It seems that regardless of how well we plan there are those occasions when we NEVER have enough time to get things done. At least it seems that way! Most of us have to set priorities in our daily routines. We have to make decisions on which things we are going to do first, second, and so on. But there are those times when we kinda get the priorities “out of order.” Then that really important thing we needed to get handled falls to the wayside and doesn’t get done. Come on! You have to admit that it has happened to you. It’s probably happened more than once! So we now we have a problem: WHAT are we going to about it? I have compiled a few things to think about regarding this area. Some of them have been suggested by many time management consultants over the years and they have proven to be basic steps in which to take. Others I have related which have proven true within my life and business operations. Maybe you can find SOMETHING within this information that will be useful to you. (And you don’t have to pay me a $150 per hour consultation fee!)
There is a NEED to set priorities. Try this little test for yourself and see if it isn’t true. Take a plastic bucket and place several large rocks inside it. Then fill the bucket with sand. You now have a bucket full of rocks and sand. Empty the bucket but keep the same sand and rocks. This time fill the bucket with the sand FIRST, and then try to place the rocks inside the bucket. No room? That is because you put the sand in the bucket first. The rocks represent the more important things we need to get done and the sand represents those things we can “fill-in” around them. You must take care of the more important FIRST! To help you do this, try some of the following:
1.
Start within five minutes
of sitting down at your desk and switching on your computer. Half an hour or an hour wasted here or there
on procrastination or distractions are costly.
2.
Value your time and other people will do the same. Let them know that you have scheduled certain
activities for specific times and (except in emergencies) do not deviate
from this schedule.
3.
Get into the habit of switching off your email whenever you can,
even if this is only for 15 minutes or 30 minutes at a time. You would be surprised at how much time is
wasted going back and forth to check your emails. Consider: You don’t run to the post office or
mail box every 10-15 minutes, do you?
4.
If you’re procrastinating, rather than getting frustrated or
annoyed, simple ask yourself why you are procrastinating. Are you scared of the task ahead? Is it too difficult, too easy, or boring? Are you tired? We can waste a lot of energy and time on the
things we’re putting off. If you feel
the task is too large, break it down into more manageable segments and tackle
each one in its order.
5.
Sleep! Set a specific time
to go to bed each night. Turn off the
computer, the cell phone, the tablet and any other electronic devices and let
your mind and body unwind.
6.
Do a time audit for one week and look at exactly where your time
is going. Notice where you spend your
time on a regular week day. Notice how
you use your time on the weekends. You
may be surprised at finding places where you can make adjustments and save
wasted time.
7.
Who drains your time? What
drains your time? What drains your
energy? Limit the things that drain your
time and energy. Then, with the time you
do have you’ll get more done in a focused, energized way.
8.
We all need “down” time.
Take mini breaks when you need them during the day to recharge and refocus. Take lengthy breaks away from work on the
weekends, in the evenings and on holidays to help you stay productive for the
long term.
9.
We regularly underestimate how long something will take us. Factor this in! And don’t forget to allow for
interruptions. I used to plan my 8 hour
work day with six and half hours of work.
I was usually very fortunate to get it all accomplished by the end of
the day.
10.
Check in with the cycles of nature now and again. See how you are feeling in relation to
sunrise and sunset, or to the changing of the seasons. We often get caught up in our own perception
of time, but there is a bigger natural cycle going on too.
Remember we all only have 24 hours in a day. It’s how we use that time that becomes the important thing. Each of us must become aware of what works for us and use those techniques to our benefit. In that way we will become the masters of our time and it will not become the master over us.
QUOTE TO CONSIDER
THOUGHTFUL GEM
"If people know the right thing to do - - -
why are there so many attorneys?"
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