Time = Life. Therefore to waste your time is to waste your life.
But to master your time is to master your life and to move in the direction of whatever you desire the most. Life can be so busy! Whether or not you think yours is busy now, managing your time is an essential skill for both study and work - structuring your time effectively is vital to success. Here are tips, strategies and checklists to help you manage your time more efficiently.
MANAGE YOUR TIME. MASTER YOUR LIFE
(Source: Robin Sharma’s The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari)
- Time is finite and life must be lived to its fullest potential.
- Time mastery is the basis of life mastery.
- Plan daily/weekly to manage time creatively and focus on the most important aspects.
- Remember the 80/20 Principle - 80% of the results are generated by 20% of effort.
- Do not let others steal time. Develop the ability to say NO to little things so that you get the power to say YES to important things.
- Simplify life to be able to focus on the important things of life.
- Develop a deathbed mentality. What would you do today if it was the last day of your life?
- Always do things as if failure is not an option and success will be assured.
- Never be a prisoner of the past but be the architect of the future.
CORE TIME MANAGEMENT TIPS
- Apply The "80/20 Rule". Work the 20% of activities that produce 80% of your results.
- Ask yourself, "Who, what, when, where, why, how?"
- Carry a small pad for tasks, notes and ideas.
- Learn how to scan. Find and focus on what’s important faster.
- Make minor decisions quickly. Don’t spend $20 on a $5 problem.
- Pair up with other people and improve your own effectiveness.
- Remember that time changes what’s important.
ACTION TIPS FOR TIME MANAGEMENT
- Do it now. Avoid procrastinating.
- Don’t let your inner Critic or Perfectionist get in the way of your Doer.
- Establish routines for recurring activities.
- Start with something small.
- Start your day early
- Take decisive action
EMAIL / SOCIAL MEDIA TIPS FOR TIME MANAGEMENT
- Don’t "paper shuffle" — "touch it once." Act on it versus shuffling around and revisiting.
- Set a specific time each day for email, returning phone calls, and social media.
- Set a time limit for reviewing email.
- Set a time limit for social media.
- Triage your incoming action items to do it, queue it, schedule it, or delegate it.
ENERGY TIPS FOR TIME MANAGEMENT
- Eliminate non-essential activities that drain you.
- Energise yourself by spending more time in your strengths and less time in your weaknesses.
- Manage energy, not time.
- Take breaks from difficult tasks.
- Use bursts of energy for getting faster, simpler, better results.
- Use your best energy for your best work.
FOCUS TIPS FOR TIME MANAGEMENT
- Focus on one thing at a time.
- Focus on outcomes, not activities.
- Learn how to deal with interruptions more effectively.
- Limit distractions.
- Reduce interruptions
GOAL SETTING AND PLANNING TIPS FOR TIME MANAGEMENT
- Each day, create a new “To Do” list.
- Each week, create a new Master "To Do" list.
- Have a plan and work the plan.
- What do you want to accomplish (each day/week/month)
- Map out what’s important in your life.
- Set and respect deadlines.
- Use commuting time to plan and organise your day
- Or do your planning each night for the following day – it’s very empowering!
ORGANISING TIPS FOR TIME MANAGEMENT
- Organise your workspace.
- Use 10-minute bursts to clean up your workspace.
- Use calendars and daily planners.
- Use checklists for routine tasks.
- Use lists to organize your tasks.
PRIORITISING TIPS FOR TIME MANAGEMENT
- Ask yourself, "Does it matter?"
- Ask yourself, "How important is it?"
- Ask yourself, "What’s the impact?"
- Ask yourself, "What’s the next best thing to do?"
- Prioritise more effectively by using MUST, SHOULD, and COULD.
- Say "No" (sincerely) to make time for your own priorities and to stay focused.
- Set priorities based on importance, not urgency.
“Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.”
Mother Teresa