FOCUS is
the free on-line newsletter which gives you the tools and strategies
to achieve the results you want at home & at work.
Do you have trouble
getting everything done? Not enough hours in the day? Miss deadlines at work or do
things late at home? Show up
late for appointments or just in time? Better Time Management can
help. Here are:
5 Ways to Get More Done in Less Time
TRIM YOUR “TO-DO” LISTS :
Many to-do lists are full of tasks that aren’t really
priorities. We can’t do
everything; and, shouldn’t try.
Review your to-do lists (even the mental ones) and ask
yourself “Would it really make a difference in 6 months if I
didn’t get this task done?” If the answer is
“No”, eliminate it.
Convert mental to-do lists to written ones so they’re
more concrete and manageable.
Keep your to-do lists next to your refrigerator, computer or
desk where you can easily refer to them.
VALUE YOUR TIME :
Your time is valuable; so, save it for things which are really
important for you to
do. Be sure you’re only
doing things that must be done by you. Delegate or outsource everything
else to family members, co-workers, colleagues or people you can hire
such as gardeners and cleaning people. Delegating is not a way to shirk
responsibilities; it’s away to fulfill them. Learn to say “No”.
GET REAL :
One of the biggest time management traps is underestimating how much
time things take to get done.
Estimate how long you think a task will take and then double
or triple it. (That’s
routine practice for business consultants.) That way, you’ll still be on
track despite interruptions, sudden schedule conflicts and unforeseen
problems. Multitasking
isn’t really a time saver because you’re dividing and
diluting your attention among multiple tasks and working less
efficiently.
IDENTIFY
TIME WASTERS :
Most of us drift into activities which waste time such as aimlessly
surfing the Internet, Instant Message marathons or long rambling
phone calls. Identify your
time wasters and post a “Not-To-Do” list near your
computer, phone or elsewhere as a reminder to not do them (or save them as a reward for when
you’ve accomplished a task on your list.). Return email and phone calls twice
a day rather than all day, set a timer to alert you when your phone
call to chatty Aunt Kathy has gone on for 7 minutes. Practice working smarter and not just harder.
MAKE
AN APPOINTMENT WITH YOURSELF :
Schedule focused work periods to accomplish specific tasks including
a Start time and a Finish time.
During these periods, let voicemail pick up your calls, turn
off your e-mail account, log off the Internet and tell friends,
family, colleagues & anyone else nearby you won’t be
available during that period.
If something is important enough to be on your to-do list,
then it’s important enough to have your full attention.
“Plan your work and then work your
plan.”
