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.
I do not include his website URL here because it is not valid anymore.
To learn more about Archie R. Lawhorne, I would suggest that you search
Google using his name.
