When managing time, consider first what NOT to do.
If you are like me then you developed over time certain ways of conducting your work, habits develop, the ‘To-do-list’ gets longer and all of sudden the day hasn’t enough hours anymore. Therefore, time management has to start with making decision on what NOT to do anymore.
If you are like me then you developed over time certain ways of conducting your work, habits develop, the ‘To-do-list’ gets longer and all of sudden the day hasn’t enough hours anymore. Therefore, time management has to start with making decision on what NOT to do anymore.
Some personal examples:
- I am great in planning things. Since I am so good in it, and I also like the activity in itself, I found myself spending too much time planning and too little time doing. My decision: Planning & reviewing happens on a Monday morning. The rest of the week is reserved for getting things done.
- I am a pretty good problem solver. So, often when my staff came to me with a problem, I picked up the issue and an ‘upward’ delegation took place. More work for me, less for them. For a manager it is, of course, a judgement issue to decide when to get involved or when not. The solution for me was that in 90% of the cases I was better off to discuss and coach my staff and then leave them alone to deal with the challenge. The results were as good, plus they gained experience and I gained time.
- I love these little games that come with Windows. And it is okay to relax a bit and play a game. Only problem for me was that I am a bad loser. So, whenever I couldn’t win a game, I played the same game again and again until I won; 2, sometimes 3, hours later! Making a decision to, whenever I play, just play for 30 minutes didn’t work for me. So, my decision: No more games, ever.
- I like to be informed. Therefore, I subscribe to and receive a lot of magazines free. All of a sudden I was stressed out reading all these material. My decision. I subscribe to 2 newspapers, 2 magazines, and read one online news-service. Whatever else is given to me goes straight into the rubbish bin.
- I am actively dealing in shares. Hence, I love to check out the market constantly, even if I am not in a buying or selling situation. And quickly another hour passed. So, I dropped this habit as well.
- I am great in planning things. Since I am so good in it, and I also like the activity in itself, I found myself spending too much time planning and too little time doing. My decision: Planning & reviewing happens on a Monday morning. The rest of the week is reserved for getting things done.
- I am a pretty good problem solver. So, often when my staff came to me with a problem, I picked up the issue and an ‘upward’ delegation took place. More work for me, less for them. For a manager it is, of course, a judgement issue to decide when to get involved or when not. The solution for me was that in 90% of the cases I was better off to discuss and coach my staff and then leave them alone to deal with the challenge. The results were as good, plus they gained experience and I gained time.
- I love these little games that come with Windows. And it is okay to relax a bit and play a game. Only problem for me was that I am a bad loser. So, whenever I couldn’t win a game, I played the same game again and again until I won; 2, sometimes 3, hours later! Making a decision to, whenever I play, just play for 30 minutes didn’t work for me. So, my decision: No more games, ever.
- I like to be informed. Therefore, I subscribe to and receive a lot of magazines free. All of a sudden I was stressed out reading all these material. My decision. I subscribe to 2 newspapers, 2 magazines, and read one online news-service. Whatever else is given to me goes straight into the rubbish bin.
- I am actively dealing in shares. Hence, I love to check out the market constantly, even if I am not in a buying or selling situation. And quickly another hour passed. So, I dropped this habit as well.
I must say that I found it very difficult to break these behavioral patterns and I do have the occasional relapse. In any case I have freed up a lot of time in order to be more productive and I hope that the above examples provide you with a good enough variety in order to stimulate your own thoughts and decisions on what YOU will NOT do anymore.
Once you have made this decision, you will find that you have more free time. Use this newly gained freedom to take care of the important things which really contribute to your success.
Once you have made this decision, you will find that you have more free time. Use this newly gained freedom to take care of the important things which really contribute to your success.
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