Some Tips on Time Management - How to Better Manage

DECISION GUIDE

Ask yourself:

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?


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
"Information and Inspiration distributor"

Author's Note:
This extract is from Craig's 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.