If you're ever going to take control of your life
and make it grand, you'll need to start by taking
control of your time. Without question, effective
time management is fundamental to succeeding in any
area of life. In fact, it is often the main difference
between life's achievers and those who, although
always busy, never get anywhere.
Not surprisingly, an entire industry has been created
out of the need to better manage our time. But if you
look a little deeper, you'll see that its not so much
about time management as it is self management. Because
in reality, you can't control time, but you can control
yourself and what you do with each moment of time.
Most experts agree that success is the result of habit.
Therefore, the first step in improving how you use your
time starts with your habits (self control). And your
habits start as consciously made decisions (i.e. what
time you get up, what kind of books you read, etc.).
Once established, good habits become second nature. In
many cases, success is not so much the result of doing
the unusual, but rather the result of one's ability to
"master the mundane." By consistently performing all of
the little rudimentary tasks that are important, over
time these activities transform into huge achievements.
Here's some simple rules to follow for better time management:
Don't procrastinate. Do it now. When people put things
off, it kills momentum, slows achievement of current goals
and restricts future opportunity as time is clogged up. The
way to tackle procrastination is to set deadlines by which
goals should be achieved. The way to avoid last-minute
deadlines brought on by procrastination is to set
intermediary goals which must be achieved and then
steadily track progress.
Track your activities. Memory is a poor guide when it
comes to assessing how you spend your time. A better
way is to record your activities throughout the day,
listing everything you do. Most people will find that
they have about three hours each day that can be used
in a more constructive or efficient manner. Take stock
of the time you spend chatting on the phone, flipping
though magazines or aimlessly surfing the Web, and
eliminate all that isn't necessary.
Concentrate on results. Many people spend their days in
a frenzy of activity, but achieve very little because
they are not concentrating on the right things. Don't
confuse working efficiently with working effectively.
Activities can be tension-relieving, but not goal-achieving.
By concentrating on fewer "major" priorities regularly,
you can achieve a lot more in less time.
Remember the 80/20 principle: 20% of your key activities
will give you 80% of your results. Your aim is to change
this to ensure that you concentrate as much of your effort
as possible on the high payoff tasks.
Use travel time wisely. It's easy to overlook time spent
traveling in your assessment of time management. Consider
carefully whether this is time that you could use more
productively. For example, if you opted to take the bus
or train to work, would this provide an opportunity to
make better use of your commute time? Or if you do drive,
are you listening to educational or motivational tapes
(rather than the Top 40) which could help improve your
skills and make you a more productive and well-rounded
person?
Develop action plans. An action plan is a brief list of
tasks that you have to complete to achieve an objective.
It differs from a "To Do" list in that it focuses on the
achievement of a goal, (and the specific steps to get
there) rather than just on the goals to be achieved in
a period of time. Whenever you want to achieve something,
drawing up an action plan allows you to concentrate on
the stages of that achievement, and monitor your progress
towards that realization.
Respond quickly. For example, take care of your mail as
you receive it. Don't let those bills and letters pile
up on you. If you're unable to respond to a letter
immediately, file it in a special place that's visible,
and note on the envelope the required action and date
you intend to resolve it. When possible, act on requests
the same day you receive them. Don't let your computer,
your desk or your mind become clogged with useless things.
Be Decisive. Learn to say no to people. Your time is
important, so don't let other people impose or use you
to compensate for their poor planning. Eliminate
distractions as much as possible. Close your door,
turn off the ringer on your phone or simply ask not
to be disturbed.
Schedule time to relax. When you're organizing your time
and your business, make sure to set aside some time for
relaxation. If you plan for it in advance, it's less
likely to come up spontaneously and distract you from
other tasks. (No, sitting at your computer with a mouse
under your hand does not qualify as relaxing).
Your first step toward better time management is to take
stock of the time you waste each day and from there,
reorganize your activities to maximize every minute.
(Essentially, it boils down to exercising better self
control - it's simple, but not easy). Above all, stick
to your plan. Your schedule will work only as well as
you commit to it. Keep it with you everywhere you go and
refer to it often. By following these tips, you'll create
more space to be, do and have more in your life. Best of
all, you'll approach life in a more proactive and
intentional manner.
About the Author
Archie R. Lawhorne, APR, is an accredited public relations
professional, marketing writer and consultant. Archie's
FREE 7-Day MLM Crash Course uncovers the dirty
secrets of MLM like you've never seen before. For instant delivery, send a
blank email to: MLMInsights@infogeneratorpro.com, or visit
http://www.profitleader.com. FOD: 403-934-6061 (Doc. 362104).