Time management is important. It is a crucial success skill. With it, you can get more done without having to spend more time. But that’s just the beginning.
While doing that for one day is great, imagine the impact of having done it for 365 days. Do you see the power this can have in your life? What you could accomplish? Keep reading…
A Hidden Constraint
There are many things that greatly improve your time management. But some changes are more effective than others. So, let’s focus on the ones that are going to take the least effort and yield the most results. After all.
Don’t you like that more than the opposite? Spending a lot of effort and getting little or no results (who doesn’t?).
The following is arguably the biggest thing sabotaging your time management.
Excessive deliberation. Let me explain.
This happens for many reasons. But most often, when we don’t know how to get started, we don’t start at all. And as a result.
We spend our time “thinking about it.” This can be tough to beat. As you may not even realize you do it. But here’s some easy fixes.
Morning Clarity
Start each day, with this same process. Sit down and figure out what you will do today (set a timer for 15 minutes to keep deliberation from setting in). When the timer is up, get to work.
Do not EVER start your day without your priorities clear. You’ll just get distracted and read unnecessary e-mail. This step is Vital.
And remember…
Confusion Breeds Inaction
Make sure you write your to do list properly. If the things on it are confusing, you won’t do them. And it’s no surprise why.
If they are confusing, you don’t know how to get started. Make sure that each item makes two things very clear.
What it means for you to finish that task (communicated as a specific result). What steps you need to take to do that.
For many tasks, #2 will be obvious. Filling out a check doesn’t need any additional notes if you’ve done it before. But if it is something new to you, jot down the steps you need to take. You’d be surprised…
So much procrastination stems from not being sure of how to get started. But you won’t have that issue any more.
If you cut the confusion from your day, you’ll get rid of unnecessary deliberation – and get more done.
All the Best,
Dante Romero
Effective time management takes more than information. It takes a lot more. There isn’t room here for everything, but you can get more here: Techniques of Time Management [http://hiddenconstraints.com/qdqa/techniques-of-time-management/]
Author: Dante Romero
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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]]>But before I talk about time management, I must tell you that I do get a lot accomplished, and that is where my fault may lie. I need to do less. I can be a bit of a Martha Stewart in that, I want to take on everything, do it all homemade, and do it perfectly. So, if I was having a dinner party, I used to make everything from scratch. But, I have learned to mellow out over the years. Doing everything from scratch doesn’t mean my guests will enjoy it more, they enjoyed our time together more when I was relaxed and happy. So I have learned to let go.
Time management is like housework, no one keeps it perfectly all of the time. Life changes and messes it up day by day. We just have to learn to be flexible and adjust with the changes. So don’t feel bad if you find you need to improve in time management, you are not alone! There is always room for improvement in everyone’s life. My husband Ken wants to see me work less, and I am working very hard towards that goal. That is my long-term goal, so to reach it, I have to work a little harder now, but that brings me to the first part of time management:
1. Set Goals
Your goals should start first of all for the day, plan your day and the activities you would like to accomplish. Many start with a To Do List. I asked my Facebook Friends how they kept a To Do List. Some used technology like a calendar on their computer, some used a notebook, others used both. It really doesn’t matter which you use, just use the one that works for you.
One method could be to keep a combined To Do list in a notebook with dividers. The front would be where you keep a daily To Do List, the next section would be broken down for things that must be accomplished for the week. The third section for larger projects that must be accomplished that month. This helps to keep you on track so nothing gets forgotten. As tasks come to mind, add them to your list, and cross them off as they are completed (my favorite task).
2. Set Priorities
You can set priorities by numbering each item according to the importance, and then to the best of your ability, handle those activities in that order. Personally, this did not work for me. I preferred to review the whole list, and make the decision at that moment, then do it. After it was checked off, I reviewed the whole list again. Sometimes time or my mood dictated what was my priority. Again, whatever works for you is what you should do.
I would like to share some excerpts from the book I am reading right now, “Eat That Frog!” by Brian Tracy. I highly recommend this book, he gives 21 great ways to stop procrastinating and get more done in less time.
Multi-tasking: A Simple Truth – he says, “The ability to concentrate single-mindedly on your most important task, to do it well and to finish it completely, is the key to great success, achievement, respect, status, and happiness in life. As you struggle to get caught up, new tasks and responsibilities just keep rolling in, like the waves of the ocean. Because of this, you will never be able to do everything you have to do. You will never be caught up. (I swear he stole that line from me, I have said that many times, work is like trying to bale the ocean.) For this reason, your ability to select your most important task at each moment, and then to get started on that task and to get it done both quickly and well, will probably have more of an impact on your success than any other quality or skill you can develop. Your “frog” is your biggest, most important task, the one you are most likely to procrastinate on if you don’t do something about it. The first rule of frog eating is this: If you have to eat two frogs, eat the ugliest one first. The second rule of frog eating is this: If you have to eat a live frog at all, it doesn’t pay to sit and look at it for very long. Take action immediately.”
More on priorities, you may choose to make exceptions and handle your list according to your preference. Sometimes I just feel better if I can cross off 6 small items on my list, that feeling of accomplishment fuels me to tackle the one ugly frog that is left. So you are allowed to be flexible, your objective is to stay in control so that what you are accomplishing is your choice and not by chance.
Don’t rush through your jobs or worry about trying to get everything done on your list. I appreciated what Time Management Consultant Alan Lakein stressed, “One rarely reaches the bottom of a To Do List. It’s not completing the list that counts, but making the best use of your time.”
Also, by working on more difficult tasks first is often best because you are more alert and able to concentrate earlier in the day, so they may get done in less time. Whereas, if you leave them to the end of the day when you are tired, they may take twice as long.
3. Distinguish Between Urgent and Important
In order to do this, consider the results that each task will bring. Will finishing the job produce significant benefits? Will it help you materially in your business? Will it help you be a better parent? Will it make future tasks easier? If not, it may not be a high-priority task.
One professor said, “Important things are seldom urgent and urgent things are seldom important.” Such as the urgency of fixing a flat tire when you are late is greater than remembering to pay your vehicle insurance premium. Unfortunately, many of us spend our days fighting fires under the false pretence that they are urgent. The result is we are ignoring the less “urgent” but more “important things” in life.
To determine priorities, you need to ask yourself some questions to decide if this is truly important or just urgent. Can the urgent matter be put off? Can you get it done quickly and move on? Can you delegate the task to someone else?
You will find it more rewarding when you work at the things that are important and give you greater results rather than the things that just keep you busy in activity, but you are not really moving forward on your long-term goals.
4. Be Neat And Organized
You may think that being messy seems so much easier and not realize how being neat and organized helps you manage your time better. One thing that is a complete time-waster is disorganization. When you don’t put things away where they belong, then when you are in a rush or need that item, you waste time looking for it. By organizing your home and creating a home for everything, you find things easier and quicker. Your tasks get completely easier and in less time. Try making neatness a habit, keep everything neater, and see if it makes your life easier. I give some great tips in my book “21 Steps From Chaos To Calm.”
As I noted at the beginning, we are sometimes our worst enemy. Perhaps we put too much on our plate, make unrealistic To Do lists, set unachievable goals, and then we burn out and get even less done. Are you burning the candle at both ends? If so, you cannot keep up with that pace before you “burn out” and then you will not be able to accomplish anything.
So be realistic with your expectations, your goals, your To Do list. And if you tend to do too much, then write this down on your To Do List:
Perhaps you need to write it on your To Do list, and then you will include time for yourself in your management of time.
There are no fixed rules for personal organization of your time, rather, effective time management means selecting the appropriate task for right now. It means discerning what activities yield the best results and spend your time on those as much as possible. You need to be flexible, adaptable, and find what works best for you.
WAYS TO SAVE TIME
1. Have a clear set of values and goals in life. It is the key to setting daily priorities.
2. Work on tasks requiring concentration when you are most alert.
3. Make phone calls when you are most likely to contact the person.
4. Delegate work whenever possible. It frees you to accomplish more, and it gives experience to others.
5. When doing paperwork, try to handle each piece of paper once, rather than giving it a temporary ‘parking place.’
6. At meetings with others, stick to an agenda. Have specific starting and finishing times.
7. Organize your work area with needed tools close at hand.
8. Do not feel obligated to accept every social invitation that comes your way. Learn to say no tactfully.
9. Standardize shopping and packing lists as much as possible rather than writing up new ones repeatedly.
10. Get sufficient rest and relaxation so that you can work effectively.
11. Set deadlines.
12. Do not procrastinate.
13. Break overwhelming tasks into smaller ones.
14. Do not be a perfectionist. Concentrate on what is truly important.
15. Make good use of waiting time. Write a letter, read, or accomplish some other essential task.
16. Know that there will be occasions when you will need to spend time on activities you would not choose. Do not waste time fretting about it. Instead, work to get it done.
Elvie Look: Your Professional Organizing Coach who is helping people get organized with her easy tips and suggestions. These systems help the busy mom, businessman or woman, entrepreneur or student learn the keys to organizing in simple, actionable and manageable steps. She teaches how to get organized and maintain your organized space while carrying on your normal busy life. She is the author of “21 steps from Chaos to Calm.” http://elviesessentials.com
Author: Elvie Look
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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]]>There are numerous elements that play into your time management skills. Discipline is an important element. Saying no is the number one weapon in this daily battle. We have to say no to the wrong foods. We have to say no to the wrong people. We have to say no to the TV. We have to say no to the internet. Of course moderation should be kept in mind throughout life.
Being excessively indulgent is what we want to avoid to help us manage our time. America makes up only 5 percent of the whole world but we are easily one of the top three countries for extreme consumption. We want what we want now. It is evident in our diets. Fast food has us feeling sluggish and unproductive. We are slower and need more naps. We are actually wasting more time when we eat fast food because it is not the type of food that is rejuvenating and energizing. Sodas, cheeseburgers, milkshakes, and fries have people crashing out on their couch or in their car by 1pm. Just imagine what that is doing for your business. Just say no and make the healthy choice. Save your health and you save your time.
Do you have an acquaintance that thinks they are your friend and is always asking you for help without consideration of your time? Those people are the ones you have to say no to. It is quite alright to give a friend a helping hand or to spend some quality time with a family member only when it is not interfering with your business and your livelihood. You have to help yourself before you can help other people. Say no to the annoying person who owes you 35 favors. It is acceptable to turn your phone off. I give you permission.
Television has to be a top killer of time. Yes, Family Guy is hilarious. America’s Got Talent is entertaining. But do you want to know what is worth more to watch? How about your life? Watch yourself spending countless hours on your couch in front of the TV laughing or spectating other people getting paid lots of money for you to watch them. Is that how you want to spend your time? Is that how you really want to spend your life? If the amount of TV you watched was engraved on your tombstone when you die, would you watch as much TV as you do now? That’s deep stuff.
What are you doing right now? Are you on the internet? How long have you been sitting there? How long will you continue to sit there? Sure, if you are doing something important then by all means continue with the sitting. But seriously, how many times have you checked your email, bank account, or Facebook in the last week? What does this have to do with time management? It has a lot to do with time management. First of all it drains your energy to check your email to see no positive results since the last time you checked it. That act itself takes energy away from you which results in time being taken away from you. The same applies to checking if your Farm, Cafe, or Garden has blown up.
As you can see, it is the little things we must monitor to lead to a time efficient and productive lifestyle. We all seek prosperity and progression. Let us not waste two of our top five assets. Manage your TIME and ENERGY wisely and your bank account will grow if you don’t waste your money.
Rellie Lorenzo is a Top Contributor To the Internet Entrepreneurship Community.
Author: Rellie Lorenzo
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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]]>This exercise is designed to help you see where your life may be Out of Balance with How you Spend Your Time.
Answer True or False to each of the following statements:
v
If you answered false more often than true, you may want to take a look at the questions to which you answered false and see if you can acknowledge you need to make a change in your life in these areas. No matter what you’d like to change or achieve, the secrets to success are the same…
Develop Awareness. This is the first step toward balancing your life using effective time management.
Get Clear. What do you want to change? Be as specific as possible. Decide what you want. The clearer you are about what you want in your life, the more likely you are to achieve it.
Get Perspective. Most people don’t tell anyone what they want or what they’re struggling with. Because of that, they don’t have an outside perspective, so they can’t see their way out of their current situation and they stay stuck.
Get Support. Very few people, if any, achieve anything great alone. Sports stars and CEOs have team members, mentors and coaches, why not you? Be willing to take responsibility for your life and how you spend your time. Ask the people in your life to support you, starting today.
For more time-saving strategies, Sign Up to receive a FREE Chapter of Kathryn’s New Book: Triple Your Time Today: 10 Proven Time Management Strategies to Help You Create and Save More Time! In this book, she shares her secret Time Management Tips, Techniques, Tools and Case Studies. Go to: http://www.kathryn-mckinnon.com.
When you sign up, you’ll also receive a complimentary subscription to her time-saving Ezine. In it, you’ll find Simple, Proven Strategies to Save Time Now, Secrets to creating More Time, and Easy Ways to take back your time.
For help right Now, you can get her New Book on Amazon, Triple Your Time Today: 10 Proven Time Management Strategies to Help You Create and Save More Time! Go to: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00585CI1G
Copyright Kathryn McKinnon and McKinnon & Company 2011. All Rights Reserved.
Author: Kathryn S McKinnon
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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]]>Those who are lazy procrastinators often find a way to make excuses for not performing a certain task, or not staying up on their goal setting timelines. They really shouldn’t blame other people for wasting their time, or complain about the events that occur which prevent them from accomplishing their tasks. If they wait until the last minute, and then something gets in their way, they will blame that event and use it as an excuse as to why they didn’t achieve something.
In that scenario, in that case it’s actually their own fault because they procrastinated until the last minute. Such habits often develop in school when kids or college students procrastinate in studying for tests or in preparing term papers. Then at the last minute they gather up all the information and put in an all-nighter to finish. Sometimes their work is good due to the high concentration levels, but usually it is underperforming, because they didn’t manage their time along the way, they waited until the last minute, and procrastinated in their required tasks.
You can study and read all the books on time management techniques, but you need to look in your mirror and ask yourself why you are procrastinating in doing the things that you must do, that you know you have to do, and then finding reasons which allow you to escape your own requirements, and those goals you’ve set for yourself. No one on this planet can fix that for you, unless they micromanage your every move throughout every day. It’s not okay to make excuses, or deny yourself success because you are only hurting yourself.
Many people will hire a mentor or a coach to help them with time management. But that’s hardly necessary, everyone is an expert on themselves, everyone knows where they are screwing up, and yet, they sit in denial and continue to procrastinate, and they spend more time making up excuses and reasons for not succeeding then they would just doing it. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.
Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank. Lance Winslow believes writing 23,777 articles by 7 PM on June 27, 2011 is going to be difficult because all the letters on his keyboard are now worn off now..
Author: Lance Winslow
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]]>When I left the comforts of the corporate world several years ago to start my own business, I had to make a shift in the way I looked at and managed my time. I used to do exactly what we are all told to do; I would make a list of everything I needed to do, prioritize that list, and then schedule each task into my day. Once a task was complete, I happily CHECKED it off the list and moved on to the next item.
Efficient, but boring! So, when I started my own business, I realized this system just wasn’t working for me. Why not, you ask? Well, when you own your own business the phrase ‘Time is MONEY’ takes on a whole new meaning!
You see, it is not so much about completing a specific task in order to check it off your list as it is about building your business, your referral base, and your revenues. Here are three time management tips:
1. ASSIGN A DOLLAR VALUE TO YOUR TIME: This was probably the single most important step I made in my new sexy, fun, exciting Time Management program. Let me explain….let’s say you want to gross $100,000 in one year. That breaks down to $8,333 per month, or $2083 per week (based on a 40 hour work week), or $52.08 per hour.
So, basically, every hour during your workday is worth $52.08. So, how is that best utilized? Is meeting with a vendor you KNOW you are never going to use worth your time or would that time be better spent asking them to send you over their information via e-mail? Do you really need to have that 45 phone conversation with your friend at 3 pm in the afternoon? (Not unless he or she is paying you for it!). Is it really worth your $52.08 per hour to attend that workshop, luncheon or event?
I have several realtor clients, and it is amazing what happens to them once they ‘get’ this concept. No longer are they spending seventeen hours schlepping potential buyers to 35 properties on a weekend! They do a much better job of pre-qualifying and determining their clients’ needs before they waste their precious time (and gas!) driving them across the city!
2. NO LONGER DO THOSE THINGS WHICH DO NOT BENEFIT MY BOTTOM LINE: It’s ALL about the ROI (return on investment), baby! I am a firm believer in networking, but I am a firmer believer in ROI. Take a look at your networking schedule. If you client base is new home builders, how much sense does it make to network with a group that has no builder members? None. Or, let’s say your job or business requires you to conduct or attend a lot of meetings and there is NO WAY you can avoid it. Make sure those meetings are productive. Set an agenda. Do you really need to waste the first thrity minutes of a meeting talking about who got booted off ‘Dancing with the Stars’?
3. SCHEDULE TIME FOR YOU: Just as it is important for you to schedule your money-making activities, it is equally important for you to schedule your personal time. And, I promise you this, once you have put steps 1 and 2 into place, you will be amazed at the amount of additional time you will find in your day! Make that a priority as well. After all, YOU deserve it!
People, there are never going to be more than twenty-four hours in a day. So, it is critical that you make the best use of your time in a way that is going to be profitable and productive to you! Look at managing your time the same way you look at planning a vacation! You do the upfront research, you plan the activities you want to do, and then you DO IT and have a great time! Remember, time flies when your having fun!
Leah Turner is the owner of Turner Time Consulting, a marketing, coaching and consulting company that works with businesses and individuals to make the most out of their business plans! You can reach Leah at 407-709-6816 or at LeahTurner@TampaBay.rr.com
Author: Leah Turner
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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]]>Time management has become big business now as people come up with new ways to divide time, motivate and focus on tasks to get them concluded quicker. From the time you are a student heading into exams, your time suddenly became important. What can you do in the workplace? Here are a few things to consider.
Organize
Don’t be afraid to set goals, setting goals means you know what the end product must look like. Organization is a scary word to some people, and those who fail to specify objectives over a certain time frame are those most likely to struggle with their time management as a whole.
Figuring out where you need to get to is often the easy part; the worrying part is what you have to overcome to get there. Generally, it is a marathon sort of task and when that happens you have to break your aims into easily attainable goals. Get there step by step.
After you’ve set these goals, review them. Review them before you begin, review them after the first stage until completion. The worst thing to do is to organize and then forget to refer to what you have written in from of you. Always have the aims at hand and keep focused.
Part of the review process is to review everybody and the project separately. Who’s pulling their weight? Who isn’t? Are you improving and helping the team? And once you have that on track, then you can ask. How have our objectives changed? Are we on course for the set completion date?
Delegate
When you make plans to deal with poor time management, never take too much on. That may be the issue in the first place. Some people genuinely don’t have enough hours in the day to get through what they need to do.
Make sure that you are focused but let the team in, give them the responsibility to work on as much as you can allow to delegate. Use your technical, specialist or administrative staff whenever possible, you’ve hired them for a reason. However, always remember to make sure that they know exactly what needs to be done, like you, and when it needs to be finished.
Once delegated, don’t forget about the task. Ultimately, you have leadership of it. With this in mind, ask questions, take an interest and leave your door open for the staff. By sorting the task timelines the person in question will know when X has to be done, and when to move on to Y and Z.
Never expect that there won’t be any questions. However clear it is in your head, that might not come across when you tell your staff. Remember that questions are good, the more they know, the closer to the perfect output you are going to be.
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]]>Time is consistent, and tenacious. Time does not differentiate between rich and poor, old and young, man or woman, the sick or healthy. All of us are allotted 86,400 seconds a day. No more, no less. Time can be your most valuable friend, or your worst adversary.
There are many reasons why time management is such a challenge to many of us, but I will name 2 of what I consider to be the biggest culprit
Procrastination
It has always been easy for me to sit idly by and wonder how other people manage to get so much done.
Easy, but by no means satisfying. In fact, I’m sure you’ll agree that watching others succeed can get mighty frustrating and makes you feel guilty and perhaps even feel insecure. But, for procrastinators like us, doing something about it, immediately, is usually the problem.
Getting to the root of it usually requires an honest look at ourselves. One of the biggest culprits is fear. While we’ve heard the term, “there is nothing to fear, but fear itself”, our mind often plays tricks on us. Our minds can be the greatest of illusionists, and often the trickster, and even liar. The mind is designed to protect as its primary function, and does not like change. If it entails whispering o-so-softly that taking an action is going to disturb your status quo, that its’ not going to work, or will fail miserably, that you deserve better, that the pain is more than the gain. The mind would do so, regardless of overwhelming evidence or an outcome that is as plain as daylight that it actually is going to be beneficial to you. The smart worker is able to identify with fear. With that, she attempts to leverage on that fear to achieve her goals, rather than play victim to it.
We are all creatures of habit. Whether its wearing the right shoe before the left, or buttoning a shirt from bottom to top, smoking or chewing a pen when thinking. The smart worker recognizes and acknowledges this. Procrastination is a habit. While arguable, this habit probably spawned during one’s younger days, when it was ok to leave something undone till the last minute or even not getting it done at all. To break this habit, or any habit for that matter, we need to subject ourselves to some re-programming. This is a conscious process, possibly uncomfortable or even painful. It takes a disciplined and conscious approach, and likely undoing consistently over a period of time. Undoing is one thing. Replacing is another. Without replacing what needs to be undone, a vacuum results, and if left unfilled by the new deed to do, will revert back to the very thing that one is trying to undo. This takes determination, a expect a fight with your inner demons ie. Your mind.
Saying No
It is easier to not complete a task on hand, and blame it on having too many things to do, then to actually give yourself a chance to say “its done”. This seems to be a characteristic of “starters” who have problem finishing whatever they start. The issue is seldom that their capabilities on finishing that are called to question, but the boredom that they often feel, resulting in being distracted on other “newer” things that seem more interesting. So, saying no becomes uncharacteristic of these category of people.
Then there are those who really want to finish what they started. But when a colleague or boss hands new work and assignments to her, she does not say ‘no’. There could be an urge to please everyone, or appear most helpful so that she can be liked….whatever the case, work hours all of a sudden stretch from 8 to 12 hour per day, possibly every day. The exhausted worker blames it on being overworked; that her boss is unfair; that life is unfair etc. But has it occurred to her that all it takes is for her to just evaluate what’s on her plate, and say “no” in a firm, but polite manner? Or is it out of character due to the immensely strong urge to ‘please’. Cultural issues aside, many of us could be brought up with the thought that saying no is bad, that it is selfish, and self-serving. We should put the needs of others above our own. We should put the greater good of the company above our family’s needs. Or, we lack the confidence in ourselves that we can and will get the primary job done while respecting our family and social needs without feeling ‘guilty’ in having said no to another assignment on top of a full plate already.
There could be bigger reasons to you on why many fail at time management, but these 2 have been experienced by myself in the past. I admit… I am a procrastinator. I am better now, but that’s due to strategies I employed over the years to help me overcome this kink in my chain mail.
To read more, follow me at http://howtobesmartatwork.com.
“Geniuses often accomplish more when they work less” – Leonardo da Vinci
The author is a keen researcher and resolute enthusiast on finding solutions for people who struggle to find the balance intheir work lives, meaning in their lives, and those who desire to learn more about being able to live a purposeful, and fulfilled life. He is also interested in internet marketing, and believes passionately that the internet is the solution to getting out of the rat race, and earning massive passive income which would lead to more freedom in our lives that we so desperately need, through such a financial release. Read more about what drives him and how he came about finding his passions at http://howtobesmartatwork.com/.
Author: Jonas Ang
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]]>First know what it is you want to achieve – these are the “big things” which need to be planned for first. Everything else needs to fit around these.
Spend a little time on a Sunday evening to plan the following weeks. Start by putting in any family time which you need to work around. Then add in blocks of time for your “big things”. Then add in any appointments which you have. Everything has to fit around these.
Run a to do list, and review it first thing each day. Focus on the “big things”. Jot down other tasks as they come into your head, and then schedule them when you come to review your daily to do list.
Have a morning routine – get up, sort out the kids and then be at your desk on time and ready to work (and less stressed).
Create Work Hours – and stick to them! This is REALLY important if you work from home, so establish your work hours and make sure you stick to them. And that means work, not housework, having a coffee or watching day time TV. But putting on the laundry and dishwasher are fine.
Have a dedicated work space – ideally out of the house, or at least in a room you can shut off from the rest of the house. If you haven’t a room, then designate a space, preferably one that can be shut away. Don’t let work spill over into your home and vice versa. This also helps with getting you in the right mindset for work.
Excellent time management means working at the best time for you. Larks function best in the morning and early afternoon, while owls are late morning and afternoon people, and often into the evenings. This is time that you should reserve for the “big things”. Less productive times can be used for lower importance tasks.
If you are focusing on something important, then switch off all distractions – the phone, and most importantly the email. A top time management tip is to deal with e mails only a couple of times a day.
Recognise your time wasters – and be ruthless in managing them. If need be give yourself planned coffee/lunch breaks and set a timer – then you can let go, surf the internet or play your favourite game.
Don’t try and combine work and childcare. If you’re serious about work, then you need childcare arrangement. Don’t try and cram work in when the kids are in bed – your sanity and other relationships will suffer.
If others are also in the house, make sure they understand that you have working hours, and that doesn’t mean you can be interrupted all the time
Make sure you leave work at the end of your working hours. Switch off the computer, tidy away and focus on homelife.
Delegate tasks that you don’t like or that are repetitive – can the school run be shared? Should you have a virtual PA to answer your phone or do your typing? Outsource Where Possible. Specialist tasks such as tax returns are best left to experts, so find a good accountant.
Think about when you can fit in errands – on the way to meetings or appointments perhaps? While the kids are in football practice? Group similar activities together, or things in similar locations – for example library and shops together.
Make a weekly menu plan for the family – and buy it online.
Perhaps most important of all is to plan for pleasure. All work and no play is not good for your mental health, so make sure you don’t spend all your time working.
With a little planning and practice, time management becomes simple and your productivity will grow enormously. Good luck.
If you are you interested in more ways to manage your time, check out http://time-management-made-easy.com. Subscribe to my free mini series and newsletter to help you get the most out of every day.
Author: Caron Kincaid
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Time Management Tips for Home Working is a post from: Get More Done | Time Management Software
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]]>1. Log in all your activities for a week. This will help you understand how much you can get done during the course of a day and where time is going. You will see how much of your time is actually spent productively and how much time is wasted.
2. The 80/20 rule applies also to time management. You produce 80 percent of your results in 20 percent of your time. Once you have identified those most productive activities, focus on spending at least 50 percent of your time engaged in those activities.
3. All activities that are important to your success must have a time assigned to them. If, for instance, you need to make so many sales calls per day, assign a time and write it down in your schedule. Schedule and write down the time to meet with your staff. And do not forget to set up an agenda… Every important activity must be set up as an appointment and even if they are appointments with yourself, have the discipline to keep these appointments.
4. When something hits your in-box, decides on the spot if you need to do it, delegate it, defer it or drop it and act on it accordingly. Do not let things accumulate in your in-box.
5. Take the first 10 minutes of every day to huddle (standing) with yourself and/or your staff to plan your day. This is the most important time of your day.
6. Assess before every call and task what results you want to attain. Visualize success. Examine after each call and activity if your desired result was achieved. Every call and activity will result in being a success or a lesson.
7. Close your door and put up a “Do not disturb” sign when you absolutely have to get work done.
8. Do not answer the phone just because it’s ringing or respond to e-mails just because they show up. Give your instant attention to people only if it is absolutely critical to your business (911 responder). Schedule a time to answer email and return phone calls.
9. Social media has become a key marketing tool for many businesses. When using social media, schedule blocks of time and do not let distractions take you adrift. Set up clear goals and objectives and monitor that you are achieving them.
10. Remember that it is impossible to get everything done. Work effectively, get the most important things done and be ok with it. “This constant, unproductive preoccupation with all the things we have to do is the single largest consumer of time and energy.” (Kerry Gleeson)
So, ultimately, it is not about managing time: time manages itself. It is a matter of managing our actions and making the right choice about what to do at any point in time.
Claude Blanc is the president of CHB Associates, LLC. Seven years ago he started a business consulting company servicing small and medium size businesses and their owners. Before that, he had held several executive positions in sales and operations in a variety of large and medium size corporations. He is a licensed coach and a member of the International Coaching Federation and the Professional Business Coach Alliance.
The primary benefit he has brought to business owners and their organizations is his ability to assess organizations and business situations, develop the best path forward for success and then help execute the strategy through a disciplined and systematic approach. His strong analytical background complements his operational skills. Claude helps his clients find clarity, take action and achieve results. Claude Blanc, Small Business Advisor
Author: Claude Blanc
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Do You Have Time? 10 Time Management Tips to Maximize Your Effectiveness is a post from: Get More Done | Time Management Software
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