“To take action, we need to understand that our actions make a difference because otherwise, why bother? That, for me, is the definition of hope. And it’s a hope based on science.”
~Katharine Hayhoe, Chief Scientist for The Nature Conservancy, Horn Distinguished Professor and Endowed Chair in Public Policy and Public Law in the Department of Political Science at Texas Tech University
You are simultaneously both a professor, conducting research and teaching, and also a Chief Scientist at a separate organization. You are a prolific writer, with over 100 well received titles under your belt, a celebrated speaker, the recipient of dozens of awards, advisor to many organizations, and an active social media thought leader. In addition, you ski, paddleboard and e-foil in your free time and have your own newsletter: “Talking Climate with Katharine Hayhoe.” The first question that comes to mind is “Do you have any time management tips?”
Oh, yes! I do. I am constantly focusing on how I manage my time because I believe it is our most non-renewable resource. And our time is an even more limited resource than carbon, which is also non-renewable. Therefore, I strive to use my time to the greatest effect possible.
First, I find it’s crucial to think ahead and decide in advance how much time I want to spend on important, non-urgent tasks. Without carving out these spaces, the “tyranny of the urgent” can dominate our calendars. This is true for all of us — as teachers, professionals, parents, or family members; the urgent will always take over unless we decide otherwise ahead of time. To counter this, I try to lay out my priorities on a semester basis, typically in August and January, and block out time on my calendar in advance to make them happen.
I love using a calendar because I’m very visual. I use nine different color-coded calendars and various tools to stay organized. I set limits for types of events (e.g. ten hours of pre-booked zoom meetings + 2 hours of last-minute requests for urgent meetings or media interviews; one day dedicated to podcast requests every month; etc.) and schedule windows for important but non-urgent activities in advance so they don’t get over-run with work (such as writing time to meet deadlines, regular lunches and evening walks with my husband, trips to the lake, winter weekends to ski with the family, etc.).
Occasionally, I track my activities to see if my time reflects my priorities. This helps me determine what I need to move, rearrange, or delegate.
For example, I’ve found that making most of my engagements virtual saves a tremendous amount of time that would otherwise be spent traveling. Virtual events are both time-saving and carbon-saving. And when I do travel in person, I always bundle together multiple events in the same location or nearby to make the most of both my time and my carbon.