If you're going to take control of YOUR life and make it
great, you'll need to start by taking control of your time.
Time management is foundational to succeeding in any area
of life. In the words of "the father of management theory"
Peter Drucker, "until we can manage TIME, we can manage
nothing else."
An entire industry has been born out of the need to better
manage our time. You can buy leather bound planners, fancy
software packages, books, tapes and hand-held computers.
You can even attend week long seminars that teach better
time management skills.
I'm sure most of those resources are very good. I'd like
to suggest however, before spending your hard earned money
on any of them, you try these 10 simple tips for effective
time management.
1. It's not time management. It's self management.
You can't control time and so, you certainly can't manage
it. You get as much time as anyone else. You CAN control
yourself - what you be and do in each moment of time. In
the words of English poet, Austin Dobson, "Time goes, you
say? Ah, no! Alas, time stays, we go."
2. Keep and USE a simple, "block" type, weekly calendar.
I use a two page weekly calendar with one hour increments
in each block. Page 1 covers Mon-Sun, 4 a.m.-12 noon. Page
2 covers Mon-Sun, 1 p.m.-9 p.m. Each one hour block of
time should be big enough to write in any appointments.
You can use Microsoft Works to print a calendar such as
this. Keep it with you at all times.
3. Keep a simple, "block" type, monthly calendar.
Any appointments that don't fall in the current week can
be written in one of the blocks on your monthly calendar.
Again, Microsoft Works will produce a monthly calendar
such as this. Keep this calendar with you all the time as
well.
4. Plan your week in advance.
Spend an hour Sunday evening planning the coming week.
Transfer appointments from your monthly calendar to your
weekly calendar. When you see how many open blocks of
time you actually have, you'll feel a much greater sense
of control and peace.
5. Invest each one hour block of time.
Each of your one hour blocks represents an investment
opportunity. How you invest your block will determine your
future return. What you sow in each block, you will reap
in future blocks. Consider cutting back on any activities
that will not yield some benefit, such as excessive TV or
web surfing.
6. Plan and schedule as much as you can.
Don't just schedule work related appointments. Schedule as
much as possible, such as time with your kids, family or
significant other, sleep, eating, exercise, spiritual
practice, reading, TV time, play time, laundry, shopping,
writing, marketing your business, answering emails and
phone calls.
7. As much as possible, stay in the current block mentally.
If your block for 8:00 p.m., Monday says "type newsletter,"
direct all your energies to typing your newsletter. Don't
even think about what your block for 9:00 p.m., Tuesday
evening says or what you didn't complete in your block for
6:00 p.m., Monday evening. Be and do 100 % in the current
block.
8. Say "NO" to non-emergency, "out of the block"
activities.
Eliminate distractions as much as possible. Close your
door, turn off the ringer on your phone or simply ask to
not be disturbed. With the exception of emergencies, the
only thing that matters is what you have to do in the
current block.
9. Plan "untimed" or free time just for you.
It's okay, and I'd suggest even healthy to plan time to
just "goof-off" or play. If you set aside time for it in
advance, it's less likely to come up spontaneously and
distract you from other tasks.
10. Stick to your plan.
Need I say more? Your schedule will work only as well as
you commit to it. Keep it with you everywhere you go and
refer to it often. Keep asking yourself "am being and doing
what scheduled for the current block right now?"
By incorporating these 10 tips into your time/self
management plan, you'll create more space to be, do and
have more in you life. Further, you'll also approach your
life in a more proactive and intentional manner.
If you have any questions about the "In the Block"
time/self management plan, feel free to email me. I'd love
to hear from you!
It's your life. Make it great!
About the Author
Michael Pollock is a popular on-line writer and Personal
Coach. He empowers proactive people to create lives that
are inspired, power-full and prosperous. It's your life.
Make it great! Visit http://www.successfulifecoach.com or
subscribe to his weekly newsletter "It's Your Life!" by
sending a blank email to ItsYourLife-subscribe@topica.com