Time Management Tip: The Buffer Zone

August 1, 2012

There are about a million and three time management tips out there and scads of posts that list them all in order. This isn’t going to be one of those. Today I want to tackle just one tip. Baby steps, guys.

I’m also not going to delve into the reasons why people have poor time management, because we know it’s for loads of different reasons; your little granny is perpetually thirty minutes early to every event because she has terrible anxiety about getting lost even though she only frequents the same three restaurants on rotation. Your little brother is always late because his room is a mess and he can’t locate socks let alone keys and his wallet. Whatever.

The key defining difference between people who are prompt and those who are tardy is their knowledge of the “Buffer Zone.”

See here’s the thing: planning your schedule so as to show up to events, appointments, and meetings on time is well-intentioned. A for effort! type deal. Except you say “plan” and life says “ha!” and “see if I care,” and “take that, Hi-yah!”

In my experience, shit rarely, if ever, goes according to plan. That is why you need a Buffer Zone. The BZ guards against the unexpected.

Call the BZ into action for short term and longer term situations:

Short term – You have a doctor’s appointment at 3:00 pm. Allot yourself just enough time to make it there on time at 3:00 and the chances are high you’ll be late. But factor in a BZ that feels appropriate and realistic for you, twenty minutes say, and you’ll be on time for roll call at the doc’s.

Longer term – You’re leaving for your beach vacation in one week and need to order a new fabulous and flattering bikini. Choose the shipping speed that promises delivery one day prior to your departure and you’ll be standing on that beach barefoot and fancy free if you catch my drift. But assume that shipping speeds will vary, that some postal worker will be distracted, and that the bikini will be late if you don’t choose the expedited shipping speed that guarantees delivery in two days, and you’ll have suit in hand as you board the plane.

Even longer term – Your wedding is in three months time.

No BZ- you tell your caterer, seamstress, and florists that you need delivery on the big day. And then the caterer’s truck breaks down on the freeway, you gain five pounds and discover as you’re about to ascend down the aisle that your dress no longer zips in the back, and a sudden and rare drought descends upon the east coast, killing off every orchid and water lily in the region. You’re EFFED little bride!

But with a BZ, you tell your caterer to deliver prepared foods and the cake two days prior, you tell your florist to start assembling your arrangements the morning before the morning of, and you tell your seamstress to schedule a final fitting with a week to go before your upcoming nuptials. Listen I’m not a wedding planner so just give me a break and get my point!

You get my point?

I don’t mean to turn the universe into the enemy here, I swear; life’s out to get you and screw you over and yadah yadah. I’m just saying that to bank on everything going as smoothly as you would like is… risky.

Far wiser to take heed of the actual deadline, and then prepare everything involved to be ready IN ADVANCE– in minutes or days or weeks.

The Buffer Zone means that it’s okay if things go awry. Your life isn’t on the line yet! You still have time to get everything straightened out so that when the curtain opens, you’re standing there, composed, and to great applause.

Image credits: unknown, A Girl Like Me, Amy Atlas

7 Comments

  1. Dawn {The Alternative Wife} on August 1, 2012 at 10:40 am

    These words couldn’t be any more true, Annie! I used to get screwed all the time but now I’m better at planning ahead of time. It’s worth the extra effort or money 🙂 xoxo

  2. Rachel {little bits of lovely} on August 2, 2012 at 8:39 am

    Such a great post Annie! I actually find I’m better at planning the BZ into plans with longer lead times, I need to get better at it for shorter term plans! xx

    • Annie on August 2, 2012 at 12:35 pm

      I actually think that’s true for a lot of people Rachel.. it’s easier to factor in buffer time for deadlines that are further away. But equally important to do so for short term things!!

  3. […] Love Annie’s time management tip: the buffer zone. Brilliant and […]

  4. Drew Elizabeth on September 27, 2012 at 1:23 pm

    I am such a procrastinator so this post was super helpful 🙂 Love your blog!

    • livesimplybyannie on September 30, 2012 at 10:49 am

      Thanks D.E.! Hope it helps you avoid future time-jams.

  5. big time on June 12, 2016 at 12:31 pm

    With havin so much content and articles do you ever run into any issues of plagorism or copyright infringement?

    My blog has a lot of unique content I’ve either created
    myself or outsourced but it seems a lot of it is popping it
    up all over the web without my permission.
    Do you know any methods to help prevent content from being ripped off?
    I’d genuinely appreciate it.

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7 Comments

  1. Dawn {The Alternative Wife} on August 1, 2012 at 10:40 am

    These words couldn’t be any more true, Annie! I used to get screwed all the time but now I’m better at planning ahead of time. It’s worth the extra effort or money 🙂 xoxo

  2. Rachel {little bits of lovely} on August 2, 2012 at 8:39 am

    Such a great post Annie! I actually find I’m better at planning the BZ into plans with longer lead times, I need to get better at it for shorter term plans! xx

    • Annie on August 2, 2012 at 12:35 pm

      I actually think that’s true for a lot of people Rachel.. it’s easier to factor in buffer time for deadlines that are further away. But equally important to do so for short term things!!

  3. […] Love Annie’s time management tip: the buffer zone. Brilliant and […]

  4. Drew Elizabeth on September 27, 2012 at 1:23 pm

    I am such a procrastinator so this post was super helpful 🙂 Love your blog!

    • livesimplybyannie on September 30, 2012 at 10:49 am

      Thanks D.E.! Hope it helps you avoid future time-jams.

  5. big time on June 12, 2016 at 12:31 pm

    With havin so much content and articles do you ever run into any issues of plagorism or copyright infringement?

    My blog has a lot of unique content I’ve either created
    myself or outsourced but it seems a lot of it is popping it
    up all over the web without my permission.
    Do you know any methods to help prevent content from being ripped off?
    I’d genuinely appreciate it.

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply





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