The
Top 10 of Time & Life Managment
By Jerry D.
Posner
Improving
your time/life management skills is a piece of cake... but you have to
really want to eat the cake!
1.
THE TO-DO LIST IS A MUST. This is the easiest
way I know of to accomplish more in less time.
Simply write down the activities and tasks that you want to work on. Daily or weekly.
Check them off when you complete them. "List the work ... and work
the list!" When you're serious about getting more done, the
to-do list is your constant companion, friend and ally!
2.
KNOW YOUR W.I.I.F.M. "What's in it for
me?" Choose a few answers to these questions: Why do I need or want
to get more done in less time? What are the benefits to me, my team, family,
friends, community ...? Make a list. Read your list every
day for self-motivation, passion-amplification and memory-refreshment.
3.
SET, REVISE AND REVIEW MEDIUM AND LONG TERM GOALS.
The "to-do" list is for daily or weekly tasks and projects.
The goals on this list are for a month to many years into the future.
Help yourself make choices that are consistent with your "big picture"
objectives. The more passionate we are about the goals, the better.
No strong desire? Weak commitment? Look for the blockage ...
examine the evidence ... review the "wiifms." Bad goal?
Change it! You can have ongoing behavior, attitude and emotional
goals in addition to task type goals. Keep an ongoing "to-feel"
list. Or a "to-believe" list. The magic is in the
daily attention to your lists. The daily reminder is the key.
4.
KNOW AND DEFEAT THE OPPONENT. Who
or what are the demons that nick your enthusiasm? Procrastination? Pessimism? Perfectionism?
Paranoia? Pizza? Identify the opponent, and learn how to be the victor!
For example, notice your procrastination, read books about procrastination,
visualize yourself overcoming procrastination, write a procrastination
journal. "Yeah, that's good. I'll start that tomorrow!"
Eat the foods that give you energy and avoid the foods that put you to
sleep (unless, or course, you WANT to take a nap). Visualize victory.
Imagine your success.
5.
MANAGE YOUR STRESS BY CHOOSING GRATITUDE. Or
choose neutral. You can choose to be philosophical. Forgiveness
is always a choice. So is a humorous interpretation of events. Some
like to use the "don't sweat the small stuff" reminder. The
big idea is to become more responsive and less reactive, or in other
words: more aware, conscious, in control and therefore, more efficient!
Life is less stressful when we make better choices. And sometimes
we can choose between stress and peace! Not always ... but sometimes.
6.
DON'T INVENT TROUBLE. Isn't it a thrill to
realize that some of our problems are self-created? Isn't it great when
we stop! So, ask yourself: Am I making it up? And, if so, WHY? Unconscious
habit? Do I have counterproductive interpretations or beliefs that need
changing? Why would I choose to make myself irritable? Can I stop?
7.
UPGRADE. Would a better computer make your work go
faster? Do you deserve a little more RAM? Upgrade tools and equipment,
upgrade environment, upgrade confidence, upgrade attitudes, habits, etc.
Sometimes even a small upgrade can make a huge difference in your productivity.
8.
REWARD YOURSELF. Consider
your needs and how you can get them met. Some people use the self-reward as a self-bribe. Some
call it a self-motivator. Don't you like to have a vacation or a new
DVD player as something to look forward to? A small reward in the middle
of a heavy work day could certainly have positive impact. Don't use donuts,
for example, if you're going to feel guilty about it for the rest of
the day. And be smart with your shopping -- don't create stress by rewarding
yourself with something that puts you into debt! A one-minute gratitude
break, mini-vacation visualization exercise, or quick walk outside could
improve your mood and your work output! The self-promise of a large reward
(material, emotional, spiritual) for a large project well done might
be the motivator you need to move it forward.
9.
TREAT EVERY CUSTOMER, CLIENT, VENDOR AND COWORKER WITH KINDNESS,
COMPASSION AND EMPATHY. Even the difficult ones.
This will potentially save you YEARS of time.
10.
READ THIS ARTICLE ONCE A WEEK.