[1]
We are always looking for ways to make more productive use of our
time. Do you always seem to be playing catch up? Do you end your day
with a longer to-do list than you started? Are you stressed over how
you spend your time? Here are eight steps you can take right now to
help regain control of your clock.
*Eliminate time wasters**.* At the top of the list is television. The
average American watches 5 hours of TV a day. That equals an
incredible 6 full days in front of the tube each month. What could you
do with an extra 6 days this month? Turn off the television and find
out.
*Cut back on possessions**.* Bigger living spaces and more stuff
come with a double price: the cost to purchase them and the time to
maintain them. A simpler lifestyle frees up time previously spent on
vacuuming, fixing, and replacing. If taken far enough, you may be able
to work less because you are buying less stuff.
*Consolidate errands*. Making several trips in the car to run errands
wastes time and money. With a little planning you may find you can do
it all in one trip instead of two or three. Can you wait until
tomorrow? Can you try to run errands only four days a week instead of
six or seven?
*Keep a time log*. Write down what you do and for how long each day
for the next week. The idea is to get a good sense for where your time
goes. Just like a budget for your money, you can't save time if you
aren't really sure how you are spending it.
*Go on an e-mail and Internet diet*. It is likely your time log will
show that you're spending quite a bit of time checking your e-mail,
tweets, Facebook page, or just surfing away without a real purpose. If
that's the case, go on an electronic diet. Spend time at the sites
that are important to you or help you solve a problem (_like this
one!_). But ditch the mindless wandering from site to site. You lose
weight by cutting calories. You gain time by cutting back the time
you waste on the computer.
*Do some chores at night instead of weekends*. Some of that time you
are not spending in front of the TV can be used for chores you usually
do on weekends. Just 30 minutes one or two nights a week will save
more of your weekend for relaxing, having fun, being with family and
friends or working on a project you enjoy. Weekends are not supposed
to be workends.
*Say "No" to some of the requests for your time*. It is good to
help those who need your assistance, just not to excess, Learn to say
"No" to things that you really don't want to do. Be choosier
about what volunteer work you accept. Be unavailable if someone is
overusing your generous nature. Realize you are sacrificing your time
to give someone else more. Some sacrifice is good. A lot is probably
not. Abstain.
*Re-think routines and habits*. I used to spend at least 60 minutes
every morning reading two newspapers. It finally dawned on me that is
when I'm most productive. To spend an hour or more on something I
could do later in the day or at night was a mistake. Changing that
habit has made a tremendous difference in what I accomplish before
lunch. How much of your schedule is habit instead of what is most
productive? Review your time log for anything that might produce
better results if you make a change.
_Time is the most valuable resource we have._ We can't increase it,
but we can make the most of what we have. What you do with that
resource can be the difference between a satisfying and productive
life, or one that is constantly stressed and unfulfilled. What is your
time plan?
Bob Lowry writes the blog Satisfying Retirement [2], helping you
create an exciting and productive life after work.
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Links:
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[1] http://bemoreconfident.info/wp-content/blogs.dir/22/files/HLIC/fa382c4d3b14ec53223e481de117bd65.jpg
[2] http://satisfyingretirement.blogspot.com/
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