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
Always remember,
"Yesterday is a cancelled cheque, tomorrow is a promissory note,
today is ready cash - use it."
WHEN YOU TAKE CONTROL OF TIME, YOU TAKE CONTROL OVER YOUR LIFE.
Craig Lock
This article is an extract from Craig's book HANDBOOK TO SURVIVE, which is available at:
http://www.novelty-gift.com/" target="_blank">http://www.novelty-gift.com/ Online Creative Writing Course http://www.nzenterprise.com/writer/creative.html" target="_blank">http://www.nzenterprise.com/writer/creative.html