Maxamize Time, Energy and Efforts

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Author: Christy Geiger

Article source: http://www.hashemian.com/. Used with author's permission.

It is very easy to get into the REACTIONARY circle of life! We deal with what comes up and are hard pressed to make progress on our to-do lists! Here are a few strategies on how to maximize your time, energy and effort through good planning, habits and personal perspective!

1) PLANNING -

a) Plan ahead. Take:

• 10 minutes to plan your day
• 1/2 hour to plan for the week
• 1 hour to plan for the month

b) Do the most important things first (with-in the first 1/2 of your day take 10 minutes to plan for the day)

• What do I need to do?
• How long it will take?
• What is most important? (prioritize)

Do the top 3 important things FIRST! You have heard the Rock story... if you fill your jar with pebbles, sand, gravel, water, and dirt first (distractions, routines, crisis's, tasks), there is often not any room left for the big rocks (important priorities that often get cheated, ignored, procrastinated, and let un-done because there is just not time).

c) Evaluate. We often spend 80% of our day doing things that are 20% effective and 20% of our day on things that are 80% effective. Look at what you are doing with your time. What are the essential things and make the biggest impact? Look to stream-line or eliminate the things that are least effective and spend more time on those things that are most productive.

2) DEVELOP STRONG HABITS. Habits are a silent contributor to how we work. Often we do not see these are part of the equation, because they are so natural to us. One way to increase your efficiency is to identify your old habits that are not working and replace them with good habits that support what we want.

a) Identify Old Habits. Evaluate:

• What am I doing? Why? (procrastinating, distracting myself, fire fighting, etc.)
• What is not working? (running from one thing to the next, getting frustrated, etc.)
• What is working great? (AM to do list, listening to holiday music, writing my goal daily, etc.)

b) Define New Habits.

• What needs to change? (chaotically running from thing to thing)
• What would help me be better? (prioritizing, doing important things 1st, 1 hour of focus time with no distractions)
• Consider having 10 daily habits. These are little actions that you take every day that do not take a lot of time, but in the long run save time. For example, each AM spend 10 min. and do a clean sweep of your desk or house. You will be amazed with how you can cut down on time spent doing paperwork and cutter when you take just 10 min. a day.

c) Implement and stick to it! It takes 30 days of consistent implementation to solidify a new habit.
* List 3 things you want to stop (reacting, procrastinating by cleaning, making excuses) (good to create a structure for what you will do if you catch yourself doing something you want to stop. i.e. cleaning - throw in box to deal with in AM)

• 1. __________________________
• 2. __________________________
• 3. __________________________

* List 3 things you what you want to start (from 8-9 don't answer phone, 10 min. daily clean sweep, prioritizing my to do list)

• 1. __________________________
• 2. __________________________
• 3. __________________________

* Write these things somewhere you will see & do them daily!

3) PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE: a) Attitude. What is your perspective on time? We each have 24 hoursthe question is how will you spend yours?

• When you think you don't have enough time - we rarely get this done, we just spend time complaining.
• When we are optimistic, prepared and focused we often are surprised at what can be accomplished in a short period of time (power hours).
• Take control of your life. We like to blame other things, when really there is a lot was can do.

b) Self-discipline. Review and refine your planstay in action (10 minutes to plan your day, 1/2 hour to plan for the week, 1 hour to plan for the month).

• Keep your plan in front of you. Three times each week, set a timer for 10 minutes to review what is working and not. What do you need to change? Are you allocating time correctly? Do you have a margin of flexibility for the unexpected? Make adjustments to your plan and step into action.
• Keep moving. Whatever you do, DO SOMETHING and keep moving! Paralysis of analysis is a deadly time eater. Assess your plan to the best of your ability and move into action. The picture will be clearer the closer you get.
• Say No. There are many things that will pop up to grab your time and attention. Saying "no" is important. How? Be honest, tell people why (not excuses), provide other options/solutions, determine what you can do based on your prioritizes.

"The more you do of what you are doing, the more you'll get of what you've got" Unknown Get excited about what you can do, grab your plan and get going! Do not put off tomorrow what can be done today!