Time Management

Simplify Your Life

The following article is an extract from Mark Ellwood and www.getmoredone.com.
Webtraining.com.au would like to thank and acknowledge the author as the material is reproduced with express permission.

Think about your values and write down those that really matter to you. What is most important? Spending time with family? Accumulating great wealth? Achieving powerful influence? Acquiring possessions? Expressing yourself? Learning new ideas? Experiencing adventure and travel? Maintaining excellent health? Socializing with friends? Contributing to the community? You can't do them all. Cut out activities that aren't consistent with your core values.

Write a list of goals you'd like to achieve. Focus on doing a few really well, rather than a lot in a mediocre way. You can't add hours to the day, but you can cut down on activities.
Say no instead of yes. People agree to requests from others because they like to please them. Instead, realize that you have a right to say no. Creating plans or policies makes saying no easier.
Stop spending time to save money. Instead, spend money to save time. Don't drive across town to save a few cents on a grocery item. It's not worth your time. Do hire someone to do chores you're not fond of.
Cancel subscriptions to magazines you never get around to reading. Only read one newspaper per day.
Cut back on television time. Only watch those shows you decide on beforehand. Circle them in the television-listing magazine. Then turn off the television when the program is over.
Go for broke. Give up watching television altogether.
Clean out your garage or your office. If you're not using something, get rid of it. Put an expiry date on items when you can't decide to keep them or not. Get rid of them when the expiry date arrives.
Quit organizations that aren't contributing to your advancement, your network or your fun.
Set up automatic bill payments. Include your automatic savings plan as part of your monthly spending.
Make a plan for the weekend that doesn't involve work. Plan to spend more time with your family or with people who make positive contributions to your life. Stop spending time with people who are a drain on your energy or vitality.
Carry a smaller wallet or purse. Start by cleaning out the one you've got. Get rid of unnecessary credit cards and other clutter that you don't use regularly.
Stop checking up on your financial portfolio every day. Most people invest for the long term. Checking your results daily adds to stress and might lead to expensive and unnecessary changes.
Make time for yourself. Set aside time each day to reflect quietly, go for a walk, plan for your future or meditate. Visit the park instead of the shopping centres.
Cut back on debt. Consolidate your different debts into one and pay it off. Put your credit cards in a spot where you won't be able to use them until you're debt-free. Track your expenses for a month, then cut back your spending on items you don't need. For instance, pack a lunch rather than buying one at work.
Consider renting a vacation home rather than buying. You won't be burdened by time (and money) spent in maintenance. Also, this allows you to visit a different spot each year.
Plan time for a vacation every year. Some people claim "I haven't had a vacation in three years" as if it was a badge of courage. It isn't.
Cut back on your children's planned activities. If they have to use a time planner to schedule their activities, and you spend all of your time taxiing them around, they're probably too busy.
Live closer to your work so you don't have to drive.
Take a moment each day to reflect on the good things in life.

S - Sleep well.

Your bed is for sleeping, reading and intimacy.
When your head hits the pillow, it’s time to sleep, not think
Your bed should NOT be for: watching television, balancing your cheque book, planning the next day, arguing with your spouse, checking your e-mail, or making phone calls.
When in bed, books are OK, laptops are not.

P - Plan every day.

Create a to-do list every morning. This gives you;
a roadmap of what you need to do at the beginning of the day,
a reminder of what still needs to be done throughout the day and
a place to check off your accomplishments at the end of the day

A - Anticipate less.

Recognize the false assumptions you make that lead to anxiety. Will things really turn out to be as bad as you think? Probably not.
When you look to the future, visualize success rather than failure. After all, you really don’t know which it will be. So why not expect the best?

R - Relax.

Breathe deeply when you feel stressed. Get up and change your environment, if only for a short time.
Go for a brisk walk at lunch time.
Relaxation means taking a break from what you were doing, not just “vegging out.” For instance, watching television isn’t always relaxing; it can be dumbing and dulling. Find activities that calm your body and stimulate your mind.
Create a time for your own kind of meditation. Find a quiet space and a quiet time that’s just for you.

K - Keep Anger under control.

Be empathetic and forgiving to others when they make mistakes. Like you, they’re trying to do their best.
Learn to give constructive feedback rather than destructive criticism.
When someone makes you angry, remember that you have a choice in how you react. Instead of yelling at that bad driver who cut you off, do a running play-by-play on his erratic driving techniques. It’s more fun.

L - Laugh

Use positive affirmations to keep yourself on track.
Affirmations should use the 4 P’s; personal, positive, passionate and present. For instance, “I am a confident and successful manager who always runs an amazing team.”
Find time to share a joke. Laugh at the curves life throws at you rather than fretting over them.

E - Eat Well and Exercise

Your body needs to be a well-tuned machine to manage all of the stresses that act on it.
Avoid eating packaged snacks - anything that comes in a wrapper or plastic bag. Try natural fruit instead.
Add more coloured vegetables to your meals.
Reduce caffeine in your diet. It's a stimulant and can exacerbate physical symptoms of stress that you may already have. Choose water instead.
Avoid the escalator or elevator and take the stairs.
Find opportunities to go for a walk. Ideally, get exercise that causes you to sweat for twenty minutes at least three times per week.