| The past couple of weeks have been a little hectic for | | | | priorities on a daily basis, then you can effectively get |
| me...Can you relate? If only I had time, I would have my | | | | things done. If you still feel you have too much, then |
| desk in order, my email folders set up, my projects | | | | don't forget to delegate certain tasks to other people, |
| prioritized, not too many sticky notes, my meetings | | | | like your colleagues, your kids, or even hire someone to |
| arranged, my phone calls answered, my family in | | | | get you organized! |
| check, my workouts all done, my vacations set, my | | | | A big problem with managing time is that people aren't |
| binders organized, my questions asked and answered, | | | | organized - their physical work space is a mess, or |
| my daily tasks accomplished, my friends taken care of, | | | | their house is a mess. This leads to feeling |
| my work done, my life in balance, my house in order, | | | | overwhelmed. Someone once told me that if your |
| my problem pile finished, my website fixed, my legs | | | | work space is cluttered then your mind is also |
| shaved, and my mind all clear by bedtime, if there's | | | | cluttered, and it's so true! Get started by cleaning up |
| even time for sleep! If your life feels somewhat | | | | your mess! Take an afternoon when you're feeling |
| chaotic, have no fear, because there is hope for those | | | | sluggish and go through all your papers, notes, and |
| who understand time, manage time, and take the | | | | binders, and you will feel much more energized and |
| appropriate actions to free up time! | | | | motivated to get to work. |
| Time means different things to different people in | | | | Motivation to work is another problem we all face. |
| different circumstances. For instance, I am very slow | | | | When we're not motivated, doing something we're not |
| to get going in the mornings, but after my coffee, I am | | | | entirely sure how to do, or there's too much to do, then |
| energized for the rest of the morning, and time flies for | | | | we tend to procrastinate. The best way to eliminate |
| me. Then by after lunch, I am very sluggish and feel | | | | that problem is by knowing what it is we are avoiding |
| like the day will never end sometimes. When I work on | | | | and doing those things first to get them out of the way |
| my business in the evenings, I get a second wind, but | | | | while we are still feeling energetic. |
| feel like I don't have enough time to do everything that | | | | Even when we're stressed for time, some of us will |
| needs to be done. In this case, I find it useful to spend | | | | take on too much simply because we have an inability |
| money on something that will automate a process for | | | | to say "no" to new things coming at us in all directions. |
| me, such as an article or link directory submitter. | | | | We want to impress someone, don't want to look bad, |
| However, the more I am learning about doing business | | | | we're friends with someone and don't feel we can let |
| online, the more I feel I have to do, and just can't fit it all | | | | them down, or we are perfectionists and want to |
| in. My problem is that I need to relax and realize that I | | | | over-achieve and get it all done perfectly. These are all |
| can only do so much. I know that I am working very | | | | things that eat up our time, and force us into a bad |
| hard, to the best of my ability and probably beyond, | | | | pattern of neglecting what is truly important, and |
| and knowing this helps me remember what's important. | | | | forgetting what has to be done immediately, and what |
| That is a key concept in time management: Knowing | | | | can wait. |
| what the problems are in your planning, and knowing | | | | Finally, in planning our days, and weeks, and months, |
| what is really important. Some people don't even start | | | | we must never forget our health. Being stressed over |
| their days or end their days with a plan, but planning | | | | lack of time is unhealthy, so we must get enough |
| can save you hours. If you set priorities and make sure | | | | water, go for a walk, get some fresh air, do something |
| that you are spending your time on those things and | | | | fun, stay focused, and be positive. When we start |
| not getting distracted by emails, voicemails, meetings, | | | | fresh, with our priorities in place, we will achieve much |
| forums, or phone calls, then you are on the right | | | | more, and be more successful both personally and |
| time-management track. Once you know your | | | | professionally. |
| responsibilities, your goals, your objectives, and your | | | | |