Need More Time? Get Serious

You want to get more accomplished but can’t find the time? Get serious. Determine what you want to accomplish. Write it down. Set dates. What are your goals? What are your daily priorities? Then, stop letting others dictate where you spend your time. Get downright selfish. Develop new ways for working and living. You can do it. Here are some suggestions.

1. Jump in and knock it out, NOW: The best way to get something done is to get started. Stop procrastinating and making excuses. Few things are as hard as they seem. Get to work. Knock it out.
2. Reduce drivetime: Your time is valuable as is that of your staff. Driving is downtime. Drive only when necessary. Ask and you’ll be amazed at how many people will deliver to you; come to you. Or request that they send it by email or common carrier. If you or yours must drive, do so when traffic is light, when it can be combined with a commute or another trip, and try to make good use of drivetime by listening to audiotapes from an industry conference. Finally, confirm that the information or person will be ready when you get there. And just in case, take something to do if you have to wait.
3. Get Help from Others: If nobody else existed we wouldn’t have any interruptions, would we? It’s other people who get in our way. So to get control of your time, you must enlist the help of those around you. Start by helping your staff, friends, family and vendors understand that you try to get the very most accomplished each day. Teach them what things you want to receive and the types of things you’d rather not hear about. Give them constant feedback and thank them for helping you stay productive.
4. Telephone, Mail and Email: Productivity is the key. Before you begin a communication, consider if it is necessary. Will it get you down the road to reaching our goals? Avoid a serious problem? If not, forget about it. If it IS necessary, what means is swift and sufficient? Often, that’s email. Letters are good for documentation, but saved emails are also documentation. Letters are “nice” and have become almost for show. Telephone is best when things need to be discussed and/or care needs to be taken in delivery. Use each communication method wisely. Choose them with intent to be more productive and effective.
5. Paperwork, Reports and Memos: Is it necessary and productive? If so, keep it to a minimum. Have a purpose. Make it clear. Keep it short and simple. Periodically ask the recipients if the work has value to them. If not, change the format or eliminate it altogether.
6. Meetings: Try to avoid regular meetings. Too often they become self-perpetuating. Every meeting should have a very clear purpose of what will be accomplished. Set the agenda; achieve the goal; document the conclusions; who will do what and by what date; and how accomplishments will be re-visited for appraisal and confirmation.
7. Just Say No: Success is not wasted on the weak. Be strong enough to say no to projects that are not important to you and yours.
8. One day at a time: Our productive lives are lived one day at a time. Put one good and productive day after another and you’ll accomplish great things. So make the most of each day. Begin each day the evening before. Write down your schedule for the coming day and “what’s important now.” Ponder the opportunity and your priorities. Establish a vision of what and how you’ll make the most of it. Include the time you will wake. When the alarm goes off, review your plan. Then make it happen. At the end of the day, review your performance, consider how you will do better the coming day, then make your plan.

Parts of this article were derived from and/or inspired by an article titled “Top 10 Time Wasters” by Arthur A. Hawkins II. His article can be found at www.timemanagement4u.com.