5 TIPS TO MANAGE YOUR TIME

Do you ever wonder where your time has gone? Does it seem like you are constantly "spinning your wheels" so to speak? If so, maybe you need a better system of time management. Here are five simple tips that will help you get a handle on where your time goes and how you can get better control of time. 1. Write stuff down. Use a calendar or planner. People who do are simply better organized have more control over their time than those who don't. They take time to plan when they are going to do things. This gets them into the mindset of planning how they are going to do things. Once you are in this mindset, everything you do will turn out better because of a little planning. Take time to write out your goals, plan the steps to achieve them, and then implement the plan. Start working toward those goals right now! Remember – people who don't have a plan are used by people who do. 2. Track your time. How can you really know exactly how you are spending your time? Track it! Keep track of activities and tasks that make up your day. Be cognizant of how much time these activities and tasks take. Ask yourself the following questions about your activities and pay attention to how you are feeling and thinking: • Are those tasks important? • Does doing that task move you toward your goal? • Can you make the tasks more efficient? • Does doing that activity make you happy? Figure out the activities and tasks that are urgent, important and actively move you toward achieving your goals. Make sure that you accomplish one to three of these per day. 3. Use time wisely. Remember the Pareto principle – 80% of your results are produced by 20% of your efforts. This really means that most of our time is spent on frivolous, unproductive activities. Avoid time wasting activities when you want to be productive. Get important things done. Decide what is really important to you and how accomplishing that task will take you down the road to achieving your goals. Prioritize. Decide what is not going to be done today because it either isn't urgent, important or move you toward your goals. This can be hard, but you can make that choice. You are worth it and can choose to enrich your life and move toward your goals, or fly by the seat of your pants and hope it all works out. Plan (and take) time every day to work on goal achievement and you will live a fuller, happier life. 4. Use prime time. When there are important tasks to complete, work on them when you are at your best. Some people are morning people and some come to life at 6:00pm. Know when you have the most energy and alertness. This is the time to tackle important things. 5. Get to know yourself, YOU are worth it. It is worth your time to write stuff down. It does take time and you may think that you can't take that time. You are worth it! rnWrite down your dreams, goals, thoughts, emotions and accomplishments. Yes, keep a journal and use to get to know yourself better. Set goals that you want to achieve, decide how you want to live your life – DREAM! Then, start making plans on how you are going to achieve those dreams, set time lines and start organizing your time so you are always moving forward and in control of where you are going. Some control is never a bad thing, ever. If you take time right now to start writing stuff down, getting to know yourself, tracking where your time goes, using time more wisely and completing important tasks during your personal prime time, you will find that your time is better spent and not wasted. Always remember, people who don't have a plan are used by people who do. ©2011rn