HOW TO MAKE TIME WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE ANY

Psychologist and life coach Garcy (The Power of Inner Guidance, 2007) offers time-management strategies for those of us who claim there aren’t enough hours in the day.

Garcy begins by noting that time is a construct, and unless a person is dying, the concept of not having enough time is illusory. There are 24 hours in a day; no one has more or less time than anyone else. A person’s perception of time and the choices they make throughout the day determine how productive they are. From there, most of Garcy’s advice is refreshingly practical. While her tone conveys her professional expertise, it’s also relatable. She offers examples of time-management strategies she uses at home, such as setting a timer to make a game out of simple family chores like cleaning the kitchen and even admits to occasionally merely giving the appearance of neatness by closing the door to her bedroom when she can’t get around to making the bed. Most chapters include exercises to help readers put the author’s suggestions into practice. The best inspire self-reflection by asking the reader to answer specific questions: “What do you really want to do that you’re not doing?” “What have you made the priority?” Others, such as asking readers to fill in a pie chart of how they spend their time, seem a bit too abstract to be very helpful. There are also moments when the book feels like a supplement to a larger work, as when Garcy identifies a common obstacle facing people who struggle with time management: the feeling that a substantial obligation, like a job, takes up a significant portion of the day, even though it’s at odds with personal priorities. Rather than investigating ways to address this mindset, the author refers readers to The Power of Inner Guidance, her previous book.

A sensible guide to organizing responsibilities, sure to enlighten frazzled readers.