Time Management - Schedule Some Downtime For Yourself

I had a nice break earlier today. I watched the movie Independence Day with Will Smith. After being inspired (as this movie always does), I thought about how taking breaks make me more productive, even with the downtime.

It is important that you take time for yourself. Whether it's exercising, reading a book, or watching a movie you want to see. Studies even show that exercising each day can make you more productive and teach you how to manage your time better. After all,you probably have to fit that exercise in somewhere, right?

If you only can take a small portion of time, do it for yourself. Make sure you work your downtime for yourself in between pressing deadlines or major projects at work. We can get totally carried away sometimes.

In your life there are many different areas we all need to maintain balance with. You have health, financial, family, spiritual, social, professional, and intellect. You do not have to spend equal amounts of time at each day, but make sure each gets it's appropriate share of time.

Take care of each in it's own time. When one of these areas is neglected, it can cause difficulties in other parts of your life, and distract your focus from your real goals.

If you neglect your health, then you and your family can suffer. Neglecting your financial problems can make it difficult for you to concentrate in other areas.

Neglecting your time for yourself can prevent you from re-energizing. So stay balanced. Schedule time just for you, whatever personal acitivities that may include.

See your next time.

Time Management Productivity Musts

Time Management Tips - Deadlines And Priorities

These are two of the most important things to plan when setting goals. Setting Deadlines and Priorities enable you to achieve greater productivity. You wouldn't believe how many people miss this. Or . . . maybe you would. GRINS.

Whether you are trying to achieve a personal or work related goal, you will need to make a few decisions.

First, decide the beginning and finishing dates for each goal. In that time frame, you need to allow yourself planning and time management. Always take into consideration the end result and the time it will take you to achieve it.

If it's a large, long term project, plan accordingly. Set certain times to accomplish different portions or milestones of your goal. This will help you figure out how much more committed time is needed.

When there are several projects you need to get done, write them down and prioritize which ones are the most important, which ones need to be done first, so your plan runs smoothly to completion.

Stick to the plan and try not to fall back into old habits that didn't work for you previously. Do the most complicated or hardest ones first when you have the most energy. You will find that as the days go on, the smaller targets seem to complete faster because the jobs may seem easier.

So, two very important things that will determine how well your goal setting program progresses: Prioritize and Set Deadlines for yourself.

See you next time.

Achieve Your Goals Faster Using These 5 Steps

Image via Wikipedia5 Ways to Focus and Stay on Task

Each day, there are dozens of tasks that are calling your name, both at work and in your personal life. With life being so busy it’s easy to lose focus on the big picture.

How many times have you gone to bed wondering what you actually accomplished that day? Or have you ever felt like your day was somehow wasted?

To avoid these feelings, you can try a few different methods to get yourself back on track. Rather than bemoaning your wasted time, resolve to regain your focus and get back on task.

Confucius Says...

There’s a famous quote about focus by the great philosopher Confucius: “If you chase two rabbits, you catch none.” True, there might be people who are able to multitask and do it relatively well; but more often than not, people who split their attention between two different tasks have a more difficult time completing both tasks well.

Here are five ways to maintain your focus and stay on task:

1. Eliminate the distractions. Get rid of the barriers that are causing you to avoid getting things done – it’s that simple! Forget about checking email every five minutes; those emails will still be there when you complete your task. Make a list of distractions and eliminate!

· Turn off the phone and let the voice mail take over.
· Close the blinds in your office.
· Turn off the music if you find yourself singing more than working.
· Simply closing the door to your office can give you more privacy and more focus.

2. Prioritize your work. Rather than working on projects simultaneously, take one thing at a time, focus on it, and worry about all the other projects later. Ultimately, you’ll get a lot more done and you’ll finish it more quickly. You’ll also be recognized for the high quality that you deliver when you’re free from distractions.

· Find a way to prioritize that works best for you. Choose either the project that has the earliest deadline or the one with the least components so you can finish it quickly and get it out of the way. There are pros and cons to both systems so tackle it whichever way works for you.

3. Tell everyone to respect your time. There are many nice and respectful ways to tell people to back off. If you’re finding yourself in a time crunch and can’t seem to get away from others, consider letting them know that you need time to finish some important tasks. There are a lot of different ways to do it – just make sure you do!

· Set times that you’ll accept phone calls and even visitors. Tell them to contact you by email and then set a regular time to check your email.

· Set business hours during which people can expect you to return their calls or emails.

4. Set some limitations with your internet access. The internet is wonderful but it can be a huge time waster, especially if you work at a computer all day long. Hone your focus with some self-imposed rules.

· First, close all those windows you’re not using. Avoid MySpace or Facebook, quit searching on eBay, and leave messenger alone while you're on the job!

· Establish certain times each day to use these fun things and just focus on what you have to do. You’ll quickly accomplish more!

5. Have confidence in your abilities. This may seem like a really small thing when it comes to focusing and getting back on task, but believing that you can get everything done that you set out to do puts you in a positive frame of mind and you’ll be less distracted with stress and worry.

· Have confidence that you can complete each task with ease and believe in your ability to deliver. If you’ll just have the confidence, you’re sure to have the focus!

Now that you’ve been introduced to five ways to focus and stay on task, it’s up to you to take action and learn how to focus your thoughts. If you’ve got to get stuff done, follow these steps so you can put yourself – and your goals – first!

Time Log Benefits Revisited

One thing I have found to be of great benefit is a time log. I will monitor how I am spending my time regularly. It becomes a real time saver.

The time I take compiling it is more than made up by the time I save, the effectiveness, and the increased productivity I create by analyzing it.

When you use a time log periodically, you stay on top of your game, you are more apt to stay on track and mimize distractions. You can measure and manage one of your key resources to squeeze maximum results in.

How can you map out a strategy to do more if you don't know where you are? If you don't know the as is situation, how can you measure improvement gains?

Once you know what you want, that is to say once you have commited to your goal, to your course of action, the time log opens your eyes to opportunities to do more, to be more effective, to get more mileage out of the time you do have.

If you have never used a time log, then I encourage you to try it. Measure how effective you are and then adjust yourself accordingly. A tool is only as useful as the person is practiced in using it.

It will open your eyes to any time leakage in your days. Measurement is always key to management, and that applies across the board to all your goals.

Are you really investing yourself appropriately in order to achieve your most important goals on time? For more goal setting info, try our Power Of Setting Goals.

More info on the success habit of Time Management can be found posted here.

See you next time.

Need A Productivity Boost? Try The Four D's Habit!

Be More Productive . . . Instantly!
by Dan Robey

Imagine how your life would improve if you were instantly more productive.

You could get more done at the office every day and maybe earn a promotion, or make more money as a result of your ability to produce more sales.

Whether you are a sales person, a CEO, or a housewife, being more productive every day can dramatically improve your life.

OK, right now you are probably saying...sounds great, how can I be instantly more productive?

It's really quite simple. To be instantly more productive you need to acquire a new habit called the 4-D habit.

What is the 4-D habit?

The 4-D habit increases your productivity instantly by helping you prioritize daily tasks and get more done in a shorter period of time.

Here is how it works.

Each day we are all faced with new tasks that must be acted upon. Your boss calls you and asks you to prepare a sales report, your child calls and asks you to help him or her with a difficult school project, your husband wants you to find a better deal on car insurance.

How you act upon the tasks you are presented with each day determines how productive you will be. Make it a habit to apply the 4-D's as listed below to each task.

Number One

Do it now - take immediate action, perform the task right away.

Number Two

Dump it Now - this task is simply not important enough for your time. Dump it and move on.

Number Three

Delegate It - this task can be performed by someone else, give that person or persons the task. Many people make the mistake of trying to perform all the tasks they are given. The ability to properly delegate is what turns managers into CEO's.

Number Four

Defer the Task - This task must be done by you, but it can wait. Use the free time you have gained by not performing this task right away and perform other high priority tasks instead.

Get in the habit of applying the 4-D decision making tool to every task presented to you and watch your productivity soar!

About the Author:

Dan Robey is the author of the Best-Selling book "The Power of Positive Habits" now published in 22 countries worldwide. There are dozens and dozens of scientifically researched postive habits that can change your life in Dan's book. To learn more and subscribe to a complementary e-course on Positive Habits go to: www.thepowerofpositivehabits.com

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Time Is A Valuable Asset - Are You Giving It The Attention It Deserves?

Time - Your Most Valuable Asset in the War against Procrastination

Research shows that people spend most of their time and effort working on activities that have nothing to do with the success of their projects.

I'm convinced that procrastination is the main reason people fail to live richer lives.

If you want to get serious about eliminating the habit of procrastination, you can start right now by recognizing that your most valuable asset is time.

Learn how to use your time efficiently. Make sure that people know when you don't want to be interrupted-don't blame other people when you don't have enough time to finish a task.

When you miss a deadline, plan how you're going to finish the remainder of the work instead of making excuses about why you didn't get it done on time. - Then do it.

Procrastination is a No. 1 cause of stress.

Do you ever wonder why the most successful entrepreneurs-people like Bill Gates, for instance-always seem so relaxed in interviews and public appearances?

They work harder than most of us and they make billion-dollar decisions that the rest of us will never have to face in life, yet they never seem stressed out, worried, or depressed. Why not?

Research shows that high stress levels are caused when too many things are left undone. That's why habitual procrastinators always complain about chronic fatigue-putting things off creates enormous stress in our lives, which manifests itself as fatigue.

Break down your long-term goals into manageable segments and milestones. Without measuring your progress on long-term goals, you can easily delude yourself into believing that you're making good progress when you're just spinning your wheels.

Setting project milestones is a good way to measure your progress and stay focused.

Reserve some time each day for working on your long-term projects.

Spend most of your time on the things that need to be done this week, but try to spend some time each day on work that helps you make progress toward your long-term goals.

The tasks that help you achieve long-term goals are easy to leave undone. They don't seem urgent in the way that telephone calls seem urgent, but they usually represent our most important goals in life.

In many cases, these larger goals get pushed off the radar screen by the countless distractions and "urgent" but unimportant things that demand our attention throughout the day.

You need to spend 75 to 80% of your time on jobs you have to wrap up this week.

But dedicate the rest of your time to projects that need to be finished in the next six months. Have you set milestones for these projects? How are you measuring your progress on each project?

Always ask yourself: What have I learned about the consequences of procrastination, based on the decisions I made-or failed to make-yesterday?

Never lose sight of what's most important in life.

Ask yourself every day: If I only get one thing done today, what must that one thing be?

Then . . . get it done.

Whatever it takes, DO IT!

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You can listen to this article. The audio has been recorded here.

Talk to you next time.

Productivity Laws - Consistency and Smart Purposeful Action

I noticed a couple of great posts on Life Hacker this morning and just had to share them with you.

One reveals how Jerry Seinfeld has used The Law Of Consistency in his long outstanding career and the other shows you how to use The Laws Of Productivity to increase your goal results exponentially.

By the way Life Hacker is one of my favorites, subscribe to their feed for regular updates. Check them out, they are awesome posts!

Jerry Seinfeld's Productivity Secret

6 Rules To Work Less And Get More Accomplished

You’ve Been Lied To: Time Can’t Be 'Managed'

I just wanted to point you over to another new resource by Dave Navarro. Check out his new "30 Hours A Day" time management site. I've known Dave for a few years now and he always gives great value.

He is giving away a FREE 25 page report "How To Turn Your 24 Hour Day Into a 30 Hour Day", and a FREE portion of his new program coming in December - some great audios which will teach you some real "time management" skills.

While you are over there just sign up for his time management ezine. I always love reading Dave's ezines, he shoots straight to the heart of a strategy and shows you great super effective shortcuts!

Here is a small excerpt to let you know what to expect from his style of writing.

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You’ve Been Lied To: Time Can’t Be “Managed”

All right, maybe “lied to” is a little harsh … but I wanted to be sure I got your attention. Maybe “socially misinformed” is closer to what’s happened.

There’s a reason that you (and so many others) feel like time management is so hard … it’s because time cannot be managed. It can’t be slowed down, or sped up, or stockpiled or saved … it’s always ticking away. You can’t control it … or even manage it at all.

Don’t get me wrong, though – I’m not saying that “time management” is a scam – far from it. It’s just a poor choice of terms because it implies that you can have leverage over time … which you can’t.

What you can manage, however, are the results you get from your time. You can manage those like crazy. And when you get it right, you can do practically anything.

In other words, it’s not about “time management” … it’s about results management. It’s about getting more done in the same amount of time … and that’s how you get to your “30 Hour Day.”

( if you haven’t picked up your “More Time” kit, go to www.your30hourday.com right now. )

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I had an opportunity to review Dave's work on another project some time ago. Here is what I said about Dave's products then, and it still holds today.

"Dave takes volumes of information, organizes it, and breaks it out into easy workable systems that anyone can implement. His worksheets are so easy to use because they are set up in a checklist system that helped me get the information out of my head, organized, and down on paper.

Also, I enjoyed the live examples and stories he told to give the ideas clarity. It was very easy to picture from his descriptive writing.

At times I've practiced most of these strategies, but never have I been able to put them all together into such a "no brainer" system. With this program I have been able to proactively put together a system to insure that I will always have the time and energy for everything I want to accomplish every day all day long.

It is like having a manual at your side ready to review any time you need assistance. It reminds me of the old saying about how good McDonalds' training system is. "Don't worry if you burn the fries, just turn to page 6 and follow the directions." Meaning - If I get off track, I can just refresh my approach by going back through the program.

I believe that with enough leverage, you can move mountains. Dave shows you how to get it."

Al Smith

When To Focus On The Small Picture . . . Overwhelm

5 Tips to Eliminate Overwhelm & Accelerate Action
by Beth Tabak

"You can't swing and think at the same time." Yogi Berra

The more you get up to bat the more you develop skills. Each time at the plate is another opportunity coming your way. The more you take action the more you will advance. Whether the game is your sport, career, business, home, or taking a risk one thing is clear.

The more you take action, the greater your skills become, and the more you achieve. Below are 5 tips to eliminate overwhelm and accelerate action.

1- Maintain a Clear Path~ Imagine mowing your lawn by just wandering around mowing wherever you see grass at any given moment. Can you imagine how long it would take? Studies are now acknowledging multi-tasking to be multi-debilitating.

The more you create a clear track of what needs to be done while fully focusing on one thing at a time, the faster you can move forward on it. See the resource below for help with this.

2- Microstep to Success~ Overwhelm is paralyzing. Start by microstepping. Take tiny steps to progress. Do what you know you can do (even if it seems ridiculous). I know I can clean out 1 drawer. I know I can put on my workout clothes and walk to the street. I know I can sit down with pen and paper for 15 minutes to ponder my book idea or begin a business plan.

Microstepping will move you forward, build momentum and confidence.

3- Set Time Deadlines~ Setting deadlines when you begin a task helps maintain pace. It prevents the regret of, "where did the day go?". Time is a valuable asset to be cared for. When beginning decide how much time you will allow, and focus to complete within that time.

Set times during the day to manage tasks that would normally interrupt you such as e-mails, phone calls, and co-workers. When interruptions are inevitable, set a boundary by deciding the time you will allow for the interruption.

4- Schedule the Significant Stuff First~ We are so responsible that we cast aside the things that will make the biggest impact in our lives. Or maybe it is fear that holds us back. In any event, add the important things to your schedule as a priority and move towards what you want.

5- Systematize~ Consistently look to create systems to save time. Remember how time is saved by having a system to mow the lawn. When something new goes in a cabinet something old comes out. Return calls and check e-mails at scheduled times daily. Throw junk mail in the trash immediately.

Give your items a home so nothing is ever lost. Schedule blocks of time to handle tasks in the various roles you hold. Automate. Keep a running list of items you need and errands, then handle at once. Systematizing with regard to a person's strengths and passions is even more advantageous.

Resource~ You are welcome to use the complimentary Get Things Done Task List. Send a blank e-mail to GetThingsDone@aweber.com , confirm your request in the follow-up e-mail, and you should receive it in minutes.

This is the time to step up to the plate. Put the breaks on overwhelm and accelerate action by taking the first step. Starting Now!

Copyright 2005 © Beth A. Tabak, All rights reserved.

Beth Tabak is a Business & Life Coach, columnist, & owner of Starting Now. She coaches small business owners and professionals who think big to step out in a bold way to grow beyond limits, stand out in the crowd, and experience the vastness of their capabilities. Move beyond limits at http://www.startingnowcoaching.com.

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Are you missing out? Want shortcuts to your goals?
Great Attitudes Create Great Results!
Al Smith is also the Editor and Publisher of
FREE Motivational and Goal Achievement Ezines.
Blast through Procrastination, Inaction, and Distraction
with Consistent Focused Action!
For success tools at your fingertips,
Subscribe Now to The Realgoalgetter Ezine
at http://www.realgoalgetter.com/ezines/.
From The Realgoalgetter Group of Companies;
dedicated to helping you live a long, passionate, joyful life.
--------------------

Another Perspective To Time Management

Before we get to our article today, please check out the post at Steve Pavlina's Blog about making time for the very important but not urgent actions we need to take to really impact our life.

24 Hour Car Wash - OPEN
By John Di Lemme

I know that you are saying...

"John, what do you mean by 24 Hour Car Wash - Open?"

I am going to break down that exact title.

*24*

24 hours in a day. What do we all have in common? We all have 24 hours in a day. Specifically, we all have 86,400 seconds to maximize and predict our future each and every day.

The question you have to ask yourself is...

Are you taking advantage of the 24 hours, or is the 24 hours taking advantage of you?

Most people, after 65 years of 24 hours a day, are dead or dead broke - 97% of them.

What do the 3% do versus the 97%?

They all had 24 hours a day for them to take advantage of. The answer is they made different decisions and they were accountable for their actions each day and they focused on their Why. They focused on their daily goals, and they made things occur. The difference of the 97%er's versus the 3%er's is they took advantage of the 86,400 seconds over time.

See most people focus on working overtime.

Take advantage of time over working overtime, which means, 86,400 seconds, that is 24 hours open every day for you, in order for you to fulfill, sustain, manifest, and predict your future.

Now let's move forward to 24 hour car wash.

*Car*

What is a Car? A car is a vehicle that moves us, takes us from Point A to Point B. As an entrepreneur, the vehicle you are in right now is your business. Remember, you are always building your business; you are not working your business. People that have a job, work a job. People that build a business, entrepreneurs, build long term.

You have to start to understand the power that lies within your car, which is the business vehicle that you are in.

You drive it.

You steer it.

You control it.

It only goes where the driver drives it too. That is why you must take advantage of the time. You must understand the power that lies within the vehicle. You must absolutely predict your future to be a 3%er.

*Wash*

What does Wash mean? 24 Hour Car Wash. How many of you brush your teeth everyday? I know all of you do. How many of you take a shower everyday? I hope all of you do....

It's when you cleanse your physical body to rid it of the toxins and dirt that build up on the external part of your body. Yet, the most important part of predicting your future is the internal toxins and waste that build up. You must create the habit of personal development each day, to wash the negative toxins that the mind, heart, and sprit get bombarded by each day.

Not lightly....BOMBARDED...it's like a category 5 hurricane that comes through South Florida.....versus scattered showers.

There is a BIG difference. Your mind is bombarded each day. It is like a category 5 hurricane of negative words. Negative words are in the background while the radio is playing, in magazines, advertisements, billboards, newspapers, etc. 97% of what is in print and what your eyes see every day is and what your ears receive every day is negative.

You have to absolutely commit to washing those toxins away.

I believe you are a Champion. Therefore, you have to commit to 60 minutes minimum of personal development each day of your 86,400 seconds, and you must commit to one hour of personal development washing. When you combine those two things, you begin to use your 24 hours to your advantage.

Understand the power that lies within your vehicle, your car, the business you are building, and commit to washing your mind, heart, and spirit every day.

The 24 Hour Car Wash concept will change your life forever.

That is the goal.

Take advantage of it.

I look forward to hearing the results from it.

And remember......

Simplicity to Success Lies In the Basic Fundamentals

Creating 1000 Millionaires by the Day! John Di Lemme was a 24-year-old stutterer working in his family art gallery that dreamed of becoming a world-renowned motivational speaker. Desperate to achieve his goal, he answered an ad that allowed him to break free of the art gallery and build his own business.

Through his business, John built a massive marketing team of over 25,000 representatives in 10 countries and earned a seven figure passive residual income. Seven years later, John retired to Palm Beach, Florida where he continues to live the life of the rich and not so famous.

John has achieved great success as an international motivational speaker, accomplished author and multi-million dollar entrepreneur. His latest best selling book is “Find Your Why & Fly! – The Ultimate Success Factor.” John is also the co-host of an international television show and was a featured real estate investor on CNBC Power Lunch.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Di_Lemme

Successful? Or Just Busy . . .

Busy, Busy, Busy
By Douglas Woods

Being busy has become a way of life for many of us. So much so that we begin to feel guilty if we find ourselves not being busy or we feel uncomfortable if we find we have nothing to keep ourselves busy.

If we see someone who is not being busy then we think they may be lazy or unwell. If we are not busy, we try to think of ways to look busy!

In our work, in our office, in our home, we like to be busy. We may complain that we have not got a moment to ourselves and yet, when we find that time, we feel guilty and feel we should be doing something!

In our minds we seem to be confusing being busy with achieving. Our efforts to keep busy seem to be replacing our drive to be successful.

Perhaps we feel that if we keep busy, at some point our efforts will magically bring success. Or perhaps we keep ourselves busy to take our minds off thinking about other things.

Yet, if you were to ask people what sort of life that would love to lead, how many would say they dreamt of a ‘busy’ life? Most of us would dream of a calm, peaceful and successful life, which is quite the opposite of a busy life.

Being busy is not a virtue, it is not a goal.

Being busy is what happens when we find ourselves adrift from what really matters in our life.

Being busy is what happens when we find ourselves working to the values and goals of others in our lives; our boss, our line manager, the company, even our parents, partners, children and, yes, even the other people living in our street.

Someone who looks busy may have the appearance of being successful, powerful, and influential but do they really feel that way? Usually not. Usually, the person feels flustered, annoyed, pressured and stressed. They feel as if they are not in control of their own time or their own lives and feel they are working to the demands of others.

Keeping busy takes people away from their own thoughts and visions. It takes them away from working toward their own success or their own purpose. Busy people have little time to consider ‘the big picture’, they are busy working on a little piece of a puzzle without knowing where or whether it fits.

People will say that they go to work and keep busy to earn money. This may sound fair enough but earning money is only a ‘reason’ for going to work. Having a ‘reason’ is not the same as having a ‘purpose’.

How many people would say that their purpose in life is to earn money? You may need to earn money, maybe lots of money, to achieve your purpose or live the life you want for yourself and your family but earning the money is not the purpose of life.

Being busy has effects upon ourselves that we do not realise. We stop talking to people; I mean really talking to them. Sure, we may talk about whatever thing we are each busy doing but do we really talk about anything else? How many of these people do we really know? We may know a bit about the work they do but do we really know anything about them as people? Do they know anything about us?

Being busy takes time away from other things and from other people. How many of us have heard our partner complain that they do not see enough of us? How many of us would like to spend more time with our children or more time for ourselves?

Being busy has effects upon our health, how many of us have felt stressed as a result of being too busy? How many of us know we are under strain but fear to slow down in case we are seen as lazy or not pulling our weight? How many of us can find the time to book that urgent doctor’s that we know we need but are just too busy to fit it in?

So, now, ask yourself these questions;

1) When I am being busy, whose purpose am I working for? Mine? My family’s? The company’s?

2) When I am not being busy, do I ever feel guilty, lazy or devious?

3) When I am being busy, how many people do I talk to? What do we talk about? Do I really know the people I talk to?

4) If I were not being so busy, what else could I be doing?

5) In the last week, how many successes have I had?

6) Could I become more successful without being so busy?

7) What benefits could it bring me and those close to me if I stopped being so busy?

Douglas Woods is a fully accredited Life Coach, teacher and counsellor. You can find out more about his work from his website, http://www.dougwoods.com

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Are you missing out? Want shortcuts to your goals?
Great Attitudes Create Great Results!
Al Smith is also the Editor and Publisher of
FREE Motivational and Goal Achievement Ezines.
Blast through Procrastination, Inaction, and Distraction
with Consistent Focused Action!
For success tools at your fingertips,
Subscribe Now to The Realgoalgetter Ezine
at http://www.realgoalgetter.com/ezines/.

Not Enough Time In The Day? Job Seems Too Big?

The Best Way to Deal with Tight Timelines and and Big Challenges

When you watch the end of close sporting events you will eventually see two types of teams or players. One type, when behind, will start to press a little bit. They know they have a limited amount of time to reach their goal and they get stressed and their sense of urgency drives them to accelerate their efforts, scurry, and eventually rush.

This hurried approach can sometimes lead to the desired results but more often creates errors and costly mistakes. Often these are errors and mistakes that wouldn’t occur under normal situations.

The other group, facing the same urgency and pressure, seems to look and act differently. They know the urgency, but they act as if this additional pressure actually makes them better – more confident and efficient.

This second group typically performs better in this pressure packed situation and makes fewer errors in actions or judgment, and more often than not, wins the game.

The difference between these two groups isn’t their skills or abilities. The difference between these groups is best described by the legendary basketball coach John Wooden. He encouraged his teams to “be quick but don’t hurry.”

The first group is hurrying – the second, more successful, group is quick – but facing the same situations they seem more calm and not hurrying at all.

This difference is as apparent in work groups as it is in sports teams once you take the time to consider these differences. Some people or teams are always rushing from meeting to meeting, task to task. These people are constantly reacting to situations and “putting out fires.”

Many of these people will say that they like the adrenalin rush they get from this high pace high stress environment – which is good because in their haste they continue to create more fires, more reaction, and more reason to hurry.

Contrast those with people who always seem to have their wits about them. They are able to make decisions and take action quickly, but they never seem to get rattled or seem rushed.

This second group seems to operate with a quiet, confident calm, even when timelines are tight and stakes are high. These people are nimble and quick, but they aren’t hurried or rushed.

As you read these descriptions I’m sure you are thinking that the later group is the more productive and effective, and you are right.

The logical question then is, what can I do (or what can I do in leading others) to be quick, but not to hurry? Read on – the rest of this article gives you suggestions for making that shift.

The Suggestions

Be prepared.
Teams that are most effective in “crunch time” have practiced every situation long before the game. Similarly when you are better prepared you will be ready for whatever situation you are presented with, and therefore will be able to manage it more effectively.

Have a plan.
People who don’t plan argue that things never work out according to the plan – which is partly true. The value of the plan is that when things are going according to the plan, you can be proactive and stay ahead of the challenges and avoid many of the pitfalls. That planning then saves your heightened attention and effort for the parts of the plan that do change.

Focus – stop multi-tasking.
Have you been daunted by the enormity of a project or task? When we think about everything we have to do, we often begin to hurry, rush or try to multitask. You will be more productive when you focus on one task at a time.

A basketball team down by 20 points can only come back 2 or 3 points at a time. A soccer or hockey team can only score one goal at a time. As you complete one task and then move to the next, and you will be making more progress faster.

Think confidently. Be confident in your abilities!
Remind yourself of past successes! (Here’s a hint - when you have a plan and are well prepared it is easier to be confident.) Confidence is an under-valued skill off the court and playing field. When you think confidently you are taking the necessary first step towards acting with confidence.

Stay inside your sphere of influence.
Remember that you can’t change the world (or the other members of the project team for that matter). Focus on what you can impact. Stay inside yourself and proactively work on things that you have the ability to impact or change.

Remain positive.
A positive attitude, approach and demeanor can make a big difference. When you really feel rushed, you probably aren’t your most positive self. But when you feel on top of things, even if you are busy, you are more likely to be positive. Knowing this is true, you can create more positive actions by starting with more positive thoughts.

Take a deep breath.
This piece of advice, given to me often by my grandfather and father is some of the best advice I’ve ever received, and it certainly applies in this case. Take a deep breath, refocus and move forward positively, confidently and quickly - without hurrying.

All of the suggestions above are powerful ways to improve your performance. Now that you have read the list, identify the one or two tips that seem most valuable or applicable to you or your team. Apply those suggestions and your performance will improve immediately and significantly.

bu Kevin Eikenberry

Kevin Eikenberry is a leadership expert and the Chief Potential Officer of The Kevin Eikenberry Group, a learning consulting company that helps Clients reach their potential through a variety of training, consulting and speaking services. To receive your free special report on Unleashing Your Potential go to http://www.kevineikenberry.com/uypw/index.asp or call us at (317) 387-1424 or 888.LEARNER.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Eikenberry

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Overcoming The Beast Of Procrastination Once And For All

Overcome Procrastination: A Practical Guide to Beating Procrastination

If you actually follow some of the tips outlined below you will soon get things done.

Are You Bogged Down By Detail?

It's time to step back and take a look at the big picture. What exactly are you trying to do? Sometimes we get so caught up in the detail that we lose sight of where we are going.

Are You Overwhelmed?

If the task seems overwhelming - break it down into small do-able steps. Identify natural milestones along the way. If you want to lose 20lbs - aim for 1lb each week. If you want a tidy, organised desk - tackle it one drawer at a time.

If You Can't Decide What To Do

Do something - anything will do - the first thing that comes into your head. You will soon know whether you have made a good decision - you will know whether it's the right decision for you.

Give yourself permission to change your mind if it becomes obvious you are headed in the wrong direction. Doing something really is better than doing nothing - it will get you started.

Do You Lack Confidence?

Is your lack of skill real or only imagined? If it's in your imagination - acknowledge your fear and deal with it. Fears shout the loudest when they feel they are not being heard. Recognize your fear and create a plan to deal with it - the fear will soon lose its power.

If you need further skills - take steps to get them - ask for help. Take a few deep breaths and allow yourself to step out of your comfort zone.

Have You Got Enough Time?

It isn't always easy to find large uninterrupted periods of time. Try doing things in 15 minute chunks. You will be surprised how much you can do in 15 minutes - and it will get you started.

Are There Too Many Distractions?

You could decide not to answer the door or the phone for an hour. Take control and give yourself the gift of uninterrupted time.

Have You Got Too Many Things To Do?

If you genuinely have too much to do, say so - either to yourself, your boss, or your family, prioritize, enlist help and delegate.

Ask, "What is the most important thing to do right now?" Focus on that. Many 'urgent' things are not as important as people make out.

Is It An Unpleasant Task?

The longer you wait, the greater the chance it will go away or someone else will do it. By procrastinating you are getting a reward!

Do you really need to do it? or Could it be done less often?

Could you trade with someone or buy in help? If you really do need to do it - do it sooner rather than later. The longer you wait, the more energy you will spend thinking about it. It's much better to spend that energy actually doing the task and experience the reward of finishing it.

Finally, When you find yourself procrastinating, ask yourself what's so bad about what needs to be done? The anticipation is usually worse than simply doing it. Try allocating 15 minutes to doing the job and see where it takes you.

One thing's for sure - you won't be procrastinating any more.

"The hardest work in the world is that which should have been done yesterday." - Muriel Strode

Procrastination drains your energy - it truly is the thief of time. Plug the drain and begin what you have been putting off - you will feel better for doing it.

"The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one." -- Mark Twain

Which tip will you use right away? Now, get started.

By Lynne Lee

Visit http://www.beyourownlifecoachnow.co.uk/ for more tips and tools to help you coach yourself. Subscribe to my blog and free newsletter and I'll send you an article with keys to help you take control of your life.

Lynne Lee is a life coach and author working in the UK.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lynne_Lee

Top Ten Time Management Tips From An Expert Time Manager

A Simple Plan for Getting Things Done: Top Ten Tips for Time Management

I have about two hundred things to do on my task list right now. I have no chance of getting all of these things done in the next few days or even next week, but they will all get done. Yet as each one gets done, one or two more tasks sprout in their place.

This is the nature of being a person with many projects bubbling - you’re going to have to figure out how to get it all done.

I’m about to explain to you my simple system for getting things done. It’s been my backbone of organization to produce many seasons of popular multi-million dollar television series liked “Inked” and “Queer Eye”, but it can easily be scaled up or down as your needs require.

I’ve alternated between keeping my task list in Entourage, Outlook, Ical, LifeBalance, a PDA, my Treo, and more dayplanners than I can remember. But I always seem to default back to handwritten lists, or occasionally a long typed list of things to do.

I’ve worked from context lists (David Allen, Getting Things Done), A-B-C-D priority lists (Alan Lakein, How To Get Control of Your Time and Your Life), time-mapping (Neil Fiore, The Now Habit and Julie Morgestern, Time Management from the Inside Out) and theme based mangement (Stephen Covey, Seven Habits of Highly Effective People).

In the end, though, I always come back to some sort of handwritten or typed master list of hundreds of things to do, with a few simple tweaks to identify what I need to do right now. I can definitely see how my time management/task management system has evolved from each of these thinkers.

From David Allen, my little list of projects to remind me to always have at least one task per project on my daily list (this, after all, is the basis of how things get done) , and the use of verb-oriented “next actions”.

From Neil Fiore and Julie Morgenstern, my use of “time maps” on days when I am feeling overwhelmed - a quick and dirty way to map out what I can really accomplish in the time available.

From Stephen Covey, reminding myself to make sure that my projects make me a well-rounded human and that I don’t get too focused in one area of my life at the expense of another.

And from Alan Lakein, the so simple it hurts idea that sometimes you just need a list of stuff to do in the order you need to do it in.

So how do I actually manage it all these days? I have a pocket Moleskine with a list of next actions that take up a half dozen or more pages, with little hand-drawn checkboxes next to the tasks. When I finish one, I check the box. Need to add one, I write it down. I also keep a list of projects and random lists of ideas and research I want to do.

Bill Westermans’ GSD3 system is pretty close to (and the inspiration for) my current system, except instead of putting little dots next to the “urgent/today” items I slide an index card under the band on the outside of the Moleskine.

One side of this card has a random list of the things I need to do that day (pulled from inside the Moleskine’s master list) and the other side serves as a place to scrawl writing ideas, things I want to look up, or project plans done on-the-fly.

TOP TEN TIPS FOR GETTING THINGS DONE
1. Have a small list of the various roles you play - father, artist, business owner, whatever.

2. Have a project list that includes at least one active project per role (but will probably have many more).

3. Consider a project as anything that requires more than one step to complete, and keep as few “next actions” as possible on your master task list - why write down two steps on an active list if you can only do one at a time?

4. If a project is particularly complicated, involved, or has lots of dependencies, write down an informal list of all the “next actions” for that project. This will be the “well” from which you draw your next actions.

5. Once you complete a task for an active project, write down the next task associated with that project on your master list. David Allen calls the project list “stakeholders” to remind you to always have some discrete physical action associated with the project.

6. Your master list of tasks is all the verb-based “next actions” that support your project plus all the other little crap that doesn’t fit into a project.

7. Keep a list of goals - things you plan on doing but aren’t committed to doing right now - and move goals onto your project list when they become active.

8. Make all of your tasks start with a verb - instead of “laundry” try “pick up laundry”.

9. If you’re overwhelmed, draw an hourly breakdown of your day and write down when you’re going to do whatever you need to do.

10. Keep a post-it, index card, or some other disposable piece of paper on the outside of your little notebook, and each morning review your projects and master list and write down the top ten or fifteen things you need to get done today.

All of this is much simpler than it sounds but does require a few weeks to form as a habit. Don’t worry if you have to tweak, start over, or make changes that make it work for you.

Keep it simple - really this is just a list of big goals, future goals, a master list of tasks that support the goals, and a prioritized daily list drawn from the master list (to keep you from being overwhelmed). Notes, project plans, and ideas can also be jotted in the notebook and indexed by creating page numbers.

Bonus tip: Read all the books I listed above, starting with “Getting Things Done”. Creating your own personal system is what will work best, and knowing the different approaches can only help.

Of course, if you’re already organized and getting everything you need done, ignore everything I’ve just said.

by Jerry Kolber

For more articles and ideas go to http://www.jerrykolber.com/ because that's where the good stuff is.

Jerry Kolber has produced over 100 episodes of television in the last three years alone, including "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy", "Inked" (A&E), "Gastineau Girls" (E!), and "The Agency" (VH1). He is a recognized expert in the fields of creativity, branding, and productivity.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jerry_Kolber

A Low Tech Solution For Time Management

I found a great post over at Dave Navarro's Million Dollar Leverage Blog today. For those of you who are having trouble creating a habit of managing your time and being productive in the most time leveraging manner, check it out. I think it will surprise you how little it costs to be more effective, low tech style.

Here is a little taster and then head on over to Dave's for the rest.

Why High-Tech Solutions Don’t Help With Time Management
by Dave Navarro

When people decide to “get better at time management,” one of the first things they do is buy themselves one or more expensive, high-tech items to make the job easier. Maybe it’s a Palm device or a Blackberry. Maybe it’s a smartphone or a swanky, leather-bound planner. Or maybe it’s some piece of incredible software that promised to manage it all for you.

It doesn’t matter what it is. What does matter is that a lot of these high-tech solutions aren’t going to work. Not because the solution itself doesn’t work, but because if you haven’t established the underlying habit you’ll need to make use of it, you’re hosed! And that habit, specifically, is the discipline of using that tool daily. You’ve probably experienced this already if you’ve got a time management tool you bought but never used. Or some books you’ve bought but never read. Or a gym membership you haven’t used . . . Read further

Value Your Time And Your Self-Esteem Will Flourish

Value Your Time And Your Self-Esteem Will Flourish

"What can I do right this second that will change who and what I am a year from now; 4 years from now?" Have you ever stopped for a moment and thought about that question? It just drives me crazy to see people that are supposed to be busy doing something, but they're hiding out. Yeah, I'm like a former smoker who can't stand the smell anymore.

What I mean is I was the biggest procrastinator you've ever met, in my early years. I'd spend an hour trying to get out of half an hour's work. What a circus. My parents, teachers and employers weren't very amused. TV was big in my life. What a shame. What an incredible limiter of life.

Today, I have a pact with myself. If I see a task that has to be done, I do it then, schedule it, or delegate it and make sure I follow up with the delegate. Life has a way of loading more stuff on you as your responsibilities grow, so it's important now to become time wise.

Next month, or next year, when your skill at using time effectively is evaluated... or when you need to get something done fast, you'll have developed your ability-and you'll succeed. You'll be rewarded. Isn't it amazing how, after a week or a month in preparation of a deadline, you're still working on it minutes before it's due? Why is that? Poor planning... "Killing" time, hiding out.

If some thing you have planned is going to take a Herculean effort and may take a team, put the time into planning and delegating. Don't you feel like a dog when you're hiding from a task? I know I did. I just felt like a criminal.

Want to feel like you deserve an award? Want to feel like a hero? Want to be admired by everyone? Then watch yourself and how you use your time. If you catch yourself sitting around watching TV, shooting the bull or reading unimportant magazines or newspaper articles, stop immediately and do something that will make one of your ambitions come true. That is what all effective people do.

You'll enjoy yourself once you get started... That's the toughest part. A year from now, you'll be a year older. Will you be any wiser? What are you here for exactly anyhow? What's your purpose? If you don't know, go to amazon.com, BN or borders.com and search for a book about developing a mission. Stephen Covey is a great person to read.

What if you're 80 years old? A mission can add a bunch of enjoyable years to your life. Why are you sticking around? Be productive. The man across the street from us is 84 years old and his lawn looks like Disney World. It's his passion. Get a degree. You've got the time. Be honest with yourself.

I learned an interesting technique a long time ago... I talk to myself like I'm an advisor... to myself. I tell me what to do, given the facts and situation. This way I can be less of a wimp when it comes to making tough choices with my time.

Instead of immediately thinking I can't do a particular thing, I hear that voice that sounds like me but is much tougher than a person would normally be with themselves. Kind of like a drill sergeant in your own head. All I can tell you is that it works.

I rarely hear, "I don't know..." for long before the sergeant comes in with, "It'll only take a minute. Get it done and you won't have to worry about it later." It always makes sense, so I do it just to shut me up!!

No matter what you may believe, you were born with tremendous ability. Use your own brain. It can help you do so many things that you can't imagine. You're NOT weak. You're strong. You're NOT stupid. In many areas, you've got genius capabilities. Pull it out of you. You are worth it.

WINNING BELIEFS:

-- Today I'm performing at my best

-- I love staying busy

-- When I see a new task, I do it, schedule it or delegate it

-- My time is valuable and I treat it that way

EMPOWERING QUOTE:

"Time ripens all things. No man is born wise." -Miguel De Cervantes

What if you had the same minute-by-minute thoughts as the super successful? Mike Brescia has developed the ultimate mental conditioning programs that can help anyone wipe out intense fears and enjoy huge successes in all areas of life.

by Mike Brescia

Mike Brescia is the creator of the world-renowned Think Right Now! Accelerated Success Conditioning Programs. Mike becomes your own personal success coach - guiding, motivating, inspiring, teaching and moving you in a way that only a best friend would. Mike will inspire you to take a hard look at yourself and be accountable for what you are in life, to be dissatisfied with the "old you" and the bad habits, to take action, ready to happily do whatever it takes to win the game of life.

Find descriptions of all his products at http://www.thinkrightnow.net/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Brescia

Do It On Purpose!

Do It On Purpose!

Are you doing what you are doing on purpose? Are your priorities keeping you from living a prosperous life? With our responsibilities constantly shifting and the amount of work we receive (personally and professionally) generally exceeding our ability to produce, knowing what to do and when to do it becomes an overwhelming task of monumental proportions.

But you aren’t here to spend your life checking off an endless To Do list. You’re here to connect to your passion and purpose – and use it to enrich your life and others! When you’re in tune with your important and top priorities – the ones that “juice” you, the ones that enhance, advance, and enrich you – you’re harnessing the P.O.W.E.R.!

POWER - Productivity - Order - Worth - Energy - Respect

There is an old Chinese Proverb which says, “If you chase two rabbits, both will escape.” You can’t be effective if you’re running in a thousand different directions. YOU HAVE TO BE CLEAR ON WHAT YOU WANT BEFORE YOU CAN HAVE WHAT YOU WANT.

The first step is to clarify and focus.

* Increase your productivity by identifying and focusing on your top priorities
* Improve your chances of success by setting goals that align with your most important objectives
* Harness the power of focus through planning
* Reduce stress by recognizing and eliminating low-priority activities and distractions.

Why are you waiting?

How you’ve spent time in the past has determined your present environment and work/life situation. Your future 5 years from now will be a direct result of how you prioritize your time and activities right now. Being conscious of priority management directly affects the quality of your life.

Why do we have trouble identifying our important priorities?

1. You lack a specific learning set or skills.

You simply lack knowledge. You need to learn a skill or technique to adjust your approach.

* The task is complex and needs to be broken down into smaller chunks.
* Your space is disorganized.
* You don’t have a reliable way to manage information or tasks.

2. Your external environment or circumstances contribute.

Factors beyond your control which limit how organized you can be. Examples include:

* Last minute projects or meetings
* Illness or something of a physical nature
* Unrealistic workload – accepting or being given too much work
* Transition (Birth, death, divorce, new job, downsizing, promotion, new boss)
* Highly distractive environment – lots of crisis management or interruptions.

3. Psychological factors. By far the most insidious and most common factors are the internal fears, beliefs, or behaviors that prevent you from getting the best from yourself and identifying your personal success. Do you fall into any of these success saboteur personalities?

* Chaos Creators: You get a rush from stress, you’re functioning in disaster mode.
* Fear of Failure – You are afraid you won’t be able to achieve your goals, or you’re afraid you’ll make a mistake.
* Fear of Success – Inability to handle something new
* Fear of Completion – You start projects and don’t finish. You love the creative process but not the grind.
* Perfectionism
* Fear of Losing Creativity – You fear structure will squelch creativity.

Once you’ve identified what’s holding you back it’s time to unpack your mental briefcase: Remove old habits, beliefs and attitudes, values, outdated goals that prevent you from making priorities that will advance and enhance your life professionally and personally.

Get Your A.C.T. Together! There are only 3 steps to getting your priorities organized:

A – Assess, Analyze, Affirm: Identify goal or vision – WHAT do you want to do?

C – Create a plan or blueprint for success: HOW are you going to achieve it?

T – Take consistent, daily action: WHEN you’re going to do it and be willing to modify your plan as necessary to achieve maximum results!

7 WAYS TO TURN PRIORITIES INTO ACTION:

1. Choose the most productive time frames to do your work.

Don’t work on an activity that requires intense concentration during a noisy or interruptive time period. Sometimes you have to choose the toughest job first and get it done while your energy level is high – even if it isn’t your highest priority.

2. Choose the Best Task and Do It At The Best Time.

After choosing your priority do it at the time when you can accomplish it most effectively. Perform difficult tasks at peak energy times. Do work you enjoy at low ebb times.

3. Practice Instant Success.

Be successful right now at this moment. If you are actively involved in something you value then you are being successful in this instant – and you are enjoying instant success. Good time management means doing activities you regard as important to achieving what you want in life.

4. Learn How Long Tasks Take.

We tend to overestimate the time it takes to do unpleasant tasks and underestimate tasks we enjoy. We often are unrealistic about how long it takes tasks to complete. We believe we have more time than we do. Plan for interruptions or unexpected delays.

5. Fill Your Time with One Job.

Choose a time slot and fill that slot with one activity. If you have a large time slot (2-4 hours) – choose 2 to 4 1 hour tasks to fill that slot. Smaller tasks should be blocked into small time slots. Don’t start a long involved project if you only have a 30 minute window!

6. Utilize the Best Times to Do Your Work.

Work with energy peaks and valleys.

7. Delegate.

Hire a professional, turn over to a trusted colleague. Even if you love the concept but it’s not in line with your priorities – delegate it!

Learning to manage your priorities is the key element to organization and time management. Connect to your passion and purpose – and make a decision to eliminate ANYTHING that isn’t consistent with your vision.

The secret to a high quality life is not what you add to it, but what you eliminate from it.

Having trouble figuring out where to begin? Contact me at robin@yourlifeinorder.com for a free consultation!

by Robin Stephens

Robin Stephens is an organizing consultant and lifestyle management coach. She is dedicated to helping you uncover your personal and professional vision and create an action plan to live your best life now! Visit her website at http://www.yourlifeinorder.com for a free coaching assessment & newsletter!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robin_Stephens