Five+Proven+Strategies+to+using+your+time+wisely+F.docx

此文档收集于网络，如有侵权，请联系网站删除5 Proven Strategies to Using Your Time More WiselyA Quick Guide for the Time ChallengedThis report will reveal the hidden secrets to the effective use of time, an asset that once spent, can never be retrieved. The reader will at last be able to accomplish their goals in less time, thus experiencing an increase in self-confidence and productivity, a decrease in procrastination, and feelings of increased self-worth.Melanie Roum, Owner of Time Management Coaching5 Proven Strategies to Using Your Time More WiselyA Quick Guide for the Time ChallengedTime is a gift given to each human being. This resource cannot be bought and cannot be taken back. Time is given to us freely. But it is not unlimited. Our bodies age and pass away. At some point in time, there will be no more time to live. Our volition, the ability to make choices, will cease to exist. While we still have a moment, lets strive to make the very most of it.Foundations Although you are probably in a hurry to get to the strategies, do not skip this section. You must build a solid foundation from which to begin. Even Jesus said that a house built on sand will crumble. With that in mind, let us build.We make choices in every moment of our lives. Those choices lead to actions. I call those actions seeds. The seed is filled with potential and possibilities. Once planted, the seed begins to grow and produce. Some of the plants, such as the much hated weed are undesirable. Others produce succulent fruit and beautiful flowers to enjoy and share. Before we go on, you must also understand a law. The law of cause and effect is universal. It applies to every facet of life. For every action, there is a reaction. There is a consequence for every choice. That word consequence is often a scary word because as children, we usually associated it with unwanted results. However, consequences can also be desirable. For example, losing weight is a direct consequence of regular exercise and a healthy diet. If you plant a seed and cultivate it, the result will be your consequence. The consequences can be a benefit that you enjoy, or an unwanted liability.Value ClarificationThere is a chain of events happening at all times. Fortunately, we can begin to examine our current results. At this point, we must ask ourselves a very important and necessary question. What Do I Really Want?Answering this question requires an investment of your time. This is true soul searching and can bring more benefits than any other time management technique. Being in tune with your true values and knowing where you want to go is a precursor to discovering the answer for yourself. People dont usually get in the car unless they know where they want to go. How can you choose your activities without a purpose or goal in mind?Most people choose to race through this question. Often this is due to a lack of knowledge. They havent been taught to dig deep and ask hard questions. As a result, they continue to stumble through the garden wondering why their plot of land is full of weeds. Do you ever say I just dont know where the time goes? Knowing the answer to this question is half of the solution.There are areas of life that are valued by some people, and not by others. Each person is an individual with their own unique set of values. Common values include education, spirituality, marriage, career, recreation, etc. There are many possibilities. Just remember that values are people, places, things, characteristics, and states of being that you hold as important and worth having.Take the time to write down your thoughts. How important is money? Do you want to be a gentler person? Is loyalty a characteristic that is important to you? What kind of relationships do you want to have? Are you satisfied with your parenting skills?These are example questions that can help you get started on the journey of discovering what you value and what you really want from your life. Evaluating time usageHave you been forgetting to complete some activities, procrastinating on certain tasks, or find yourself feeling rushed? Are you not experiencing progress in your life? Do you tend to be late for appointments or feel that there is never enough time? Do you ever say I just dont know where the time goes? Knowing the answer to this question is half of the solution.The next step in effective time management is to become aware of your current time use. This is the tool that will help you to accurately assess your time management skills. It can provide valuable insight to the choices that you make. To complete this exercise, simply print 3 copies of the time log. At the end of every hour that you are awake, in the left hand column write the activities that you engaged in. In the right hand column, estimate the minutes that you spent on each activity. Complete this exercise for three days. If you wish, assess your time use just at work, or just at home. Be sure to count every action and try to be specific. Some common activities at work include:COMMON WORK ACTIVITIESCOMMON PERSONAL ACTIVITIES Business calls Personal calls Filing Email Socializing Eating lunch Meetings Commuting Taking Breaks Writing reports Surfing the Internet Playing solitaire Sleeping Eating breakfast, lunch, dinner Meal preparation Hygiene Grooming Cleaning the house Home Maintenance Paying Bills Child care Phone calls Social engagements Going to church Watching televisionThis is certainly not an exhaustive list, but should assist you in getting started.If you need further help with your time log, or feel that you could use a bit of coaching to get you through the process more successfully, feel free to schedule a free initial consultation. That is why I am here!TIME LOGDATE:_DAY OF THE WEEK: M T W TH F SA SUAFTER WAKINGTIME SPENTAFTER LUNCHTIME SPENTAFTER SUPPERTIME SPENTTime StructureIf you took the time to complete your time logs, then you are truly committed to taking charge of your life. By examining your time log, your time management skills may become very clear. You may find that your actual activities do not address your goals and values. There are specific choices that you can make to structure your time in a manner that will be useful and constructive.Determine Your PrioritiesFirst of all, the time you spend evaluating your values will serve you well as you structure your time. You should choose activities that will serve your values and goals. Determine your priorities. Decide what you really want. Of course, you will want to re-evaluate on a regular basis.Set Your GoalsThese are actions that you will take that serve your values. For example, if you value education, perhaps you will set a goal to take a new class. This goal is specific, time limited, and measurable. Be sure that your goals are realistic and achievable.Write down the things that you want, every morning. This helps to maintain your focus. Life is so busy that we easily forget what we wanted to accomplish. Writing our goals down will help keep the goals in the front of your mind. For our law of attraction folks, it is a great way to manifest your desires sooner!Write Down Your AgendaProductive successful people have a habit of writing down their agenda for the day. This is the best way to organize your priorities and maintain focus. My own mentor taught me this and my productivity has increased beyond what I thought was possible.For a work agenda, the day planner is a great way for keeping up with your appointments and important tasks. You can opt for a different planner to use at home. The information needs to be easily accessible. I know some people who use a pocket calendar.Avoid Low Benefit ActivitiesExamples of time thieves include checking email multiple times, long personal phone calls, playing computer games (unless you get paid to play them), and watching television without a purpose that serves your values. Sometimes busy work is used to avoid and procrastinate. Hate to ProcrastinateI believe procrastination is the biggest time waster. Feelings of overwhelm often stem from this life draining habit. Completing your time log will help you discover the tasks that you usually procrastinate on. Once you are aware of these, begin to investigate why you are procrastinating. Address the fears you have about doing those things head on. Get the resources you need, and get moving! The energy wasted on procrastinating can be used to problem solve and make real progress. There is a very simple solution for procrastination. As my own coach tells me often, just get it started. You dont have to be perfect. You just have to get going. Once you get your energy going in the direction of getting it done, the task will become so much easier. Learn to Say NoThere are two people that you need to learn to say NO to. A large part of maturity is knowing how and when to say no to your own impulses and desires. Everyone is free to make their own choices. But as we have already said, some choices will not benefit you or others, nor do they align with what you value.The other person you must learn to say NO to is the one who is asking you to do something for them. This is to be expected and will probably happen every single day of your life. Healthy relationships require give and take and so they will request something of you from time to time. Of course you might be agreeable if it fits your values and priorities. However, it is not always in your best interest to say yes. Know your limits and be familiar with your own needs and wants. People who dont know how to say no are usually miserable because they feel like a doormat. They have put their own life on hold. Learn to not answer the phone when you are busy. Learn to set boundaries. Acquire assertiveness skills. DelegateThis is another great choice for productive people. At work, if you are able to, delegate responsibilities that others can handle. You were not put on this earth to be a super hero. Great supervisors/managers are able to delegate responsibilities. This action shows trust in your employees and will allow you to be more effective in your assigned work.At home, spouses and children are a part of the family. Hopefully they (and you) can learn that everyone can contribute to a well run house hold. Even a 1 year old can be taught to put something in the trash can. Try to balance the responsibilities between the spouses. If you are a single parent, learn to ask others to help you. I have no children, and sometimes wish that other parents would take me up on my offer to babysit. Arent there people in your life who have volunteered to do something for you? By all means, say Yes!Be focused and AlertIf you are wondering why you feel foggy headed and tired, it is probably because you arent getting enough sleep. Millions of people short change their brains by burning the midnight oil. They are thinking that skipping a couple hours of sleep will lead to further productivity. Without enough sleep your brain is already disadvantaged! Getting enough rest helps your entire body to repair and heal, especially your brain. When you are alert, and well rested, you can stay focused on your tasks much easier. Tasks wont take so long to finish. Your creativity will flow smoothly. A tired body wont complain, and