subject: Managing Your Time Starts with a Clean Desk [print this page] Managing Your Time Starts with a Clean Desk
Time is the invisible and irreplaceable resource.
Making sure you have the time to devote to your goals is the role of time management. We all have the same amount of time. We can only control how we use it. The time crunch has nothing to do with time. The truth is, we don't know how to use our time.
People who have the most difficulty with time are often those with no clear goals. This symbiotic connection between goals and time is critical to your success. Do you ever look at the clock and realize with a sense of panic that it's almost 5 p.m. and you haven't really gotten started on what you wanted to accomplish today?
You're not alone.
Most people still don't have enough time. Human nature being what it is, when we have no particular objective to accomplish on a given day, we tend to be scattered. On the other hand, when we have several key objectives, and we consider them truly significant -- we can accomplish an enormous amount in a day. The key is concentration of effort -- focus on your real priorities. Having goals around which to focus your day's activities provides a structure for successfully accomplishing them through better time management.
Is it possible that other people are running your day for you? Planning your day, rather than allowing it to unfold at the whim of others, is the single most important piece in the time management puzzle. Nothing you do in your attempts to better manage your time will be more valuable than a written plan without it, you are totally at the mercy of other people's demands on your time. With it, you always know where you are and where you should be, and, equally important, you know what to do with new things that come along during the day -- as they inevitably will.
Start fresh
To get the things done that will most impact your business, there are some activities to do in the beginning. First outfit your work area so you have the necessary tools to complete your activities. Then clean your area of clutter. Trash, file or delegate the papers, files and reading materials on your desk. The final activity at the end of each day is to clean your area so you and the area are fresh in the morning with no residue from the day before.
If every once in awhile you don't plan for tomorrow or follow the list of activities, don't think you failed. It's like learning to ride a bicycle. When you fall off, simply climb back on and practice some more.
Managing your time effectively means harmonizing your business and personal lifestyles. What do you get after applying time management techniques? You'll be more productive, less stress prone, have a better balance between your business life and your personal life, and you'll find you're working on your desired outcomes and accomplishing them. You gain more time, more importantly, the life you truly want and deserve.
