Some Tips on Time Management - How to Better Manage your Time
by Craig Lock
Article Title: Some Tips on Time Management - How to Better Manageyour TimeAuthor Name: Craig Lock Contact Email Address: clock@xtra.co.nz Line Space: 60 characters (approx) Category (key words): Self Help, Personal Growth, Time Management,Internet address: http://www.nzenterprise.com/writer/creative.htmlCopyright Date: Copyright: © Craig Lock 2002 Publishing Guidelines: This article may be freely reproduced electronicallyor in print (with links, please).
If you'd like to check out Craig's other articles (internetmarketing, self help, writing and money management), drop by at:http://www.bridgeniche.com/ebooks/Ebooks.htm
"We share what we know, so that others may grow."
*SOME TIPS ON BETTER MANAGING YOUR TIME
© Craig Lock 2002
DECISION GUIDE
Ask yourself:
1. Does what I am doing add value to my life (and times of pure funand relaxation are essential too)? 2. What will happen if I don't do it? 3. Can I delegate it? 4. Can I spend less time on it?
TIME WASTERS
1. Telephone Interruptions 2. Drop-in Visitors 3. Meetings4. Crisis Management 5. Lack of Objectives, Priorities a Daily plan 6. Cluttered Desk, Personal Disorganisation. 7. Ineffective Delegation 8. Attempting too Much at Once 9. Lack of Clear Communication 10. Inadequate, Inaccurate Delayed Information 11. Indecision and Procrastination 12. Confused Responsibility and Authority. 13. Inability to Say "No". 14. Leaving Tasks Unfinished 15. Lack of Self-Discipline
MORE COMMON TIME WASTERS (IN RANK)
1. Planning (lack of).
2. Priorities (lack of)
3. Telephone interruptions
4. Disorganisation/cluttered desk
5. Procrastination
6. Visitors
7. Lack of Self Discipline
8. Ineffective delegation
9. Attempting too much
10. Inability to say 'No'
The 80/20 Principle
20% of activity gives 80% of results and 80% of activity gives 20% of results (known as the Pareto Principle).
* Focus on the important few activities, not the trivial many.* Don't procrastinate * The key is self discipline. * "First we make habits, then habits make us."
TIME TIPS FOR THE BUSY
Get the news only once a day - in only one form - read the paper or watch television or listen to the radio, but vary the form so you don't get the news through one bias. Don't worry about or spend time on things irrelevant to you, eg.. reading every bit of the newspaper.
Unless it is crucial for your business, the news is notonly depressing (don't worry about it, unless you can do something about it), but it gives a distorted picture of life.
If you can't sleep, don't waste time lying in bed. Get up and do something.
Use an answer phone.
Walk out of a poor movie or show. You've already wasted the money - so don't waste the time as well.
Plan your leisure. Don't expect your free time to fall into place by itself. Plan your weekends as carefully as you plan your weeks...and it's OK to do nothing.
Don't read a book, just because it has been given to you- if it doesn'tinterest you, give it to someone who would be interested.
Stop going to social events you would rather avoid - life's too short. On the other hand, don't miss a socialevent you would enjoy just because you feel tired. If you enjoy something it revitalises you. But remember - there is usually work tomorrow!
"Never hurry - and don't worry - and don't forget to stop and smell the flowers." - Walter Hagen, American Golfer
"What I do with this day is important, because I have exchanged a day of my life for it."
Take rest; a field that has rested gives a beautiful crop.- Ovid
I very much like the words of the Simon and Garfunkel song:"Slow down, don't you go so fast" from 'Feeling Groovy'. Not that I feel that way here in "Sleepy Hollow" in the beautiful country that is Godzone!
So just take and plan your time carefully. Always remember,
"Yesterday is a cancelled cheque. Tomorrow is a promissory note.Today is ready cash, cash in hand. Use it well - spend it!"
- John W. Newbern
WHEN YOU TAKE CONTROL OF TIME, YOU TAKE CONTROL OVER YOUR LIFE.
Craig Lock"Information and Inspiration distributor"
P.S: Treasure Each Moment
To realise the value of ONE YEAR Ask a student who has failed his exam.
To realise the value of ONE MONTH Ask a mother who has given birth to a pre-mature baby.
To realise the value of ONE WEEK Ask an editor of a weekly.
To realise the value of ONE DAY Ask a daily wage labourer.
To realise the value of ONE HOUR Ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.
To realise the value of ONE MINUTE Ask a person who has missed the train.
To realise the value of ONE SECOND Ask a person who has survived an accident.
To realise the value of ONE MILLI-SECOND Ask the person who has won a silver medal in Olympics.
Treasure every moment that you have!
Author's Note:This extract is from Craig's first published book HANDBOOKTO SURVIVE - a collection of writings on various subjectsto help every man or woman survive in a rapidly changing,uncertain world.
Craig's books are available at: http://www.nzenterprise.com/writer/books.html and http://www.novelty-gift.com/ebooks.html
All proceeds go to needy and underprivileged children - MINE
The "original" Online Creative Writing Course http://www.nzenterprise.com/writer/creative.html
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"If you have knowledge, let others light a candle to it."(That's a metaphor, btw)
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