Scott Hammond/For the Times-Standard
Posted: 08/15/2010 01:32:25 AM PDT
”... and then one day you find ... 10 years have got behind you ...”
-- Pink Floyd's “Time”
Making a commitment that you'll measure and use time more efficiently is the best promise you'll ever make to yourself. In the long run, you'll be glad you did. Here are some tips that may help to some move your way to a little more time efficient life. You may even find that after you get the hang of it, you'll have more free time.
1. Manage your availability in which coworkers know when you are available to help them and when you're not.
2. Learn to prioritize -- one of the most important things you can do in your search for more time. Prioritize your commitments. If you belong to any organizations that are turned into obligations, just give up your membership. There is not enough time to spend on doing things which aren't that important to you.
3. Make all your calls in the morning -- this is when people are most likely to be available. Then, block off the rest of your day on interrupted work.
4. Take time every week to get your filing done and keep up the organizing and purging of your files. This will go a long way to help you stay on top of your job responsibility. Then get and stay organized.
5. Keep a detailed personal activity log for several days to determine how you're actually using your time. See where you're spending too much and not enough time.
6. It's not always easy to admit that sometimes we allow
ourselves to get immersed in busywork. Focus on the job at hand and don't let meaningless tasks consume your precious time.
7. Create a system for yourself. No one knows your schedule better than you do. Incorporate simple and effective systems in your life that help you do what must be done on a daily basis so that you actually can get things accomplished. Get a routine and form positive habits.
8. Don't bite off more than you can chew. Break up big projects into manageable pieces. Divide your projects and concentrate on one part at a time. Gradual progress and growth is the best practice.
9. Never force the finishing of a project, if it can be helped. There's no point in forcing yourself to finish a job when you're not making any headway. Switch to another project. The new challenge will refresh and renew your mind so that you can return to the original job. You will then feel ready to complete it.
10. Plan ahead. This tip will eliminate the procrastination and ensure higher productivity. Estimate how long a job will take. Then add about one-third more time. Then count the number of days back from the deadline, and set that as your defining starting point.
11. Learn what is urgent, versus what is important. There is a tremendous difference. Too often we respond to the urgent and forfeit the necessary. In other words, things that demand our immediate attention usurp what is necessary. By contrast, important tasks might not require an instant response, but they necessitate important activities that will keep you on track in achieving your goals.
12. Under promise and over deliver. This is a very old axiom, but nonetheless very true. Never promise too much; you're more likely to disappoint people. Instead, with all things, under promise and over deliver. People will be pleasantly surprised when you've done more than originally planned.
Scott Hammond is almost local after 30 years in Humboldt. Father of nine and a parenting expert, author, and inspirational speaker, Scott can be reached at sjhammond@suddenlink.com or scott@BecomeabetterFather.com or call 707-616-7665.
From Time-Standard published on 08/15/2010 01:32:25 AM PDT