Time management - " I simply do not have the time! "
One of the most common issues that arise and which clients state is that " I do not have the time". This is a barrier that is put up so that they can justify why they are not getting what they want. Let us get real for a moment, if you really want something you are going to make the time to do it! For example you really want to go on holiday, or you want to watch your favorite TV programme, what do you do? You make time for it! The same applies to the goals you want to achieve. Sometimes time is stated as an issue but sometimes it is because this is used to hide the real reason why they are not doing something. It may be the fear of doing it, or not knowing how and these are aspects that can be dealt with much more easily than you would think.
So I am going to give you a time management tool that will help you identify things that are time wasters (actions which are not moving you toward your goals) so that you can spend more of your 24 hours taking actions that will move you to where you want to be. How many more hours do you need? Identify what is really important to you and use this tool.
1. Urgent & Important tasks- These are things you should be doing now straight away. These could be emergencies, dealing with that very urgent bill or making sure that report to your boss is on time. These could also include important meetings and finding solutions to problems involving you or the company you work for. These actions will add value.
2. Not urgent & important - These are things that you are planning to do. They should still have a time to be completed by. So here you would plan how you are to meet your goal and set a time line. As soon as that time line is due it then moves into the urgent and important section. So make sure any planning is SMART. Specific, Measurable, Agreed and Time bound by you. These also include elements such as long terms development plans, personal or business objectives etc.
3. Urgent but not important - These may include requests from others which are not important, they are tasks that you need to reject but explain why you will not complete these at the present time. Remember your communication though as you still wish to remain in rapport with anyone you deal with. To this person the task may be important! These can also include distraction e.g. interruptions, activities that have no end product and will not add value to you. This may also include misunderstanding aspects which appear to snowball but have no substance. These ones can be the real time wasters so look to identify them early.
4. Not urgent & not important - These are activities such as playing computer games, surfing the net aimlessly, watching TV that does not add value. Getting involved in gossip and elements over which you have no control. These could also include taking advantage of your breaks and having extra long ones ( how would that look to your boss or benefit your firm!) In essence these are actions which do not contribute to your personal goals. Watching TV is one of those!
A word of caution however, you should also get some down time to chill and relax as we all need this to recharge but make sure it is that and plan some time for it. Once the time is over it is back to getting to work towards to where you want to be.
This is an excellent tool to identify those time wasters so use it regularly so you can plan your time towards getting what you really want. You will see below that I have completed a handwritten example of what you need to do. It only took 5 minutes and it really just needs to be as simple as that. No need for complex use of word etc, you can do this straight away, Enjoy!
So I am going to give you a time management tool that will help you identify things that are time wasters (actions which are not moving you toward your goals) so that you can spend more of your 24 hours taking actions that will move you to where you want to be. How many more hours do you need? Identify what is really important to you and use this tool.
1. Urgent & Important tasks- These are things you should be doing now straight away. These could be emergencies, dealing with that very urgent bill or making sure that report to your boss is on time. These could also include important meetings and finding solutions to problems involving you or the company you work for. These actions will add value.
2. Not urgent & important - These are things that you are planning to do. They should still have a time to be completed by. So here you would plan how you are to meet your goal and set a time line. As soon as that time line is due it then moves into the urgent and important section. So make sure any planning is SMART. Specific, Measurable, Agreed and Time bound by you. These also include elements such as long terms development plans, personal or business objectives etc.
3. Urgent but not important - These may include requests from others which are not important, they are tasks that you need to reject but explain why you will not complete these at the present time. Remember your communication though as you still wish to remain in rapport with anyone you deal with. To this person the task may be important! These can also include distraction e.g. interruptions, activities that have no end product and will not add value to you. This may also include misunderstanding aspects which appear to snowball but have no substance. These ones can be the real time wasters so look to identify them early.
4. Not urgent & not important - These are activities such as playing computer games, surfing the net aimlessly, watching TV that does not add value. Getting involved in gossip and elements over which you have no control. These could also include taking advantage of your breaks and having extra long ones ( how would that look to your boss or benefit your firm!) In essence these are actions which do not contribute to your personal goals. Watching TV is one of those!
A word of caution however, you should also get some down time to chill and relax as we all need this to recharge but make sure it is that and plan some time for it. Once the time is over it is back to getting to work towards to where you want to be.
This is an excellent tool to identify those time wasters so use it regularly so you can plan your time towards getting what you really want. You will see below that I have completed a handwritten example of what you need to do. It only took 5 minutes and it really just needs to be as simple as that. No need for complex use of word etc, you can do this straight away, Enjoy!