Time Management for Unmanageable People: The Guilt-Free Way to Organize, Energize, and Maximize Your Life

by Ann McGee-Cooper

Revealing the flaws in old time-management practices, the authors of  You Don't Have to Go Home From Work Exhausted!  offer tips on identifying personal style, accentuating strengths, prioritizing, and reclaiming time.

Are you constantly running out of time? Do you typically juggle several projects at once? Do you procrastinate and push deadlines? Do you find you have no time left for family, friends, hobbies . . . yourself?

Here is the book that all of us creative, inspired, but hopelessly disorganized types have been waiting for.
 
Forget the old rules of time management that have failed you in the past. This practical and professionally proven approach—based on the latest research on brain function and stress reduction—helps you create your own nonsystem that works for you. What’s more, you’ll have more time than ever before for what’s really important in your life . . . living.
 
Praise for Time Management for Unmanageable People
 
“This book can literally save lives. Very wise—goes beyond conventional time management.” —Larry Dossey, M.D., author of Healing Words and Meaning and Medicine
 
“People’s lives will be changed when they read Time Management for Unmanageable People .” —Mary Kay Ash, Mary Kay Cosmetics
 
“Amazing! Someone who understands. There is hope for the organizationally impaired. This isn’t just time management; it’s good time management. Get it!” —Tobin Quereau, Playmakers, Austin, Texas
 
“After 25 years of teaming with (and trying to organize) Herb Kelleher, I now understand why his unpredictable genius is actually a right-brained version of time management. Thanks for the breakthrough!” —Colleen C. Barrett, Executive Vice President

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Business, Leadership

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

Reviews

[Jeanette · Rating 2 out of 5]

i found this book at one of my previous jobs and finally had a chance to read it. i consider myself a pretty organized person, but figured that i could get a few tips from this book.

i thought it was interesting that they say there are two types of people- one who's focused, makes and follows lists, and has a place for everything. the second type sees the big picture, is more flexible and can do many projects at once.

that was about where my interest ended. there were some good tips to keeping organized- buy fun little post it notes, file folders and calendars so that you'll want to use them, try to do two things at once (listen to a foreign language tape while driving to work, answer emails while on a plane), but these are all things i already do.

im sure this is a great book for people who really have no idea how to get organized and who a re workaholics, but it's more of a skim through book.

[Cyndi · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent library sale find. This quick, easy read is geared toward right-brained people who are naturally messy, creative sorts who are trying to get along in a logical, orderly, left-brained world. It's funny and full of insight, backed by research on the brain's workings. The authors give plenty of good tips on stress reduction, prioritizing, and not forcing yourself to be what you're not. Probably my favorite thing about this book is the quotations at the beginning of each chapter.

"Tell me what you pay attention to and I will tell you who you are." -Jose Ortega y Gasset

"Nobady who can read is ever successful at cleaning out the attic." - Franklin P. Jones

"As time passes we all get better at blazing a trail through the thicket of advice." - Margot Bennett

[Richie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Skip the first 1/3 if you already know you're scatterbrained and don't need coaching to feel okay with yourself. The helpful strategies for Time Management begin with section 2. Some are useful, some not if you don't have the luxury of setting your own schedule and expectation. This would've been far more useful to me in my Executive Assistant career than my current Nursing one, where certain things really do have to be completed each shift.

[Tina]

OK - a little out-dated but gave some insight on personal approach to time management.

[Jayanti Banerjee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super interesting moments. Make time for play. Learn how to say no. Executive neglect ...

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title is quite correct: it is for unmanageable people.
It does give a guilt free way of time management. It also points out that collecting a variety of notebooks, pens, time management utilities, and writing instruments isn't necessarily a bad thing. It also lets you know that if "regular" Time management tools cause anxiety, it is all right to leave them behind.

[Samir Dhond · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book many years ago. I have done many sessions on time management but this book is a good read and is easy to read. It seems like a story book. I like the lucidity with which the author presents time management issues.