Quick Time Management Tips

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culled from:www.leadershiparticles.net

If you're too busy to read about time management, then these quick yet effective time management techniques are for you.

1. Get organised. Whether you use time management software, a diary or a bunch of sticky notes, find a system that works for you and gets you organised!

Organised people waste less time doing unimportant jobs, do their important jobs quicker and have a greater sense of purpose than people who are dis-organised.

2. Plan. If you fail to plan, then plan to fail. Plan the week ahead and include the non-urgent development tasks such as goal setting with your-day-to-day routine. By doing so you'll naturally work towards achieving your goals, instead of leaving them in the draw.

And of course, a well planned week is more efficient than one that isn't planned at all.

3. Use a ToDo List. Every day, list the items you need to do and their priority, then stick to it! But just list what you need to do today and don't be tempted to make it a list of everything you have to do for the rest of the year as it will just be too long and you won't know where to start.

4. Plan your interruptions. Well, you can't always do this but you CAN manage your interruptions. Set aside a certain time for reading and responding to emails or returning phone calls and have a 'closed door' policy during your most productive time of the day to allow you to focus on the important tasks at hand.

5. Write things down, or use a mini-hand-held recorder. If you try to remember everything, you'll forget important details and you'll lose your ability to focus on what you should be doing. Take a notebook and pen everywhere, and write things down as they pop into your head so your brain can get back onto the task at hand.

The act of writing something down also adds clarity to your thoughts because you have to frame it in words, and etches it further into your brain and into your sub-conscious, so you're less likely to forget anyway.

6. Prioritize. Find a system you like to prioritise your jobs and stick to it. Don't do tasks out of sequence, unless the priorities have really changed. You're not superman/ woman. You can't do everything. So do the things that are most important to you and your development and do these as a priority.

7. Review. Always review your workload and commitments and your progress towards your goals. Things change, and you need to be flexible enough to change with them. By reviewing your goals regularly, you'll be able to pick up on these changes a lot sooner and adjust your plan accordingly.

And always keep your eye on the big-picture. In today's busy society, it's easy to forget about what really matters. Know what matters to you – family, friends, personal job satisfaction – and always keep this in perspective.
You can find out more about how to manage your time to achieve all your dreams by reading this FREE ebook – "The Time Management Secrets that will Set You Free". You'll also find lots of free advice and tools on a range of self-improvement topics from success to people skills.