Five tips for better time management
Sharmen Lane, a time management consultant and president of SharSpeaks LLC, with offices in New York and California, offers these tips for getting the most work done in the allotted time:
1. Write everything down. If there is something you need or want to get done in a day, write it down. No need to make it complicated; just get a simple legal pad of paper and write "Things To Do Monday" at the top. Then start your list and make it as detailed as you wish.
"If you simply write down what needs to be done, you will free up your mind and instantly be more focused and get more done," Lane says.
2. Eliminate distractions. Distractions or interruptions are the primary cause of inefficiency and not getting things done. Here you have two options. Option A: Remove the distractor. If it's the phone, turn it off. If it's e-mail, don't even log into your account until your project is complete. If it's television, don't turn it on. Option B: Remove yourself from the distractor. If you work in an office where others are constantly being a distraction or interruptive, then you need to not be in that environment. If possible, work from home to complete a project. Go to an available conference room or empty office and close the door. If you are in a cubicle, put up a sign that says "Do NOT Disturb" or "Quiet time from 9 a.m. to noon, so no interruptions, please."
3. Stay in the moment. Many times people do not use the present moment effectively because they are projecting in the future or dwelling on the past, Lane says. The future is not here yet, so it is most efficient and effective to get the most you can out of this moment, right now. If you are dwelling on the past, you need to get over it and move on, Lane says.
"Here's the thing: No matter how much you ponder and percolate on something that has already happened, it isn't going to change what happened. It is what it is," Lane says. "Think about where you are now and what you can do in this present moment to make the best of any situation."
4. Set an alarm. If you need to get something done in a specific amount of time or if you need to dedicate a certain number of minutes or hours to a project to complete it by the deadline, set an alarm. Use one on your computer, watch, cell phone, egg timer, or an actual alarm clock. Until that alarm sounds, you stay focused and only work on that one project. Allotting a specific amount of time will enable you to concentrate on just the matter at hand without concerning yourself with the clock or other things around you.
5. Reward yourself. Nothing is better than having a little incentive when you are learning a new habit.
"Determine that when you have your entire things-to-do list complete every day for one week, you will give yourself a particular treat. Pick out the treat in advance, something specific you can look forward to," Lane suggests. "Now you have a reason to stay focused, avoid distractions, and get things done."
Source
For more information on time management, contact:
- Sharmen Lane, President, SharSpeaks LLC, New York and California. Telephone: (949) 439-4898. E-mail: [email protected].
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