In Time
Management: Setting Up Your Schedule For Success, we looked
at how you need to adjust your weekly schedule to fit into 168
hours. This can be extremely difficult to do. Here are some tips
to get the most out of your day and to make sure you're working
as efficiently as possible:
- Make a daily
to-do list. This will help you organize your day and prevent you
from forgetting important tasks.
- Prioritize
your to-do items. Some tasks are not as critical as others. Assign
each task an A, B or C rating. A items are important tasks that
must get done right away. B items are important, but not as important
as A items. C items are things that need to get done at some point,
but there's no rush. Once you've assigned a rating to each task,
re-write your to-do list with all the A items on top (in order
of importance), then the B and C items. Complete the A items first.
This may seem obvious, but think about how many times you've put
off an important (sometimes unpleasant) task so you could call
a friend, clean your room or do something else that really didn't
need to happen at that time. Stick to what's important.
- Group similar
activities together. Make all your phone calls at once. Run all
your errands at once. Transitioning from one type of activity
to another takes time, so group like to-do items together and
complete them at the same time.
- Overlap.
Sometimes you can do two things at once. For example, you can
read while you do the laundry. You can write a letter while you're
on the bus. Be careful about doing multiple tasks if one of them
requires your focus.
- Identify
and avoid time wasters. We all have them. I like to check my e-mail.
Some people like to take unnecessary naps. Some people look for
things to clean and organize as an excuse not to work. See what
you do that wastes your time and stop doing it.
- Identify
and avoid distractions. My cat likes to jump onto my lap when
I work. Some people work with music on, but then start singing.
Maybe your phone rings a lot and you always answer. Eliminate
these distractions when you need to get stuff done.
- Find a good
place to work. See where you're most productive and focussed.
- Organize
your workspace.
- Keep flat
surfaces clean.
- Use an effective
filing system. Make sure you know where everything is.
- Take pit
stops. Sometimes taking a 5 minute snack break or a 60-second
breathing break can re-energize you and improve your efficiency.
- Do more during
your most productive hours. Some of us are morning people while
others are night owls. Work during your best time.
Scott Greenberg, Speaker, Author, Leadership Consultant
Providing motivation, team building and leadership training for
groups and individuals looking for optimum performance.
For
more information on programs or leadership workbooks,
call 1-800-450-0432 or visit www.scottgreenberg.com
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