TIME IS YOUR MOST VALUABLE ASSET- SPEND IT WISELY
SPEND AND INVEST YOUR TIME IN ACTIONS THAT MATTER - PRACTICE GOOD TIME MANAGEMENT
Not everyone is born into a family with wealth, power and influence. That simple "luck of the draw" may or may not result in success and happiness for those born into affluence. But there is one gift given to each person that can level the playing field if it is used correctly. Each person has the same 24 hours in a day. How you spend or invest that time each day is the paramount factor.
If you squander the money in your bank account, there is a high probability that you can, at some point, replace the money. If you lose a car or a home because of adverse circumstances (job loss, illness) or through poor money management of your finances, you can, at some point, buy a new car or home. Most people handle their finances responsibly and would not squander money needed to pay the mortgage or car note. And, yet, some of those very same responsible people squander the one asset that is most valuable and an asset that cannot be replaced. At the end of this day, when you lay your head on the pillow, you just spent 24 hours from your "time account". Did you use that time wisely? Or, were those hours wasted on meaningless actions and activities?
If you are a good time manager, congratulations! If time management has never seemed that important, it's not too late.
Start now to evaluate how you spend your time and learn to invest and spend your most valuable asset in meaningful and productive actions. It's simple and it is important. Treasure your time as you would a priceless asset because it is - priceless!
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SO MUCH TO DO AND SO LITTLE TIME
There comes a time when everyone feels overwhelmed with the responsibilities of a job, home life, and relationships and, gosh, what about "me time". Yes, there may be a lot to do, but you will be amazed at the wasted time each day - time that could be better spent.
Take a few minutes and jot down everything you did in the last 24 hours and estimate how much time was spent on each activity. Now, do an honest review and evaluate the list. Were there tasks at work or at home that could have been delegated to someone? How many times did you check your email and then get sidetracked by surfing the Internet? Are there activities on your list that were totally unnecessary?
Now, it is time for you to make a second list. This will be your "to do" list. It can be for the next day or for the next week. This will help you organize your thoughts and prioritize tasks. Do you have projects or assignments at work with a specific due date? Those items will be easy to prioritize. Take another look at your "to do" list and decide if there are any assignments or projects that could be delegated to another person or department. If so, delegate and then leave it alone! Unless you have been specifically assigned to oversee the project, let the responsibility go with the project. You do not need to be involved.
How many times did you check email yesterday? How about setting two times during the day to check email? If you receive emails with jokes or junk, delete them. Are those emails really important? Don't let distractions deplete your "time account".
USE YOUR TIME WISELY - Time is your greatest resource - don't waste it!
USE EVERY TOOL AVAILABLE TO MANAGE YOUR TIME
Make the "to do" list a habit. As you complete a task, cross it off the list and congratulate yourself. If it was a monumental task, give yourself a coffee break.
Use your calendar for appointments and meetings, but also jot down reminders of tasks due in the future. It's easy to forget a due date when the days get busy. Keeping your "to do" list in your calendar will keep these future tasks on your radar.
Learn to tell friendly co-workers you don't have time to chat. Be polite, be kind but be firm. Remember, it's your "time account" that is a priority.
Be sure you include "me time" in your schedule. Do something you enjoy - read a book, go to the gym, play golf, get a pedicure - whatever you do to relax will give you fresh new energy, a new perspective and, as a result, you will be more productive.
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