31 Ways to Get An Extra Hour Out of Each Day
How can you get an extra hour out of each day? For many small business owners this is a daily challenge.
I myself have often wished that there were 27 hours in the day. I'll even settle for 25.
Here are some tips to help you squeeze those extra minutes out of your day. Of course, you can adapt these so that they will fit in with your situation. I hope these are helpful to you.
1. Get up earlier
2. Watch less TV(I mean how many Law & Order spinoffs does one need to watch?)
3. Avoid allowing others to waste your time
4. If you don't have to drive to work, use that time to study or planIf you do drive to work listen to a motivational tape on the way to work instead of that mindless dj talk.
5. Organize your work; do it systematically.
6. Make creative use of lunchtime.
7. Delegate authority if possible.
8. Spend less time on unimportant phone calls.
9. Think first, then do the task.
10. Do what you dream about doing, instead of just dreaming about it.
11. Work hardest when you are the most mentally alert
12. Eliminate activities which make the smallest contributions to your life.
13. Always do the toughest jobs first.
14. Before each major act, ask "Is this really necessary?"
15. Choose interesting and constructive literature for spare time reading.
16. Learn how to sleep. Sleep soundly, then work refreshed.
17. Skip desserts.
18. Stop smoking.
19. Write notes or letters while waiting for others.
20. Always carry an envelope with paper in it and a few stamps.
21. Combine tasks which are done in the same area.
22. Be prompt for all appointments.
23. Lay out your clothes the night before.(I need to remember this myself)
24. Call on specialists to do work that you cannot do efficiently
25. Learn to read more rapidly.
26. Take a nap after dinner. Then take a shower. Begin the evening hours relaxed and refreshed.
27. Avoid interruptions.
28. Avoid making a big production out of tiny tasks.
29. Search out job shortcuts.
30. Know your limitations.
31. Work to your full capacity. I know it's tough to break bad habits. However, it is necessary to make sacrifices so that your business can be successful. Don't try to implement all of these ideas at once. Implement them one at a time and repeat them until they become a part of your daily routine.
Friday, January 4, 2008
TIME MANAGEMENT
Time Mastery vs. Time Management - Knowing the Difference
How much time do you spend on Mastering Your Time? I don't mean managing time. There is quite a difference between managing and mastering your use of time. The goal of managing your time is to be more efficient, to squeeze more productivity out of your day. There are a lot of benefits to being a good time manager, especially in a rushed and frenetically paced culture.
The goal of mastering your time, however, is to live better, to savor your time. which is just another word for your Life.
If you accept that your time is non-renewable, precious, then it makes sense to take this most valuable personal resource seriously, and devote to it the attention it deserves. Look at Time Mastery as a way of actually lightening your load even if it paradoxically takes a little bit of time to lighten up.
Here's one approach to Mastery: Each morning, use some time to plan your time. That is, picture your day what you want to accomplish, what things are urgent and what things can wait, what preparations it would be useful to make, and a high priority is to focus on what pleasures you are anticipating. Those events and activities that emerge from this review which are most important go into your scheduler first, and everything else must fit around them. That way, as you move through your day, you'll know what can be relegated to low priority; you'll know what requests to honor and which to refuse.
By spending a very few minutes in focused concentration each morning, you can prevent the tendency we all have to allow our time to be appropriated by others. Once you know what is necessary and desirable for now, it is easier to recognize the un-necessary and un-desirable, then eliminate the drip drip drip that adds up to an erosion of your non-renewable day.
In short, using those few minutes in the morning to get clear is a small investment that helps you throughout the day to avoid the lost moments here and there that add up to a great chunk of time - your life. Even better, a little planning helps you focus on making sure every day includes something to savor.
How much time do you spend on Mastering Your Time? I don't mean managing time. There is quite a difference between managing and mastering your use of time. The goal of managing your time is to be more efficient, to squeeze more productivity out of your day. There are a lot of benefits to being a good time manager, especially in a rushed and frenetically paced culture.
The goal of mastering your time, however, is to live better, to savor your time. which is just another word for your Life.
If you accept that your time is non-renewable, precious, then it makes sense to take this most valuable personal resource seriously, and devote to it the attention it deserves. Look at Time Mastery as a way of actually lightening your load even if it paradoxically takes a little bit of time to lighten up.
Here's one approach to Mastery: Each morning, use some time to plan your time. That is, picture your day what you want to accomplish, what things are urgent and what things can wait, what preparations it would be useful to make, and a high priority is to focus on what pleasures you are anticipating. Those events and activities that emerge from this review which are most important go into your scheduler first, and everything else must fit around them. That way, as you move through your day, you'll know what can be relegated to low priority; you'll know what requests to honor and which to refuse.
By spending a very few minutes in focused concentration each morning, you can prevent the tendency we all have to allow our time to be appropriated by others. Once you know what is necessary and desirable for now, it is easier to recognize the un-necessary and un-desirable, then eliminate the drip drip drip that adds up to an erosion of your non-renewable day.
In short, using those few minutes in the morning to get clear is a small investment that helps you throughout the day to avoid the lost moments here and there that add up to a great chunk of time - your life. Even better, a little planning helps you focus on making sure every day includes something to savor.
TIME MANAGEMENT
Whats Keeping You At The Office (9 Tips To Get Home Quicker)
"Work smarter, not harder" is a cliché that has darted in and out of the workplace for years. But it's still as true as ever. And it's often overlooked advice that truly works. "Working smarter" means think strategically about how to improve your productivity. For starters, think about how you spend a typical day. Then eliminate the time robbers. How? Like this...
1. Discourage excessive visitors. Move the candy dish. Put it far away from your desk. Why? Because food is a friend when you are trying to attract or meet your peers but it's also a foe that cuts into your time. If 12 people stop by your desk for sweets and initiate a five minute chat each, you've lost an hour of your day.
2. Train your family. Set limits on personal calls. I once worked beside an executive assistant who received at least ten calls daily from her teenage daughter. Use the three or five rule for family members who like instant input: Wait until you have at least three (or five) items to discuss with me before calling my workplace, unless your request is an emergency or timely. ('Mom, the sale ends today' falls under neither of these categories).
3. Don't wait for the mail carrier. Do you read every e-mail as it arrives? Stop! "Instead of keeping your email program open and reading messages as they come in, check it only once in the morning and once in the afternoon," advises Janet Barclay, a professional organizer, time management consultant and president of Organized Assistant (www.OrganizedAssistant.com). Shut off the sound too triggered by incoming e-mail so you are not tempted to check it "just this once."
4. Re-deliver your mail. If you must check your e-mail constantly because your boss likes to e-mail you requests and expects you to do so (I've had some do that), immediately sort the excess into electronic categorized folders such as "newsletters" or "invoices due."(Go ahead and create some electronic folders now if you don't have any.) That way every time you check your e-mail for your boss' messages, other e-mails don't continue to attract your curiosity. Then browse the filed e-mails at once later in the day when it's convenient for you, not the sender.
5. Be less than perfect. You can't stop your boss' perfectionist behavior. But you can literally set limits to control your perfectionism. For instance, set short time spans for drafting basic correspondence. Or make it a rule that you'll proofread correspondence just twice before sending it (often best done with a bit of a delay between the two proofreading sessions).
6. Improve your performance. The way to really save time on tasks such as writing and proofreading is to become better at them. Use the 30 minutes you save daily while reducing your perfectionism to read chapters in a grammar book, expand your vocabulary with useful words (forget most of the five syllable ones) or take an online business writing course. Nobody should spend an hour drafting a thank you letter; yet I've seen it happen multiple times in corporate environments at all staff levels.
7. Call while they're out. "When phoning someone to give information, call when you are likely to reach their voicemail," says Barclay. "That way you can quickly leave a message and not get caught up in chitchat."
8. Think realistically. "Don't focus on 'catching up,'" says Laura Stack, president of "The Productivity Pro"® and author of "Leave the Office Earlier." "You will never catch up. There will always be more things to do than there is time to do them. People have a tendency to create work to fill up any amount of time they have. They'll accomplish the same amount of work in a 45-minute meeting as a 90-minute meeting. When working late is a habit, you tend to slack off a little. But by being more productive during the day, you'll get the same amount of work done...and leave earlier," explains Stack.
9. Get ready to go. "Make preparations to leave," says Stack, who teaches seminars about time management, information overload, and personal productivity (Laura@TheProductivityPro.com). "Gather up your coat and put it in a visible spot so others can see you are closing shop. Close your door a few minutes before quitting time so people will think you are busy or already gone."
Now leave! Get home earlier today (or at least on time). Then perhaps you'll start the work day tomorrow feeling more refreshed, enabling you to be even more productive utilizing the same amount of hours.
"Work smarter, not harder" is a cliché that has darted in and out of the workplace for years. But it's still as true as ever. And it's often overlooked advice that truly works. "Working smarter" means think strategically about how to improve your productivity. For starters, think about how you spend a typical day. Then eliminate the time robbers. How? Like this...
1. Discourage excessive visitors. Move the candy dish. Put it far away from your desk. Why? Because food is a friend when you are trying to attract or meet your peers but it's also a foe that cuts into your time. If 12 people stop by your desk for sweets and initiate a five minute chat each, you've lost an hour of your day.
2. Train your family. Set limits on personal calls. I once worked beside an executive assistant who received at least ten calls daily from her teenage daughter. Use the three or five rule for family members who like instant input: Wait until you have at least three (or five) items to discuss with me before calling my workplace, unless your request is an emergency or timely. ('Mom, the sale ends today' falls under neither of these categories).
3. Don't wait for the mail carrier. Do you read every e-mail as it arrives? Stop! "Instead of keeping your email program open and reading messages as they come in, check it only once in the morning and once in the afternoon," advises Janet Barclay, a professional organizer, time management consultant and president of Organized Assistant (www.OrganizedAssistant.com). Shut off the sound too triggered by incoming e-mail so you are not tempted to check it "just this once."
4. Re-deliver your mail. If you must check your e-mail constantly because your boss likes to e-mail you requests and expects you to do so (I've had some do that), immediately sort the excess into electronic categorized folders such as "newsletters" or "invoices due."(Go ahead and create some electronic folders now if you don't have any.) That way every time you check your e-mail for your boss' messages, other e-mails don't continue to attract your curiosity. Then browse the filed e-mails at once later in the day when it's convenient for you, not the sender.
5. Be less than perfect. You can't stop your boss' perfectionist behavior. But you can literally set limits to control your perfectionism. For instance, set short time spans for drafting basic correspondence. Or make it a rule that you'll proofread correspondence just twice before sending it (often best done with a bit of a delay between the two proofreading sessions).
6. Improve your performance. The way to really save time on tasks such as writing and proofreading is to become better at them. Use the 30 minutes you save daily while reducing your perfectionism to read chapters in a grammar book, expand your vocabulary with useful words (forget most of the five syllable ones) or take an online business writing course. Nobody should spend an hour drafting a thank you letter; yet I've seen it happen multiple times in corporate environments at all staff levels.
7. Call while they're out. "When phoning someone to give information, call when you are likely to reach their voicemail," says Barclay. "That way you can quickly leave a message and not get caught up in chitchat."
8. Think realistically. "Don't focus on 'catching up,'" says Laura Stack, president of "The Productivity Pro"® and author of "Leave the Office Earlier." "You will never catch up. There will always be more things to do than there is time to do them. People have a tendency to create work to fill up any amount of time they have. They'll accomplish the same amount of work in a 45-minute meeting as a 90-minute meeting. When working late is a habit, you tend to slack off a little. But by being more productive during the day, you'll get the same amount of work done...and leave earlier," explains Stack.
9. Get ready to go. "Make preparations to leave," says Stack, who teaches seminars about time management, information overload, and personal productivity (Laura@TheProductivityPro.com). "Gather up your coat and put it in a visible spot so others can see you are closing shop. Close your door a few minutes before quitting time so people will think you are busy or already gone."
Now leave! Get home earlier today (or at least on time). Then perhaps you'll start the work day tomorrow feeling more refreshed, enabling you to be even more productive utilizing the same amount of hours.
TIME MANAGEMENT
Handling Procrastination
"TIME CANNOT BE 'MANAGED.' THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF TIME MANAGEMENT IS A BIT OBSCURE. THE ONLY THING THAT CAN BE MANAGED IS YOUR ACTIVITIES WITHIN THAT TIME."
I am quite confident I have never had an original idea in my entire life. What I have done, however, is create new ways of expressing old ideas. In this respect, I now invite you to approach, with a new perspective, the way you manage your activities.
Need-to, Ought-to, Can-do
Say it a few times to yourself: "Need-to, Ought-to, Can-do." Tongue-twisting aside, it represents three categories, within which falls everything that you are presently capable of. (Any activity that you are not presently capable of would perhaps fall into a forth category of "Can't-do," and yet I would submit that if you are spending much time considering what you cannot do, you are not only mismanaging your time-you are throwing it away!)
Within the Need-to category would be everything that must be done in a given day or week, the absence of which would lead to a significant negative result. Showing up to work, feeding the dog, bathing-these fall clearly within this category. The next category, Ought-to, includes all activities that, if completed, would likely create a positive overall result. Returning phone calls on time, getting adequate sleep, and keeping your car maintained are such examples. Finally, the Can-do category represents everything else (again excluding what is beyond your present capacity). Activities within this category have either been previously judged as not worth doing, or have yet to be judged at all. In other words, you have not, as of yet, determined it reasonable to place such an activity within the Ought-to or Need-to categories.
An example may help illustrate the concept: Suppose I've just discovered that my friend is looking for a place to stay for the week while he's in town. I do live in a home, so this prospective activity is a Can-do, simply because it exists as a possibility. He then tells me that he is bringing several expensive bottles of wine as gifts for whomever he ends up staying with. Assuming I like wine, and all else being equal, this activity is now an Ought-to. At some point before he arrives in town, I confirm with him that I would like him to stay for the week. The event is now a Need-to; as to back out of the arrangement would cause a loss of friendship.
Feel free to use your own examples-you'll find that everything possible does, in fact, meet one of these three criteria. This thereby sets a foundation for the prioritization of your daily and weekly activities. And yet, this article is on the topic of procrastination, prioritization's nasty cousin, so we're not done yet.
Focusing In
The Need-to's must, without question, be completed. These have never really been a problem-there's simply no room to procrastinate. At the other end, the Can-do's are not relevant here because you can only procrastinate what has been judged as worth doing. What we are left with, therefore, are the Ought-to's. And you'll find quite consistently that the Ought-to's are giving you all of your problems when it comes to putting things off. These are the things that you know you should do, and yet, they often do not have a strict deadline, nor would failing to complete them lead to any immediate or significant detriment. What is noteworthy, however, is that over time, their combined significance does indeed lead to great significance. In the end, the direction of that significance (positive or negative) all rests on your ability to handle them timely and effectively.
A Solution
Detailed prioritization is vital--If you are unwilling to accept that, you must not truly want to improve. Step #1 is to schedule your Need-to's-they are almost always time sensitive. Step #2 is to address your Ought-to's, and they will fall within one of three sub-categories:
(a) Do Now!
(b) Do Later, strategically!
(c) Eliminate!
Ought-to's should always be done immediately, unless doing so at a later time would be strategically more valuable and more efficient, or unless the activity has been inaccurately defined as an Ought-to in the first place. Frequently, we categorize activities as Ought-to's for reasons that do not logically support the claim. When you have isolated instances where your rationale was incorrect, don't belabor the issue; just eliminate the task from your consideration! Of those that are rationally based, it is worth repeating that the only reason you choose to complete an activity at a later date is because it makes more sense to do it at that time than to do it now. Perhaps the task has a prerequisite that needs to be addressed first. In any case, if you cannot find reasonable grounds for doing it later, you should do it now or not at all.
Such a policy is uncomfortable at first. It requires judgment, which a procrastinating mind loathes. And while the very nature of procrastinating is to avoid judgment at all cost, if you will apply this model to your daily activities, you will find that judgment is actually quite liberating, and that prioritization of your activities will shift from a challenge to second-nature.
"TIME CANNOT BE 'MANAGED.' THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF TIME MANAGEMENT IS A BIT OBSCURE. THE ONLY THING THAT CAN BE MANAGED IS YOUR ACTIVITIES WITHIN THAT TIME."
I am quite confident I have never had an original idea in my entire life. What I have done, however, is create new ways of expressing old ideas. In this respect, I now invite you to approach, with a new perspective, the way you manage your activities.
Need-to, Ought-to, Can-do
Say it a few times to yourself: "Need-to, Ought-to, Can-do." Tongue-twisting aside, it represents three categories, within which falls everything that you are presently capable of. (Any activity that you are not presently capable of would perhaps fall into a forth category of "Can't-do," and yet I would submit that if you are spending much time considering what you cannot do, you are not only mismanaging your time-you are throwing it away!)
Within the Need-to category would be everything that must be done in a given day or week, the absence of which would lead to a significant negative result. Showing up to work, feeding the dog, bathing-these fall clearly within this category. The next category, Ought-to, includes all activities that, if completed, would likely create a positive overall result. Returning phone calls on time, getting adequate sleep, and keeping your car maintained are such examples. Finally, the Can-do category represents everything else (again excluding what is beyond your present capacity). Activities within this category have either been previously judged as not worth doing, or have yet to be judged at all. In other words, you have not, as of yet, determined it reasonable to place such an activity within the Ought-to or Need-to categories.
An example may help illustrate the concept: Suppose I've just discovered that my friend is looking for a place to stay for the week while he's in town. I do live in a home, so this prospective activity is a Can-do, simply because it exists as a possibility. He then tells me that he is bringing several expensive bottles of wine as gifts for whomever he ends up staying with. Assuming I like wine, and all else being equal, this activity is now an Ought-to. At some point before he arrives in town, I confirm with him that I would like him to stay for the week. The event is now a Need-to; as to back out of the arrangement would cause a loss of friendship.
Feel free to use your own examples-you'll find that everything possible does, in fact, meet one of these three criteria. This thereby sets a foundation for the prioritization of your daily and weekly activities. And yet, this article is on the topic of procrastination, prioritization's nasty cousin, so we're not done yet.
Focusing In
The Need-to's must, without question, be completed. These have never really been a problem-there's simply no room to procrastinate. At the other end, the Can-do's are not relevant here because you can only procrastinate what has been judged as worth doing. What we are left with, therefore, are the Ought-to's. And you'll find quite consistently that the Ought-to's are giving you all of your problems when it comes to putting things off. These are the things that you know you should do, and yet, they often do not have a strict deadline, nor would failing to complete them lead to any immediate or significant detriment. What is noteworthy, however, is that over time, their combined significance does indeed lead to great significance. In the end, the direction of that significance (positive or negative) all rests on your ability to handle them timely and effectively.
A Solution
Detailed prioritization is vital--If you are unwilling to accept that, you must not truly want to improve. Step #1 is to schedule your Need-to's-they are almost always time sensitive. Step #2 is to address your Ought-to's, and they will fall within one of three sub-categories:
(a) Do Now!
(b) Do Later, strategically!
(c) Eliminate!
Ought-to's should always be done immediately, unless doing so at a later time would be strategically more valuable and more efficient, or unless the activity has been inaccurately defined as an Ought-to in the first place. Frequently, we categorize activities as Ought-to's for reasons that do not logically support the claim. When you have isolated instances where your rationale was incorrect, don't belabor the issue; just eliminate the task from your consideration! Of those that are rationally based, it is worth repeating that the only reason you choose to complete an activity at a later date is because it makes more sense to do it at that time than to do it now. Perhaps the task has a prerequisite that needs to be addressed first. In any case, if you cannot find reasonable grounds for doing it later, you should do it now or not at all.
Such a policy is uncomfortable at first. It requires judgment, which a procrastinating mind loathes. And while the very nature of procrastinating is to avoid judgment at all cost, if you will apply this model to your daily activities, you will find that judgment is actually quite liberating, and that prioritization of your activities will shift from a challenge to second-nature.
TIME MANAGEMENT
5 Reasons Most Time Management Systems Fail
We're all feeling pressured these days. We're making do with less. We're on call 24/7 Our email inboxes are overflowing So - no surprise - we're getting bombarded with guides to manage our time more efficiently. Visit any bookstore and you will find dozens (maybe hundreds) of titles with "time" in the title. Surf the Internet for "coach" and you'll soon learn the truth: more people hire coaches for time management than for any other reason. So why are so many of us still feeling frazzled and frustrated? Most time systems offer band-aid solutions to the life equivalent of a broken leg...or patching a flat tire with chewing gum. For real time management change, you have to dig deeper. Here are 5 reasons most time management systems fail -- and what you can do instead.
(1)"One-size fits all" systems.
Your life is unique - so why should your time management system be like everybody else's? For example, one "expert" advises all her clients to focus on marketing during the day. Gym and grocery-shopping should be reserved for evening, she says. But some people actually work better in short bursts of purposeful activity. They thrive on interruptions. Others need a solid block of time or they accomplish nothing. Which are you?
(2) Ignoring your motivation.
Does this scene sound familiar? You visit friends who have teenagers. After dinner the teens are supposed to take out the garbage. "We're too tired," they protest. "Can't it wait till tomorrow?" The parents almost give in...till the phone rings. After a brief conversation, the teens are headed out the door: "A party! Just a few blocks away - let's run!" We haven't changed much, whether we're 14 or 64. When we're highly motivated, action seems effortless. Somehow we manage to get everything done.
(3) Waiting to reward yourself till you've "earned" it.
Experienced trainers and psychologists recognize that offering an unexpected treat can be a powerful motivator. Feeling deprived and resentful will be counter-productive. Often when you've been working hard to solve a knotty problem, the solution will come only when you allow yourself to take a break.
(4) Focusing on task instead of purpose.
Time management systems often focus on scheduling and organizing tasks into charts, folders and lists. But you take control over time when you ask, "Why is this item on my To Do List?" and, "Do I really need to do this?" Over and over, I've heard people discover the big secret: Often when you ignore an incoming message or call, the problem resolves itself. And when you skip a meeting, the world doesn't come to an end. Of course, you have to be careful. You can't ignore messages from clients (most of the time). If you work for a company, the decision to skip meetings can be hazardous to your career.
(5) Listening to the critics.
"Nisha" was feeling depressed: her boss had labeled her "disorganized." True, her desk was cluttered and she sometimes came back late from lunch. But Connie ran a complex department and she rarely missed a deadline. Nisha's challenge was to talk to herself encouragingly. She can't give in to calling herself "lazy" and she can't afford to accept the "disorganized" label. To take charge of time, begin with the way you talk to yourself. Name-calling and insults won't help. Feeling strong and powerful is the first step to solving your own unique time challenges.
We're all feeling pressured these days. We're making do with less. We're on call 24/7 Our email inboxes are overflowing So - no surprise - we're getting bombarded with guides to manage our time more efficiently. Visit any bookstore and you will find dozens (maybe hundreds) of titles with "time" in the title. Surf the Internet for "coach" and you'll soon learn the truth: more people hire coaches for time management than for any other reason. So why are so many of us still feeling frazzled and frustrated? Most time systems offer band-aid solutions to the life equivalent of a broken leg...or patching a flat tire with chewing gum. For real time management change, you have to dig deeper. Here are 5 reasons most time management systems fail -- and what you can do instead.
(1)"One-size fits all" systems.
Your life is unique - so why should your time management system be like everybody else's? For example, one "expert" advises all her clients to focus on marketing during the day. Gym and grocery-shopping should be reserved for evening, she says. But some people actually work better in short bursts of purposeful activity. They thrive on interruptions. Others need a solid block of time or they accomplish nothing. Which are you?
(2) Ignoring your motivation.
Does this scene sound familiar? You visit friends who have teenagers. After dinner the teens are supposed to take out the garbage. "We're too tired," they protest. "Can't it wait till tomorrow?" The parents almost give in...till the phone rings. After a brief conversation, the teens are headed out the door: "A party! Just a few blocks away - let's run!" We haven't changed much, whether we're 14 or 64. When we're highly motivated, action seems effortless. Somehow we manage to get everything done.
(3) Waiting to reward yourself till you've "earned" it.
Experienced trainers and psychologists recognize that offering an unexpected treat can be a powerful motivator. Feeling deprived and resentful will be counter-productive. Often when you've been working hard to solve a knotty problem, the solution will come only when you allow yourself to take a break.
(4) Focusing on task instead of purpose.
Time management systems often focus on scheduling and organizing tasks into charts, folders and lists. But you take control over time when you ask, "Why is this item on my To Do List?" and, "Do I really need to do this?" Over and over, I've heard people discover the big secret: Often when you ignore an incoming message or call, the problem resolves itself. And when you skip a meeting, the world doesn't come to an end. Of course, you have to be careful. You can't ignore messages from clients (most of the time). If you work for a company, the decision to skip meetings can be hazardous to your career.
(5) Listening to the critics.
"Nisha" was feeling depressed: her boss had labeled her "disorganized." True, her desk was cluttered and she sometimes came back late from lunch. But Connie ran a complex department and she rarely missed a deadline. Nisha's challenge was to talk to herself encouragingly. She can't give in to calling herself "lazy" and she can't afford to accept the "disorganized" label. To take charge of time, begin with the way you talk to yourself. Name-calling and insults won't help. Feeling strong and powerful is the first step to solving your own unique time challenges.
TIME MANAGEMENT
Time management games
Time management games are rather new at casual games market. But this genre has already become very popular. In time management games we can see an interesting combination of an action game play and necessity to develop a strategy if you want to success. There are some aspects common to all time management games. You must move your character with a reasonable speed. Certain actions should take time to perform.. Having these "times" to work around, we thus "manage" it. Customer-types are also important. In the classic time management games, such as Cake Mania and Diner Dash customers staying in the crowd interacted with one another. It gave them personally and made them different. Also, the time limits a customer place on the player is variable - they can be appeased if we are really pressed for time. These elements made the time management games more than just a series of clicks. These elements made the player think about how best to approach the level.
List of all Time Management games
Time management games are rather new at casual games market. But this genre has already become very popular. In time management games we can see an interesting combination of an action game play and necessity to develop a strategy if you want to success. There are some aspects common to all time management games. You must move your character with a reasonable speed. Certain actions should take time to perform.. Having these "times" to work around, we thus "manage" it. Customer-types are also important. In the classic time management games, such as Cake Mania and Diner Dash customers staying in the crowd interacted with one another. It gave them personally and made them different. Also, the time limits a customer place on the player is variable - they can be appeased if we are really pressed for time. These elements made the time management games more than just a series of clicks. These elements made the player think about how best to approach the level.
List of all Time Management games
- Pizza Chef
- Home Sweet Home
- Farm Frenzy
- Build-a-lot
- Diner Dash: Hometown Hero
- Paradise Pet Salon
- Cake Mania2
- Turbo Pizza
- Babysitting Mania
- Burger Shop
TIME MANAGEMENT
To realize the value of one micro second
ask a person who won the silver medal in Olympics
To realize the value of one second
ask a person who has just avoided an accident
To realize the value of one minute
ask a person who has just missed the train
To realize the value of one hour
ask the lovers who are dying to meet
To realize the value of one day
ask a person who works on daily wages
To realize the value of one month
ask a mother who has delivered a premature baby
To realize the value of one year
ask a student who has failed a grade
So friends even a micro-second is very important so save time as much as u can
Because yesterday is history, tomorrow is mystery and today is present so take is as a gift
ask a person who won the silver medal in Olympics
To realize the value of one second
ask a person who has just avoided an accident
To realize the value of one minute
ask a person who has just missed the train
To realize the value of one hour
ask the lovers who are dying to meet
To realize the value of one day
ask a person who works on daily wages
To realize the value of one month
ask a mother who has delivered a premature baby
To realize the value of one year
ask a student who has failed a grade
So friends even a micro-second is very important so save time as much as u can
Because yesterday is history, tomorrow is mystery and today is present so take is as a gift
TIME MANAGEMENT
A SMALL STORY ON TIME MANAGEMENT
One day an expert in time management was speaking to a group of business students. As he stood in front of the group of high-powered overachievers he said, "Okay, time for a quiz." He then pulled out a one-gallon, wide-mouthed Mason jar and set it on the table. He produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them one at a time into the jar. When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, "Is this jar full?" Everyone in the class said, "Yes." Then he said, "Really?"
He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. Then he dumped some gravel in and shook the jar causing it to work down into the space between the big rocks. Then he asked the group once more, "Is the jar full?" By this time the class was on to him. "Probably not," one of them answered. "Good!" he replied.
He reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand and started dumping the sand in the jar until it filled the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once more he asked the question, "Is this jar full?" No!" the class shouted. Once again he said, "Good."
Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim. Then he looked at the class and asked, "What is the point of this illustration?"
One eager beaver raised his hand and said, "The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard you can always fit some more things in it!" "No," the speaker replied, "that's not the point."
"The truth this illustration teaches us is that if you don't put the big rocks in first, you'll never get them in at all. What are the 'big rocks' in your life? Your children, your loved ones, your education, your dreams, a worthy cause, teaching others, doing things that you love, your health; your mate. Remember to put these BIG ROCKS in first or you'll never get them in at all. If you sweat about the little stuff then you'll fill your life with little things and you'll never have the real quality time you need to spend on the big, important stuff."big
So, tonight, or in the morning, when you are reflecting on this short story, ask yourself this question: What are the 'big rocks' in my life? Then, put those in your jar first.
One day an expert in time management was speaking to a group of business students. As he stood in front of the group of high-powered overachievers he said, "Okay, time for a quiz." He then pulled out a one-gallon, wide-mouthed Mason jar and set it on the table. He produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them one at a time into the jar. When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, "Is this jar full?" Everyone in the class said, "Yes." Then he said, "Really?"
He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. Then he dumped some gravel in and shook the jar causing it to work down into the space between the big rocks. Then he asked the group once more, "Is the jar full?" By this time the class was on to him. "Probably not," one of them answered. "Good!" he replied.
He reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand and started dumping the sand in the jar until it filled the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once more he asked the question, "Is this jar full?" No!" the class shouted. Once again he said, "Good."
Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim. Then he looked at the class and asked, "What is the point of this illustration?"
One eager beaver raised his hand and said, "The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard you can always fit some more things in it!" "No," the speaker replied, "that's not the point."
"The truth this illustration teaches us is that if you don't put the big rocks in first, you'll never get them in at all. What are the 'big rocks' in your life? Your children, your loved ones, your education, your dreams, a worthy cause, teaching others, doing things that you love, your health; your mate. Remember to put these BIG ROCKS in first or you'll never get them in at all. If you sweat about the little stuff then you'll fill your life with little things and you'll never have the real quality time you need to spend on the big, important stuff."big
So, tonight, or in the morning, when you are reflecting on this short story, ask yourself this question: What are the 'big rocks' in my life? Then, put those in your jar first.
A Simple Time Management Plan
Effective time management is crucial to accomplishing organization tasks as well as to avoiding wasting valuable organizational assets. The following nine rules (Butler & Hope 1996) will aid you:
Get Started - This is one of the all time classic time wasters. Often, as much time is wasted avoiding a project, as actually accomplishing the project. A survey showed that the main difference between good students and average students was the ability to start their homework quickly.
Get into a routine - Mindless routines may curb your creativity, but when used properly, they can release time and energy. Choose a time to get certain task accomplished, such as answering email, working on a project, completing paper work; and then sticking to it every day. Use a day planning calendar. There are a variety of formats on the market. Find one that fits your needs.
Do not say yes to too many things - Saying yes can lead to unexpected treasures, but the mistake we often make is to say yes to too many things. This causes us to live to the priorities of others, rather than according to our own. Every time you agree to do something else, something else will not get done. Learn how to say no.
Do not commit yourself to unimportant activities, no matter how far ahead they are - Even if a commitment is a year ahead, it is still a commitment. Often we agree to do something that is far ahead, when we would not normally do it if it was in the near future. No matter how far ahead it is, it will still take the same amount of your time.
Divide large tasks - Large tasks should be broken up into a series of small tasks. By creating small manageable tasks, the entire task will eventually be accomplished. Also, by using a piecemeal approach, you will be able to fit it into your hectic schedule.
Do not put unneeded effort into a project - There is a place for perfectionism, but for most activities, there comes a stage when there is not much to be gained from putting extra effort into it. Save perfectionism for the tasks that need it.
Deal with it for once and for all - We often start a task, think about it, and then lay it aside. This gets repeated over and over. Either deal with the task right away or decide when to deal with it.
Set start and stop times - When arranging start times, also arrange stop times. This will call for some estimating, but your estimates will improve with practice. This will allow you and others to better schedule activities. Also, challenge the theory, "Work expands to fill the allotted time." See if you can shave some time off your deadlines to make it more efficient.
Plan your activities - Schedule a regular time to plan your activities. If time management is important to you, then allow the time to plan it wisely.
Effective time management is crucial to accomplishing organization tasks as well as to avoiding wasting valuable organizational assets. The following nine rules (Butler & Hope 1996) will aid you:
Get Started - This is one of the all time classic time wasters. Often, as much time is wasted avoiding a project, as actually accomplishing the project. A survey showed that the main difference between good students and average students was the ability to start their homework quickly.
Get into a routine - Mindless routines may curb your creativity, but when used properly, they can release time and energy. Choose a time to get certain task accomplished, such as answering email, working on a project, completing paper work; and then sticking to it every day. Use a day planning calendar. There are a variety of formats on the market. Find one that fits your needs.
Do not say yes to too many things - Saying yes can lead to unexpected treasures, but the mistake we often make is to say yes to too many things. This causes us to live to the priorities of others, rather than according to our own. Every time you agree to do something else, something else will not get done. Learn how to say no.
Do not commit yourself to unimportant activities, no matter how far ahead they are - Even if a commitment is a year ahead, it is still a commitment. Often we agree to do something that is far ahead, when we would not normally do it if it was in the near future. No matter how far ahead it is, it will still take the same amount of your time.
Divide large tasks - Large tasks should be broken up into a series of small tasks. By creating small manageable tasks, the entire task will eventually be accomplished. Also, by using a piecemeal approach, you will be able to fit it into your hectic schedule.
Do not put unneeded effort into a project - There is a place for perfectionism, but for most activities, there comes a stage when there is not much to be gained from putting extra effort into it. Save perfectionism for the tasks that need it.
Deal with it for once and for all - We often start a task, think about it, and then lay it aside. This gets repeated over and over. Either deal with the task right away or decide when to deal with it.
Set start and stop times - When arranging start times, also arrange stop times. This will call for some estimating, but your estimates will improve with practice. This will allow you and others to better schedule activities. Also, challenge the theory, "Work expands to fill the allotted time." See if you can shave some time off your deadlines to make it more efficient.
Plan your activities - Schedule a regular time to plan your activities. If time management is important to you, then allow the time to plan it wisely.
Time Management and Leadership
Time in the organization is constant and irreversible. Nothing can be substituted for time. Worse, once wasted, it can never be regained. Leaders have numerous demands on their limited time. Time keeps getting away and they have trouble controlling it. No matter what their position, they cannot stop time, they cannot slow it down, nor can they speed it up. Yet, time needs to be effectively managed to be effective.
On the other hand, you can become such a time fanatic convert by building time management spreadsheets, creating priority folders and lists, color coding tasks, and separating paperwork into priority piles; that you are then waste more time by trying to manage it.
In addition, time management techniques may become so complex that you soon give up and return to your old time wasting methods.
What most people actually need to do is to analyze how they spend their time and implement a few time saving methods that will gain them the most time. The following are examples of some of the biggest time wasters:
Time in the organization is constant and irreversible. Nothing can be substituted for time. Worse, once wasted, it can never be regained. Leaders have numerous demands on their limited time. Time keeps getting away and they have trouble controlling it. No matter what their position, they cannot stop time, they cannot slow it down, nor can they speed it up. Yet, time needs to be effectively managed to be effective.
On the other hand, you can become such a time fanatic convert by building time management spreadsheets, creating priority folders and lists, color coding tasks, and separating paperwork into priority piles; that you are then waste more time by trying to manage it.
In addition, time management techniques may become so complex that you soon give up and return to your old time wasting methods.
What most people actually need to do is to analyze how they spend their time and implement a few time saving methods that will gain them the most time. The following are examples of some of the biggest time wasters:
- Thinking about it, worrying about it, putting it off...(Indecision)
- Creating inefficiencys by implementing first instead of analyzing first.
- Unanticipated interruptions that do not pay off.
- Procrastinating.
- Making unrealistic time estimates.
- Unnecessary errors (not enough time to do it right, but enough time to do it over).
- Crisis management.
- Poor organization.
- Ineffective
- Micro-managing by failing to let others perform and grow.
- Doing urgent rather than important tasks.
- Poor planning and lack of contingency plans.
- Failing to delegate.
- Lacking priorities, standards, policies, and procedures.
The following are examples of time savers:
- Managing the decision making process, not the decisions.
- Concentrating on doing only one task at a time.
- Establishing daily, short-term, mid-term, and long-term priorities.
- Handling correspondence expeditiously with quick, short letters and memos.
- Throwing unneeded things away.
- Establishing personal deadlines and ones for the organization.
- Not wasting other people's time.
- Ensuring all meetings have a purpose, time limit, and include only essential people.
- Getting rid of busywork.
- Maintaining accurate calendars; abide by them.
- Knowing when to stop a task, policy, or procedure.
- Delegating everything possible and empowering subordinates.
- Keeping things simple.
- Ensuring time is set aside to accomplish high priority tasks.
- Setting aside time for reflection.
- Using checklists and To-Do lists.
- Adjusting priorities as a result of new tasks.
TIME MANAGEMENT
Stress management goes hand in hand with time management
On the one hand, good time management is a critical element of effective stress management. Time management is probably the number one tool for managing stress at its sources. If you get organized, plan ahead, stop procrastinating, clarify your priorities, and delegate effectively you are much less likely to be overwhelmed by the pre-deadline stress. Even without advanced relaxation techniques. And you are more likely to get ahead in balancing your work and family life.
On the other hand, stress management is an essential component of effective time management. Many people cannot completely avoid the sources of their stress, and an overwhelming stress can block their ability to think and perform. In such situations stress management techniques, including relaxation techniques, can be critical for getting unstuck and staying effective.
You also need to be well aware of stress symptoms in order to wisely manage your pace in moving to your goals. If you try to move too fast in short term and don't take adequate breaks, your may damage your abilities and motivation, hurting your longer term progress.
And it is certainly not good time management if you become disabled, miserable, or die prematurely from the effects of excessive stress.
How much can poor stress management cost you?
Stress has been linked to a major portion of health problems, from premature aging to heart attacks. Even when stress does not causes the illness directly, it can accelerate development of existing conditions or make you more vulnerable to health problems, as well as to threats from your Home or office environment. And even if you don't count physical health damage and premature death, overwhelming stress may also waste a significant portion of your life. Just by keeping you in a state of fatigue, unhappiness, and depression.
Whichever sources your stress is coming from, if you just let it build up for too long, you will eventually pay the price and face sad consequences. And unless you improve your stress management abilities, this may happen much sooner than you expected.
On the one hand, good time management is a critical element of effective stress management. Time management is probably the number one tool for managing stress at its sources. If you get organized, plan ahead, stop procrastinating, clarify your priorities, and delegate effectively you are much less likely to be overwhelmed by the pre-deadline stress. Even without advanced relaxation techniques. And you are more likely to get ahead in balancing your work and family life.
On the other hand, stress management is an essential component of effective time management. Many people cannot completely avoid the sources of their stress, and an overwhelming stress can block their ability to think and perform. In such situations stress management techniques, including relaxation techniques, can be critical for getting unstuck and staying effective.
You also need to be well aware of stress symptoms in order to wisely manage your pace in moving to your goals. If you try to move too fast in short term and don't take adequate breaks, your may damage your abilities and motivation, hurting your longer term progress.
And it is certainly not good time management if you become disabled, miserable, or die prematurely from the effects of excessive stress.
How much can poor stress management cost you?
Stress has been linked to a major portion of health problems, from premature aging to heart attacks. Even when stress does not causes the illness directly, it can accelerate development of existing conditions or make you more vulnerable to health problems, as well as to threats from your Home or office environment. And even if you don't count physical health damage and premature death, overwhelming stress may also waste a significant portion of your life. Just by keeping you in a state of fatigue, unhappiness, and depression.
Whichever sources your stress is coming from, if you just let it build up for too long, you will eventually pay the price and face sad consequences. And unless you improve your stress management abilities, this may happen much sooner than you expected.
TIME MANAGEMENT
Tick, tick, tick ...No, it's not the beginning to 60 MINUTES nor is it the dreaded crocodile coming to get Captain Hook. It's time moving on. College students often report that their inability to manage their time is the biggest problem they face in college. Time management is a skill few people master, but it is one that most people need.
Do you agree? Probably, since you are reading this right now. You have so many competing demands on your time: friends, movies, studying lectures, home, relationships and on and on. How can you come to grips with all of it? Most time management experts say that one of the first things people need to do to manage their time is to determine how they spend their time now. A tool for doing this is called a time audit. You may want to look at a sample time audit to compare yours. Once you have completed a time audit you can begin to change the way you manage yourself in relation to time.
Did you catch that? Time really can't be managed. You can't slow it down or speed it up or manufacture it. It just IS. Time management is MANAGING YOURSELF when following some basic time management principles.
TIME MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES
As a student, there are some basic Principles of Time Management that you can apply.
Identify "Best Time" for Studying: Everyone has high and low periods of attention and concentration. Are you a "morning person" or a "night person". Use your power times to study; use the down times for routines such as laundry and errands.
Study Difficult Subjects First: When you are fresh, you can process information more quickly and save time as a result.
Use Distributed Learning and Practice: Study in shorter time blocks with short breaks between. This keeps you from getting fatigued and "wasting time." This type of studying is efficient because while you are taking a break, the brain is still processing the information.
Make Sure the Surroundings are Conducive to Studying: This will allow you to reduce distractions which can "waste time." If there are times in the residence halls or your apartment when you know there will be noise and commotion, use that time for mindless tasks.
Make Room for Entertainment and Relaxation: College is more than studying. You need to have a social life, yet, you need to have a balance in your life.
Make Sure you Have Time to Sleep and Eat Properly: Sleep is often an activity (or lack of activity) that students use as their time management "bank." When they need a few extra hours for studying or socializing, they withdraw a few hours of sleep. Doing this makes the time they spend studying less effective because they will need a couple hours of clock time to get an hour of productive time. This is not a good way to manage yourself in relation to time.
Try to Combine Activities: Use the "Twofer" concept. If you are spending time at the laundromat, bring your psychology notes to study. If you are waiting in line for tickets to the REM concert, bring your biology flashcards to memorize.
These are some ideas to get you started. You can read more about time management in one of the books in the bibliography. You can also learn more at time management workshops. In addition, you should know that college students aren't the only ones who have become more efficient workers. Get a headstart and learn how to manage yourself in respect to time NOW.
If you have some favorite time management tips, send them to the developers via the feedback link at the bottom of this page. Also, if you have questions about time management, send them to the Study Strategies TAs .
Do you agree? Probably, since you are reading this right now. You have so many competing demands on your time: friends, movies, studying lectures, home, relationships and on and on. How can you come to grips with all of it? Most time management experts say that one of the first things people need to do to manage their time is to determine how they spend their time now. A tool for doing this is called a time audit. You may want to look at a sample time audit to compare yours. Once you have completed a time audit you can begin to change the way you manage yourself in relation to time.
Did you catch that? Time really can't be managed. You can't slow it down or speed it up or manufacture it. It just IS. Time management is MANAGING YOURSELF when following some basic time management principles.
TIME MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES
As a student, there are some basic Principles of Time Management that you can apply.
Identify "Best Time" for Studying: Everyone has high and low periods of attention and concentration. Are you a "morning person" or a "night person". Use your power times to study; use the down times for routines such as laundry and errands.
Study Difficult Subjects First: When you are fresh, you can process information more quickly and save time as a result.
Use Distributed Learning and Practice: Study in shorter time blocks with short breaks between. This keeps you from getting fatigued and "wasting time." This type of studying is efficient because while you are taking a break, the brain is still processing the information.
Make Sure the Surroundings are Conducive to Studying: This will allow you to reduce distractions which can "waste time." If there are times in the residence halls or your apartment when you know there will be noise and commotion, use that time for mindless tasks.
Make Room for Entertainment and Relaxation: College is more than studying. You need to have a social life, yet, you need to have a balance in your life.
Make Sure you Have Time to Sleep and Eat Properly: Sleep is often an activity (or lack of activity) that students use as their time management "bank." When they need a few extra hours for studying or socializing, they withdraw a few hours of sleep. Doing this makes the time they spend studying less effective because they will need a couple hours of clock time to get an hour of productive time. This is not a good way to manage yourself in relation to time.
Try to Combine Activities: Use the "Twofer" concept. If you are spending time at the laundromat, bring your psychology notes to study. If you are waiting in line for tickets to the REM concert, bring your biology flashcards to memorize.
These are some ideas to get you started. You can read more about time management in one of the books in the bibliography. You can also learn more at time management workshops. In addition, you should know that college students aren't the only ones who have become more efficient workers. Get a headstart and learn how to manage yourself in respect to time NOW.
If you have some favorite time management tips, send them to the developers via the feedback link at the bottom of this page. Also, if you have questions about time management, send them to the Study Strategies TAs .
TIME MANAGEMENT
Managing Your Time
Many students discover the need to develop or hone their time management skills when they arrive at college. Unlike high school where teachers frequently structured your assignments and classes filled your day, in college, you will have less in-class time, more outside of class work, and a great deal of freedom and flexibility. These pages provide you with tips for managing your time well so you can get the most out of your Dartmouth experience.
The documents on this page are provided for downloading in Microsoft Word and/or Microsoft Excel format. You will need to have Microsoft Office 97/98, or later, to read and print them.
Advantages of Time Management
Many students discover the need to develop or hone their time management skills when they arrive at college. Unlike high school where teachers frequently structured your assignments and classes filled your day, in college, you will have less in-class time, more outside of class work, and a great deal of freedom and flexibility. These pages provide you with tips for managing your time well so you can get the most out of your Dartmouth experience.
The documents on this page are provided for downloading in Microsoft Word and/or Microsoft Excel format. You will need to have Microsoft Office 97/98, or later, to read and print them.
Advantages of Time Management
- gain time
- motivates and initiates
- reduces avoidance
- promotes review
- eliminates cramming
- reduces anxiety
Keys to Successful Time Management
Self knowledge and goals: In order to manage your time successfully, having an awareness of what your goals are will assist you in prioritizing your activities.
Developing and maintaining a personal, flexible schedule: Time management provides you with the opportunity to create a schedule that works for you, not for others. This personal attention gives you the flexibility to include the things that are most important to you.
Time Management Resources
The following resources and documents will assist you in creating a personal schedule that works for you. If you would like more information, a counselor in the Academic Skills Center would be happy to speak with you about how you manage your time.
View the Time Management Video
To assess how well you currently plan, download and take the planning quiz!
How Well Do You Plan (25K Word)
To gather information about how to create a long-term or weekly schedule for yourself, click on one of the documents below:
Creating a Master Schedule (39K Word)
Time Management Tips (21K Word)
Making A Personal Schedule (22K Word)
To download calendars for creating schedules, choose one of the following:
Weekly Planner (27K Word)
10-week Planner (22K Word)
4-year Planner (8K Excel)
Distributive Worksheet (10K Excel)
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