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Thinking about shaving time made me think of shaved ice.  In Puerto Rico, we call it "piragua."  My favorite is shaved ice with tamarind juice.   If you are busy getting organized and shaving time, make sure to stop, put a little flavor on it and enjoy.

Thinking about shaving time made me think of shaved ice. In Puerto Rico, we call it “piragua.” My favorite is shaved ice with tamarind juice. If you are busy getting organized and shaving time, make sure to stop, put a little flavor on it and enjoy.

I used to think that getting organized was for the anal retentive crowd, but more and more I realize that getting organized is about honoring time and honoring life.   Even though I can be organizationally challenged, I’ve realized that the more organized I can be, the more time I can save for what is important/fun.  Shave time to save time to honor time.

Let it start with color.   I used to go to the Writer’s Room and fumble with my keys for minutes until I could find the right key to open my locker and take out my laptop.   Finally, I decided to color code my keys.  Over a year, I now have a couple of extra hours to write and check my Facebook work on my talents.  I’ve also color coded all the folders for my students.  I’ve saved hours of searching around through this simple move.

Little time savers like this have freed me up to do more meaningless bureaucratic paperwork inspire students.   Shave minutes to save minds.  (Or, is it save minutes to shave minds?)

Of course when you shave minutes, you also have to believe that something can happen within little windows of time.  I learned about timeboxing from a cat named Khatz.   I’ve learned to use my little wrist stop watch to push forward with my writing, guitar playing, and Japanese studies.   Basically, little boxes of time turn “pushing” into a little game.  How much can I get done before the time runs out?

Shaving time means thinking strategically about the things that drive you nuts and take precious minutes away.  But it also means being prepared to “roll” with your skills and dreams.   For example:

  • the guitar is always on its stand with tuner close by.  No going to the closet or opening up bags.
  • as much as I can, leave tabs to different study sites open (sururu, anki, iknow, jamplay.com, etc).
  • notebook is always at the ready to catch ideas and inspirations.   Even if the notebook is messy, my constant reviews means that those inspirations become a part of the mix.  Reviewing actually “shaves time” by not having to waste time trying to dig up lost ideas

Shave time.  Shave ice.   Don’t forget to have fun with it.  Put a little syrup on top and cool down.  Shaving time is about shaving your life.  Enjoy.