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Take Control of Your Time and Take Control of Your Life
Author : Archie R. Lawhorne
If you're ever going to take control of your life and make it
grand, you'll need to start by taking control of your time.
Without question, effective time management is fundamental to
succeeding in any area of life. In fact, it is often the main
difference between life's achievers and those who, although
always busy, never get anywhere. Not surprisingly, an entire
industry has been created out of the need to better manage our
time. But if you look a little deeper, you'll see that its not
so much about time management as it is self management. Because
in reality, you can't control time, but you can control yourself
and what you do with each moment of time. Most experts agree
that success is the result of habit. Therefore, the first step
in improving how you use your time starts with your habits (self
control). And your habits start as consciously made decisions
(i.e. what time you get up, what kind of books you read, etc.).
Once established, good habits become second nature. In many
cases, success is not so much the result of doing the unusual,
but rather the result of one's ability to "master the mundane."
By consistently performing all of the little rudimentary tasks
that are important, over time these activities transform into
huge achievements. Here's some simple rules to follow for better
time management:
Don't procrastinate. Do it now. When people put things off, it
kills momentum, slows achievement of current goals and restricts
future opportunity as time is clogged up. The way to tackle
procrastination is to set deadlines by which goals should be
achieved. The way to avoid last-minute deadlines brought on by
procrastination is to set intermediary goals which must be
achieved and then steadily track progress. Track your
activities. Memory is a poor guide when it comes to assessing
how you spend your time. A better way is to record your
activities throughout the day, listing everything you do. Most
people will find that they have about three hours each day that
can be used in a more constructive or efficient manner. Take
stock of the time you spend chatting on the phone, flipping
though magazines or aimlessly surfing the Web, and eliminate all
that isn't necessary. Concentrate on results. Many people spend
their days in a frenzy of activity, but achieve very little
because they are not concentrating on the right things. Don't
confuse working efficiently with working effectively. Activities
can be tension-relieving, but not goal-achieving. By
concentrating on fewer "major" priorities regularly, you can
achieve a lot more in less time. Remember the 80/20 principle:
20% of your key activities will give you 80% of your results.
Your aim is to change this to ensure that you concentrate as
much of your effort as possible on the high payoff tasks. Use
travel time wisely. It's easy to overlook time spent traveling
in your assessment of time management. Consider carefully
whether this is time that you could use more productively. For
example, if you opted to take the bus or train to work, would
this provide an opportunity to make better use of your commute
time? Or if you do drive, are you listening to educational or
motivational tapes (rather than the Top 40) which could help
improve your skills and make you a more productive and
well-rounded person? Develop action plans. An action plan is a
brief list of tasks that you have to complete to achieve an
objective. It differs from a "To Do" list in that it focuses on
the achievement of a goal, (and the specific steps to get there)
rather than just on the goals to be achieved in a period of
time. Whenever you want to achieve something, drawing up an
action plan allows you to concentrate on the stages of that
achievement, and monitor your progress towards that realization.
Respond quickly. For example, take care of your mail as you
receive it. Don't let those bills and letters pile up on you. If
you're unable to respond to a letter immediately, file it in a
special place that's visible, and note on the envelope the
required action and date you intend to resolve it. When
possible, act on requests the same day you receive them. Don't
let your computer, your desk or your mind become clogged with
useless things. Be Decisive. Learn to say no to people. Your
time is important, so don't let other people impose or use you
to compensate for their poor planning. Eliminate distractions as
much as possible. Close your door, turn off the ringer on your
phone or simply ask not to be disturbed. Schedule time to relax.
When you're organizing your time and your business, make sure to
set aside some time for relaxation. If you plan for it in
advance, it's less likely to come up spontaneously and distract
you from other tasks. (No, sitting at your computer with a mouse
under your hand does not qualify as relaxing). Your first step
toward better time management is to take stock of the time you
waste each day and from there, reorganize your activities to
maximize every minute. (Essentially, it boils down to exercising
better self control - it's simple, but not easy). Above all,
stick to your plan. Your schedule will work only as well as you
commit to it. Keep it with you everywhere you go and refer to it
often. By following these tips, you'll create more space to be,
do and have more in your life. Best of all, you'll approach life
in a more proactive and intentional manner.
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