Effective Time Management = More Summer Fun
Effective use of your time will leave you more time for summer fun. Here are six steps to accomplish your goals:
1. Establish your priorities.
If you have trouble establishing priorities, list your activities under the following headings
a. Things I want to do and I have to do
b. Things I want to do and I don't have to do
c. Things I don't want to do and I have to do
d. Things I don't want to do and I don't have to do
Immediately eliminate anything in category 4.
2. Schedule your activities in your planner.
Chunk your work down into comfortable time blocks. Schedule high priority items during the part of the day when you are most alert. If you are over-scheduling yourself, create a time log. Be sure to include travel time when appropriate. It should have 5 columns: 1) Task 2) Estimated amount of time to complete 3) Actual start time 4) Actual end time 5) Actual time to complete. This can be a real eye-opener. You might be scheduling yourself for more than you could ever accomplish.
3.
Cluster your activities.
Group errands, phone calls and similar chores together.
4.
Make a plan to get organized.
When you can find what you need when you need it, you save time and accomplish more with less effort.
5. Eliminate clutter.
Clutter is never about the present. It's always connected to the past where we hold our memories or it's about the future where we might need something. Clutter zaps energy and takes effort to maintain. Life flows more freely without it.
6.
Get help when you need it.
This can be as simple as taking the car to the carwash rather than washing it yourself or hiring a professional for something you can't or don't want to do.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This month's special offer (good through August 10th): Schedule four, consecutive organizing sessions, on a minimum of an every-other-week basis, and get one free hour of professional organizing.
