How to get more life out of less time.
It’s ironic.
It seems the more “time saving devices” we embrace as a progressive society, the less time we actually seem to have.
Think about it.
There’s microwave cooking, speed dating, emails, online shopping, online job searching, electronic books, online classes, and still many folks struggle to find more “me time” and a better quality of life.
Still, one should never underestimate its importance.
Time is a commodity. It’s an investment.
The way you “spend it” is just as valuable as your money decisions.
Not having a handle on how time is used can lead to increased stress, poor work performance, and a feeling of being overwhelmed and undervalued.
And who wants that?
To help save your sanity, here are a few tips and strategies to help you to have more time, and work smarter, not harder!
1. Become Better Organized—This may seem a bit simplistic, yet it has a great R.O.I. (return on investment). So much time is lost each day searching for keys, missing socks, important paperwork, wallets, etc. Though your surroundings need not pass “the white glove test,” having things in their proper place will add order to your world and simplify many routine tasks.
2. Become a Lark—It’s true that the “early bird catches the worm.” You might be surprised at just how much you can accomplish if you get up a bit earlier, before the rest of the family and before the chaos of the world begins. In “wee hours” it’s typically quieter and slower paced, allowing the mind to have more peace and a higher level of functioning.
3. Take Inventory—Spring clean your social calendar of excess obligations. Learn to say “no” when the situation dictates.
4. Prioritize With Purpose—It’s not a do or die proposition to eliminate everything from your daily in-box before you retire at night. But it is important to address those things which will have dire consequences if not completed on time and done properly. Things like meeting work-related deadlines, mailing off that insurance payment, or attending that parent-teacher’s conference.
5. Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute—Though some people say they work better under pressure, and like to believe that they can work right “under the wire,” it’s not a wise way to operate. Just when you least expect it, a computer failure, or an incorrectly filled order, or a simple case of Murphy’s Law could happen and undermine your professional reputation and cause others who depended on you to be put in a bad situation. Don’t do it. Besides, if you tackle things as soon as possible you can rest at ease, and take personal satisfaction in a job well done.
Then you can devote more time to simple pleasures and personal pursuits. As they say “all work and no play makes for a dull person!”
Follow these five tips and start getting the best out of your days and yourself!
This is a guest post by Jennifer Brown Banks, a veteran freelance writer and pro blogger. She holds a B.A. in Business Management. Visit her site @ http://penandprosper.blogspot.com/
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