The Time Management Training Institute

Have you ever wasted an hour, a day, or a week? Face it, we all have. And at the end of that day, or week, how did you feel? Pressured, frustrated, unproductive. What makes it worse is we often do it while working 40+ hours per week - and then complain that we never have enough time for family, friends or ourselves.

With so many life roles - business owner, parent, son/daughter, friend - is it any wonder we feel overwhelmed, out of balance and wanting to better manage our time? But at the end of the day, you can't manage time. You can only manage yourself and how you choose to use it. So how do you use your time?

Here are 7 secrets to help you manage yourself better:

1. Evaluate how you use most of your time. If you want to improve anything in life, you need to start with a clear understanding of where you are today and what is holding you back. So start by tracking everything you do (big and small) for a week or two. You will then be able to identify the time stealing activities (and people) and begin to eliminate, delegate or manage them more effectively.
2. Establish a default diary for your ideal week. We all have routine tasks and activities each week, so start by allocating time for them. Then structure other activities or tasks such as meetings, sales calls, planning, or project specific work around them. In the event something gets canceled, you will have a better idea what to do with the 'new found' time - instead of wasting it on something trivial.
3. Work on priorities during peak energy times. For most people, energy levels fluctuate throughout the day. Know when your energy level is typically highest, e.g., early morning, and work on priorities or challenging tasks at this time.
4. Establish systems for routine tasks so you eliminate duplication. Where possible, group similar tasks together to reduce stop/start time. For example, block time for email once or twice a day and take action - read, respond, delegate, schedule task (if needed) and delete or file - at that time.
5. Always schedule time for yourself. We all need 'me' time and 'family' time but will rarely get enough if we don't plan for and schedule it. Whether it's exercise, a hobby, a training course or dinner together every evening, schedule the time to do it. It's a key to a healthier and happier life!
6. Kill the interruptions. While email and cell phones have improved our ability to access people and information 24/7, they require discipline or they will easily suck away a lot of your precious time. Just because we can be readily available, doesn't mean we should. Consider that every little interruption can cost you an additional 10 minutes of productivity - just getting 're-started'. Calling people back or responding to an email later won't cost you business or customers - so learn to tune it out or turn it off!
7. Set goals for yourself. We all know that having business and personal goals keep us focused and help us prioritize what needs to be done. The same can be said for time management. How many hours do you wish to work each day or week? How much family or me time do you want? Incorporate this into the other goals you have - and schedule accordingly. A target hours per day goal can make it easier to prioritize what you actually work on in those hours - and often leads to eliminating waste or unnecessary work.

Self-management requires discipline, clear priorities, boundaries for yourself and others - and a willingness to say NO when appropriate. Use the above tips to start changing your behaviors. And remember, you can turn any bad habit into a good habit in 30 days if you commit to do it and take consistent action each and every day.

Joan Nowak: link

Category: Time Management Class

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