5
steps to effective Time management
by Success
expert Sharmen Lane
Have you ever
thought about how people are created equal?
Did you know that there is one way and one way
only that we are all exactly the same? That
way is time. It doesn’t matter how much
money you have, or what school you went to,
or where you were raised… you only get
24 hours in a day. That’s 86,400 seconds
in each 24 hour period.
The way to be
most efficient and effective with your time
and get the most out of your 24 hours is to
follow these 5 simple steps.
-
Write- Everything you need or want to get
done in a day, write it down. You don’t
have to overcomplicate this one. Just get
a simple legal pad of paper and write Things
To Do Monday at the top. Then start your list.
I do things to the ridiculous. 1. Wake up
at 6am. 2. Go to gym by 6:30. 3. Email Mike
regarding marketing. 4 Call Mary about business
cards. 5. Pick up dry cleaning. 6. Drop off
bracelet at jeweler. 7. Buy stamps…etc.
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.
- Eliminate distractions- Distractions or
interruptions are the primary cause for people
to not be efficient and get what needs to
be done, done. Here you have two options.
Option A- remove the distractor. If it’s
the phone, turn it off. If it’s email,
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 reads, Do NOT Disturb or Quiet time
from 9-noon, no interruptions please.
-
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. 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. By writing a things to do list you will
be eliminating, or a least reducing stress
and random thoughts. You will be more organized,
together and know what you need to do and
when you need to do it by. If you are dwelling
on the past, with all do respect you need
to get over it and move on. 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. Think about where you are
now and what you can do in this present moment
to make the best of any situation.
- Set an alarm-
If you need to get something done in a specific
amount of time or if you need to dedicate
minutes, hours, etc to a project to complete
it by the deadline, set an alarm. Use one
on your computer, watch, cell phone, egg timer,
or an actually 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.
- Have a reward-
Nothing is better than having a little incentive
when you are learning a new habit. The next
time you are struggling with managing your
time, give your self a reward. Say when I
have my entire things to do list complete
every day for one week, I will give myself
blank, as a treat. Now you have a reason to
stay focused, avoid distractions and get what
needs done, done.
Those are the
five basic steps for Time Management. What are
you waiting for??? Get to writing your things
to do list today!
About
the Author:
Sharmen
Lane is an Author,
professional speaker,
radio host,
and self
improvement expert. She
has trained, managed, and coached thousands of
individuals on what it takes to get what they
want. Sharmen
offers you step-by-step solutions
to everyday problems that complicate our lives.
Sharmen wrote the book titled “The
7 Secrets to Create Your Fate”, which
is a personal growth, self development book written
to give everyone who reads it the motivation,
inspiration and determination to go after what
they want with passion. For more self
help resources and seminar
speaker topics, visit www.sharspeaks.com. |
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| Professional
motivational speaker Sharmen Lane specializes
in
Corporate Leadership, Sales and Self-Improvement. |
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