Have you been procrastinating about projects you need to get started? Do you find yourself continually frustrated at the end of the day, with a mound of tasks that need to be done? Unfinished reports, voicemails to answer, stacks of project files that keep piling up? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Many people suffer from an inability to make effective use of their time, but there is a solution if you just apply a few simple time management steps. You will get more accomplished in less time with less struggle than ever before!
1. Create SMART goals and commit to what you want to accomplish
Determine when you need to have the task completed by. Don’t think of this as a “to do” list but rather a “must do” list. Don’t give yourself the option of not finishing the task. (SMART – Specific, Measurable, Acheivable, Realistic, Time Bound)
2. Determine where you are losing time.
Keep track of all activities that are eating up your precious time. Checking e-mails throughout the day is a huge waste of time. Get as many things accomplished as possible early in the day, and then check e-mails later in the afternoon, all at once. It’s a good idea to keep your e-mail folders organized so that you can easily locate what you are looking for. There is no need to do double paper handling, even if it is just electronic paper.
Another tip for e-mails is in regards to handling long e-mails with multiple replies. Keep the latest version and delete previous versions. Then you won’t be reading the same reply over and over again.
3. Use a day planner, calendar or some other organizer to prioritize and schedule your tasks.
Use one of these essential tools to list everything you need to complete daily, weekly or monthly.
4. Prioritize.
Each morning, review the tasks you need to accomplish and prioritize them. Determine which ones are urgent, needing immediate action, and which ones can wait. Do the most important things first. Sometimes these are things you don’t really want to do but by getting the tough stuff out of the way you’ll feel a greater sense of accomplishment.
5. Ask for help; delegate.
You don’t have to do it all yourself. Ask for the assistance of others whenever possible.
6. Have a concrete plan.
When you have a doctor’s appointment this doesn’t have to be down time. Bring something with you that you can work on – a book or report to read, a notepad, a laptop computer, or a PDA to check your email. Continue working on those tasks. Don’t let a moment go by wasted. Do this anytime you know you’ll be waiting in a lobby for any reason.
7. Execute the plan
Be persistent and work the plan every day.
Being persistant is the key to this endeavor. If you have set realistic goals and you have followed the steps outlined here, you will be on your way to getting things accomplished! There may still be some days you just can’t get everything finished. If you are consistenly persistent however, you will be on your way to living a more productive and less stressful life.
We all have the same 24 hours in a day, and how we choose to spend this time is up to us. Try taking the coachability assessment to see if coaching is right for you.
Mariano M. Jauco has been empowering business professionals and individuals by sharing his knowledge to produce positive change in the world. His personal development techniques and methods will allow you to reach your goals and achieve the success and prosperity you deserve. Go to mylife-coach.net to find a life coach.