Time goes screaming by faster and faster. What’s worse is there are more and more things piling up threatening to drown us. Sounds like a losing battle. Which it will be if we let it. We have to recognize the value of managing our day instead of just letting it steamroll us. Not taking the proverbial bull by the horns stripes away your ability to succeed.
Negative Side-effects of Poor Time Management leave you:
- Scattered
- Ineffective
- Overstressed
- Impatient
- Indecisive
- Listless
- Anxious
Don’t let these outcomes become part of you. There are many ways to address time management. Below is a simple way to structure your day for success that top achievers use.
- First of all take a breath. Pausing literally breathes life into your day. It allows you to distance yourself for a moment to gain perspective. When you have a vantage point everything becomes clearer. Now you can begin.
- Start with the big, long-term objectives. Only consider the main 3. Now write down 3 actions for the top objective and only one for each of the next two. Think of these as small steps to make room and move what matters forward. This will give the confidence that you are maintaining momentum in important sectors.
- Second, there are always “have tos” that impact our day. They cannot be ignored. They are a fact of life. Sprinkle them carefully throughout your day between your larger goals. These typically won’t energize you, and unfortunately act as distractions. So, schedule them, do them, and move on.
- Then let the rest of the day flow. Being open to what the day brings leads to sparks of creativity and innovation. Build that mindset in. You want the freedom to take advantage of what presents its self to you.
This time management framework is not exclusive to work. Actually, it’s best when it’s inclusive of work, life and play. When you blend them together you create a day that motivates you all the way through leaving you feeling successful and fulfilled. Having a plan in place on how to tackle your day will give you peace of mind versus taking a piece of your mind.
The benefits of time management are widely studied. Ironically, and not, they are basically the opposite of the negatives of not doing it. At the end of the day, this is where real achievement happens big and small. You just have to commit yourself to making it happen day-in and day-out. Dedicate yourself to doing this time management framework for one week and see what happens.
