are simply too many details to be careful with when practicing something and I really don't think we should be doing anything else when practicing.
What would it be like if you were sewing something and watching tv? You have ALL the chances in the world to stick that needle in your fingers! You should just mind the action you are doing at that moment with all your senses
Posted by: Spock Apr 9 2013, 09:12 AM
I sort of switched my schedule up in order to get things done and not feel like I am taking time away from my wife. About 2 years ago I started waking up at 5:30 to work out, then joined a gym that opened at 5 a.m., so I started waking up at 4 to be there at five. I love getting out early in the morning! Then guitar came back into my life, and I was so mentally tired after work, that I decided to incorporate it into my mornings. Now I wake up at 3 a.m., do the coffee/internet headline thing, then practice guitar for 1 to 2 hours depending on what workout I have. On the mornings I stay home and just do the treadmill, I can get in 2 hours of guitar playing.
Personally, I really like this schedule, because my wife is asleep and I don't feel I am sacrificing our relationship. Then in the evenings after work, we both vedge out in front of the idiot box together, and I am in bed by 9, never having a problem falling to sleep.
I use to be pretty spontaneous, but at the ripe old age of 45, I feel that this schedule I have created for myself, gives me fulfillment, and by sticking to it, I feel I have accomplished things each day, and steadily progressing. On Saturdays, my wife works, and it is those days I try to write a new tune, or practice most of the days. Sundays, I may not even pick up a guitar.
Funny, when I stray from this schedule, even just to sleep in for another 30 minutes to an hour, I feel inside that something has not been accomplished and I was not as productive as I should have been.
Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Apr 10 2013, 09:17 AM
Hey man, whatever works for you and gets things done, is best! As long as you get plenty of rest and keep a healthy relationship with your Mrs., it's super!
Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Apr 10 2013, 10:23 AM
This really depends on the mood. Sometimes I make a schedule for all the activities in the day just for fun and try to keep up with it. Usually I get everything I plan done in time.
But this is a very good thread and point Ken - for guitar practice and music stuff (Recording/Band etc), I would definitely recommend making a schedule and sticking to it. Its like when you schedule a band gig in advance, you know you are going to be there. Same should be done with recording sessions, composing and most important - practicing. If one doesn't schedule it in advance and relies on it to fall in the "free time", there is a big chance that it might not get its spot/priority in relation to other "free time stuff".
Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Apr 10 2013, 08:40 PM
But this is a very good thread and point Ken - for guitar practice and music stuff (Recording/Band etc), I would definitely recommend making a schedule and sticking to it. Its like when you schedule a band gig in advance, you know you are going to be there. Same should be done with recording sessions, composing and most important - practicing. If one doesn't schedule it in advance and relies on it to fall in the "free time", there is a big chance that it might not get its spot/priority in relation to other "free time stuff".
When it comes down to doing things, if I wouldn't have a schedule, I would be a dead man... So, Bogdan - great analogy with the gig scheduling
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