subject: 3 Keys To Profitable Time Management [print this page] In trying times we nevertheless have 24 hours a day. Which may seem to be quite a natural statement, however think about it. In the good times everyone has a lot of time to do what is profitable and what they enjoy. In troublesome times it becomes far harder to apply your mind due to procrastination in addition to fear. The single point we require is confidence. When we are afraid, we are either paralyzed or frenetic and sometimes unproductive. Either way, effectual time management loses its way.
So for myself I believe that time management is a misleading statement. Time is time. It can't be expanded or contracted. The correct designation needs to be that time management is actually personal management managing myself within the dimension of time. All people gets 24 hours. You can't expand it or reduce it. So self management is actually what counts: how I control myself inside the 24-hour period determines if I attain my objectives or not. Intentions do not show up in diaries; actions do.
I on one occasion agreed to do an exercise where I kept a diary of all the things that I did and listed in 15-minute segments for two weeks for each single day. Aside from being detailed and boring, it gave me insight into how I take advantage of my time and more significantly if I was in reality reaching my purpose. I then became a convert to keeping a diary on a daily basis, which was linked to my desired goals and objectives, and this was 23 years ago, and I am still converted to this fact.
From this expertise I came up with a handful of negotiables.
1. Always prepare tomorrow five minutes before the end of today.
Why? Your day is fresh in your mind so that you can grasp what you did and what must be carried over, therefore record these things that are carryovers for tomorrow. Secondly your brain needs to be freed up once you go home so that you can rest and never be concerned regarding that department presentation. Did you actually sort it out or didn't' you? The brain requires rest.
2. Select your priorities in accordance with your energy levels.
I record all of my actions for the day and split them into A's and C's. A's are the top in priority that require concentration and dedicated time. C's are much less necessary and require less focus. At this point assess your energy levels. At what time through the day can you do your As and your Cs? Some clients I work with like to do their As from eight to 11 during the morning after which take a break around lunch to do Cs after which do As afterward during the afternoon. You might be different, but listen to your body whenever you're doing your diary management for tomorrow. Every day might vary, so arrange your diary in line with your energy levels.
3. Your diary keeps you sincere.
Commit to do what the diary says, and only change in exceptional cases. I'm not advocating legalism, but this is your diary, and these are your objectives which should be achieved. The diary is solely a tool that makes this come true on a daily basis. If you're doing your As, you get two sorts of priorities. An A that is overwhelming is one which wants time and energy to be committed to it. In this do what we term the Swiss cheese approach. Swiss cheese is full of holes, so do a handful of activities every day towards this, and gradually but surely it is going to all be eaten up. If it really is disagreeable, this sort of A needs to be accomplished right away. As they say in the Nike commercials, "Just do it." Otherwise it will become overwhelming as well.
Everyone knows the old saying that says that a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. I feel Confucius was wise in what he said. time management utilizing a diary is your first step daily to accomplishing your life goals. You may have aspirations and visions of what you wish to become, and these may grow to be quite emotional as you write them down, however I can guarantee you that they are only as good as what you are going to put in your diary tomorrow regarding that ambition. One step after the other will take you to the peak of the highest mountain you might ever think about climbing.
