How Top Performers Never Let a Second
Go to Waste
Every person
on the planet is allotted the same 1440 minutes each day; it’s how we choose to
use them that makes all the difference. Unfortunately, efficient time
management can sometimes be a challenge. To help you make the most of the time
you’ve been given, check out these 14 simple yet effective time management
tips.
1. Tackle the Most
Important Tasks First
This is calling
Eating That Frog! Start every day by tackling your largest, scariest task
first. When you do that, everything else will be simple.
I
outline a system for prioritizing tasks called the ABCDE Method. In this method, A
tasks always come before B tasks and B tasks before C tasks. D tasks are
delegated and E tasks are eliminated entirely. By sticking to this method, you
can ensure that you are always tackling the most important things first and
using your time as wisely as possible.
2. Make a To-Do List
To-do lists have a
way of helping people organize their tasks. They also create a physical
embodiment of the tasks’ existence, reminding you that they need to be done and
providing you incentive to start checking items off. Be sure to use multiple
lists to stay organized. I wrote an article about the 4 types of to-do
lists to
demonstrate the range of lists that can be useful for achieving all your goals.
3. Divide and Conquer
If you have a major
task to get done, try to divide it up into a bunch of smaller tasks. This
collection of smaller tasks will seem much less intimidating than the task
seems when viewed as the whole.
4. Get the Momentum
Going
Once you’ve divided
your large task up into a bunch of smaller tasks, choose the smallest one in
the bunch and knock it out. Getting started is often the hardest part of
accomplishing something. Once you’ve got the ball rolling by finishing just
one, small task, though, pushing forward will be much easier.
5. Start with the
Unpleasant
If you’re staring
down the barrel of an especially unpleasant task, it’s best to get it over with
and get it done. Often times, worrying about your most difficult task will take
up more energy than doing it. Avoid this waste of mental energy by getting your
most unpleasant task out of the way first.
6. Focus on the
Negative
Fear is an excellent
motivator, and, if your tasks are important, not completing them is sure to
come with some negative consequences. While you don’t want to focus on these
consequences so much that you allow them to work you into a worried frenzy, a
little bit concern can be great for crushing procrastination.
7. Come Prepared
When you set about a
task, make sure you come fully prepared with everything you need to complete
it. Not only will coming prepared keep you from having to trace back and forth
getting items, being prepared is a great motivator in and of itself.
8. Take Time to Relax
A little bit of
relaxation is crucial for maintaining a positive, motivated mindset. If you
work constantly without taking the time to rest and gather your thoughts,
you’ll quickly burn out and be unable to efficiently accomplish your tasks no
matter how hard you try. My personal recommendation for relaxation time is
meditation, but do whatever you find the most refreshing and peaceful.
9. Adopt a Sense of
Urgency
It’s not enough to
work hard – you need to work fast. Working fast is the best way to make the
most of your time and accomplish as much as you can in the time you have
available. Find a speed at which the quality of your work is still high and
develop the sense of urgency necessary for you to maintain that speed.
10. Reward Yourself
Each time you
complete a task (or a significant portion of a task) reward yourself. It
doesn’t have to be anything major; step outside and stretch, get a cookie from
the cabinet, check your phone, or substitute any other short yet pleasant
activity that you might enjoy. So long as your rewards don’t start taking up
too much of your time, they can be a powerful way to motivate you to start
checking items off your to-do list.
11. Work Smarter, Not
Harder
Before you dive into
a task head first, take a step back and analyze the best way to go about it.
Often times, a few minutes of advanced preparation will end up saving you hours
of inefficient work.
12. Delegate
The best leaders know
how to properly delegate tasks. If there is work that you can afford to
outsource or delegate to someone else, do it. This way, you can ensure your
efforts are always focused on the tasks that are most important for you yourself
to handle.
13. Eliminate the
Nonessential
Some tasks don’t
really belong on your to-do list. If it’s not really important that they are
done and you’re pressed for time, strike them out and don’t worry about them.
They’ll only distract you from your other, more essential tasks.
14. Lock the Door
Distractions are the
fuel of procrastination. Sometimes, the only way to completely defeat
procrastination is to lock yourself in a room and avoid all distractions. Put
your phone in another room, pull the shades, and get to work until the task is
finished.
Top Performers Make
Every Second Count
Time is everyone’s
most valuable resource and how you spend it determines how much you can
accomplish in life. In order to spend your time most effectively, you must learn
the right time management skills for your personality and responsibilities. The
proper amounts of focus, prioritization, preparation, delegation, relaxation,
and strategy are essential to maintaining a balanced approach to a productive
lifestyle. When it comes down to it, time management tips such as these
are among the most valuable life hacks I have ever put to use.
Brian Tracy
http://www.lifehack.org/640137/14-small-time-management-tips-that-can-make-a-big-difference
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