20 WAYS TO MAKE TIME YOUR SERVANT http://www.geocities.com/pcawizman/index.html Introduction --------------------------------------------------------- When you want to organize anything you need time to do it. We all know that time flies, and it is hard to keep up. Well here are 20 ways to help you make time your servant. 1. Use ONE calendar planning system like Franklin Quest, DayTimer, or DayRunner and write down all the projects and people you manage. Write down every commitment you make WHEN YOU MAKE IT, then transfer that commitment to the date on the calendar when it comes due. You may have a commitment every day for the same thing, like exercise. Be sure to have a daily system list (a sort of "to-do list" that keeps you energized, focused, and moving toward your goals) on the first page of your planner. 2. Plan each week the week before, plan each day the day before. Spend about half an hour at the beginning of each week, and about 15 minutes the night before or at the beginning of each day. What will you accomplish this week and this day? 3. Stop wasting the first hour of your workday. Pick the one hardest task you must complete that day, and DO IT FIRST. This will give you piece of mind and a real feeling of accomplishment. Believe it or not but an extra cup of coffee, reading the newspaper, and socializing are the three costliest or time eliminator rituals that lower productivity. 4. Do ONE THING well at a time. It takes time to start and stop work on each activity. Stay with a project until it is completed. That`s EXCELLENCE. 5. Try a 15-minute-block, time-analysis exercise. Break your day into 15-minute blocks. Note your main activity or activities for each block. Do this every day for a week or two. If you think there`s not enough time in the day, this exercise will open your eyes. How can you better use your time? 6. Establish time limits for meetings and conversations IN ADVANCE. Watch your watch when the deadline approaches. End the conversation when it arrives. If you have a timer on your watch, use it. Have someone page you at the deadline time. Time is the prisoner, NOT YOU. 7. Don`t open junk mail. At least 25% of the mail you receive can be thrown away without taking the time to open it. 8. Handle each piece of paper or e-mail only once - and never more than twice. Don`t set anything aside without taking some action. Better to have your paperwork on computer disk than to have a desk or briefcase full of paper. 9. Write answers in the margins of letters you receive and mail or fax the letter back to the sender. 10. Recognize when your peak energy occurs during the day. Do your most challenging tasks during this time. Work on easy projects at low-energy times. 11. When you feel your energy dropping, take a break. For many people, this occurs about mid-afternoon. Maybe it`s mid-morning. Take anywhere from 5-15 minutes to get up, stretch, or daydream. Give your mind a little mini-vacation. 12. Get enough rest, NUTRIENTS, AND EXERCISE. If you don`t feel good, how can you expect to DO good? Boost your health and your stamina. Treat your body with extreme care. Treat yourself as if you are worth the effort and expense it takes to nurture yourself! 13. Set aside personal relaxation time each day. And don`t work through lunch. It`s just plain not good for you to skip important energy-input and stress-relieving times. 14. Take shorter vacations more often and leave your work at home. Balance is key; the harder you work, the more you need it. 15. When possible, plan your work so your projects end when your day ends. Take work home ONLY as an exception. Your professional life needs a WHOLE human being, one with a satisfying personal life. 16. End your day by listing tomorrow`s important priorities. See #1. 17. Throughout the day ask yourself, "What is the best use of my time right now?" As the day grows short, focus on tasks you can least afford to leave undone. 18. Periodically throughout the day, focus on your long-term dreams. Keep your motivation vivid and strong. Here`s an idea: when you`re exercising, think about your life goals. But NEVER lose sight of what you want. 19. Try getting up 40 minutes earlier in the morning and going to bed 40 minutes earlier. Okay, this isn`t too exciting, but all I ask is try. The extra time in the morning can become some of your most productive, personally rewarding "home alone" time of day. What`s really important for you to accomplish in the new day ahead of you. And why not go to bed on a high note, thinking about your life goals? 20. Treat your TV like an appliance. Use it ONLY when needed. It is not your trusted armchair or bedside companion. An average American spends about 30 HOURS a week in a semi-stupor, trying to escape from the priorities s/he never sets. When you kill time, you kill your opportunities for success. Imagine what you could really do in 30 HOURS a week! Read that book you`ve been meaning to get to? Brainstorm and develop new products and services to build your business. Develop or strengthen relationships. Organize your life and home. Clean out those closets. The time is there, don`t waste it until you have your act together. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ My Tip of the Week ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "Walk away from the people who keep you down. Walk away from the people who rob you of your time. Don`t use their excuses. Take charge of your own life."