1. Does what I am doing add
value to my life (and times of pure fun and relaxation are
essential too)?
2. What will happen if I don't
do it?
3. Can I delegate
it?
4. Can I spend less time on
it?
* SOME COMMON TIME
WASTERS
1. Telephone
Interruptions
2. Drop-in Visitors
3. Meetings
4. Crisis Management
5. Lack of Objectives,
Priorities a Daily plan
6. Cluttered Desk, Personal
Disorganisation.
7. Ineffective
Delegation
8. Attempting too Much at
Once
9. Lack of Clear
Communication
10. Inadequate, Inaccurate
Delayed Information
11. Indecision and
Procrastination
12. Confused Responsibility and
Authority.
13. Inability to Say
"No".
14. Leaving Tasks
Unfinished
15. Lack of
Self-Discipline
* MORE COMMON TIME WASTERS
(IN RANK)
1. Planning (lack
of).
2. Priorities (lack
of)
3. Telephone
interruptions
4. Disorganisation/cluttered
desk
5. Procrastination
6. Visitors
7. Lack of Self
Discipline
8. Ineffective
delegation
9. Attempting too
much
10. Inability to say
'No'
The 80/20
Principle:
20% of activity gives 80% of
results and 80% of activity gives 20% of results (known as the
Pareto Principle).
* Focus on the important few
activities, not the trivial many.
* Don't
procrastinate
* The key is self
discipline.
* "First we make habits, then
habits make us."
* TIME TIPS FOR THE
BUSY
Get the news only once a day -
in only one form - read the paper or watch television or listen
to the radio, but vary the form so you don't get the news through
one bias. Don't worry about or spend time on things irrelevant to
you, eg.. reading every bit of the newspaper.
Unless it is crucial for your
business, the news is not only depressing (don't worry about it,
unless you can do something about it), but it gives a distorted
picture of life.
If you can't sleep, don't waste
time lying in bed. Get up and do something.
Use an answer phone.
Walk out of a poor movie or
show. You've already wasted the money - so don't waste the time
as well.
Plan your leisure. Don't expect
your free time to fall into place by itself. Plan your weekends
as carefully as you plan your weeks...and it's OK to do
nothing.
Don't read a book, just because
it has been given to you - if it doesn't interest you, give it to
someone who would be interested.
Stop going to social events you
would rather avoid - life's too short. On the other hand, don't
miss a social event you would enjoy just because you feel
tired.
If you enjoy something it
revitalises you. But remember - there is usually work
tomorrow!
"Never hurry - and don't worry
- and don't forget to stop and smell the flowers."
- Walter Hagen, American Golfer
"What I do with this day is
important, because I have exchanged a day of my life for
it."
"Take rest; a field that has
rested gives a beautiful crop."
- Ovid
I like the words of the Simon
and Garfunkel song:
"Slow down, don't you go so
fast" from 'Feeling Groovy'. Not that I feel that way here in
"Sleepy Hollow" in the beautiful country that is
Godzone!
So just take and plan your time
carefully.
Always
remember,
"Yesterday is a cancelled
cheque, tomorrow is a promissory note, today is ready cash - use
it well."
WHEN YOU TAKE CONTROL OF TIME,
YOU TAKE CONTROL OVER YOUR LIFE.
Craig Lock
http://www.craiglock.com
About the Author: Craig Lock has written extensively in the field of self
help. This extract is from his first published book HANDBOOK TO
SURVIVE - a collection of writings on various subjects to help
every man or woman survive in a rapidly changing, uncertain
world. HANDBOOK can be purchased at:http://www.craiglock.com/books.html