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1) Realize that time management is a myth.
No matter how organized we are, there are always only 24 hours
in a day. Time doesn't change. All we can actually manage is
ourselves and what we do with the time that we have.
2) Find out where you're wasting time.
Many of us are prey to time-wasters that steal time we could be
using much more productively.
3) Create time management goals.
Remember, the focus of time management is actually changing your
behaviors, not changing time. A good place to start is by
eliminating your personal time-wasters.
4) Implement a time management plan.
Think of this as an extension of time management tip # 3. The
objective is to change your behaviors over time to achieve
whatever general goal you've set for yourself, such as
increasing your productivity or decreasing your stress. So you
need to not only set your specific goals, but track them over
time to see whether or not you're accomplishing them.
5) Use time management tools.
Whether it's a Day-Timer or a software program, the first step
to physically managing your time is to know where it's going now
and planning how you're going to spend your time in the future.
A software program such as Outlook, for instance, lets you
schedule events easily and can be set to remind you of events in
advance, making your time management easier.
6) Prioritize ruthlessly.
You should start each day with a time management session
prioritizing the tasks for that day and setting your performance
benchmark. If you have 20 tasks for a given day, how many of
them do you truly need to accomplish?
7) Learn to delegate and/or outsource.
No matter how small your business is, there's no need for you to
be a one-person show.
8) Establish routines and stick to them as much as possible.
While crises will arise, you'll be much more productive if you
can follow routines most of the time.
9) Get in the habit of setting time limits for tasks.
For instance, reading and answering email can consume your whole
day if you let it. Instead, set a limit of one hour a day for
this task and stick to it.
10) Be sure your systems are organized.
Are you wasting a lot of time looking for files on your
computer? Take the time to organize a file management system. Is
your filing system slowing you down? Redo it, so it's organized
to the point that you can quickly lay your hands on what you
need.
11) Don't waste time waiting.
From client meetings to dentist appointments, it's impossible to
avoid waiting for someone or something. But you don't need to
just sit there and twiddle your thumbs. Always take something to
do with you, such as a report you need to read, a checkbook that
needs to be balanced, or just a blank pad of paper that you can
use to plan your next marketing campaign. Technology makes it
easy to work wherever you are; your PDA and/or cell phone will
help you stay connected.
You CAN be in control and accomplish what you want to accomplish
- once you've come to grips with the time management myth and
taken control of your time.
From an article by
Susan Ward at About.com
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