The Proactive Pro

TIME MANAGEMENT

Time is an irreplaceable resource, and like all other resources, it has to be managed. We often hear about time management but what is time management really? Essentially, time management is self management. There is a lot of self-discipline involved in the tips that I am about to share, but no worries, the tips are not super-hard to follow.

Time Management Tips:

1. BEGIN WITH AN END IN MIND - This is one of the seven habits of highly effective people according to Stephen Covey. To be able to manage time effectively, we need to identify our goals. Why? Because we need to know the things we have to prioritize. We need to know what needs to be done first so that we could move closer to the goals that we would like to accomplish.

2. PLAN AHEAD - Imagine going through the day without knowing what to do.  Without planning, a lot of time will be wasted on thinking of what to do next. Prepare a to do list before going to bed so when you wake up in the morning, you can immediately do the tasks that you need to accomplish.

3. EAT YOUR FROG FIRST - This concept was popularized by Brian Tracy through his book, "Eat That Frog!" It is based on a saying that, "If the very first thing you do each morning is to eat a live frog (actually, a toad is much worse), you'll have the satisfaction of knowing that it's probably the worst thing you'll do all day." In other words, when you've done the most difficult thing that you need to do for the day, you'd be more willing to do the less difficult tasks. You'll also have the momentum to do other tasks because you've taken the burden of anticipation of difficulty off your back. Do the most difficult task first and you'll be less inclined to procrastinate on doing the other tasks.

4. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FREE TIME - If a task cannot be done at the appointed time as planned, quickly move on to the next task or find something to accomplish within that time frame.  Don't use it as an excuse to loaf around or to waste time.  Remember, eat your frog first.  The sooner you finish your tasks, the more time you will have for the things that you really love to do.

5. BE ORGANIZED WITH YOUR TIME - There must a time for everything. We only have 24 precious hours in one day, so every minute must be apportioned wisely. Have a time table or a daily schedule displayed prominently in your room, even if you cannot always stick to it. Why? It will remind you what you need to do and help you assess if you are indeed moving toward to your goals, and make you want to go back on the right track.

6. BE ORGANIZED WITH YOUR THINGS - Trying to find something can waste a lot of time and could really be infuriating especially when you're running late. There must be a place for everything -- your pen, car keys, wallet, etc. It will make your day go by more smoothly.

7. FOCUS - The mind can only do one thing at a time. To improve focus, you can race against the clock. Get a timer and give yourself a mini-deadline (in minutes) for each task. But don't pressure yourself; treat it like a game. You can get an download a timer for free by clicking HERE.

Because the mind can only do one thing at a time, multitasking isn't always a good idea. But what if your job calls for multitasking? One thing you can do is incorporate all your activities into a system. That way, your mind can treat all those activities as one unit. And this brings us to our next tip which is,

8. BE SYSTEMATIC - Develop procedures for doing things. Study how you can do things efficiently. Make those procedures as simple as it can possibly be. In no time, those procedures will become automatic to you and you'll be able to finish your tasks in no time.

9. DELEGATE - You cannot do everything, so look for someone or something (we can delegate tasks to things, too, like an answering machine, for instance) that can do the less important things for you. When it's perfectly sensible, hire someone. The less you have to worry about the little things, the sooner you can finish the more important things.

10. TAKE TIME TO REST AND RELAX - Stress and too much work can slow you down and can actually make you less efficient and less productive. Give yourself mini-breaks in between tasks. It will also take your mind off the previous task making it ready to focus on the next one. And let your rest day refresh you and prepare you for the week ahead.

I often hear a lot of people say, "So many things to do and so little time," and "I want to do this and that, but I just don't have enough time!" But if you really think about it, there is almost always time for everything that we want to do, we just have to find it.

If you'd like to learn how to accomplish your goals in the least possible time, I recommend that you sign up for the Simpleology course by Mark Joyner. The first module is free. You will have to pay for the other modules, but trust me, the free module alone is priceless! It certainly is worth your time. To go to the Simpleology website, click HERE.