The Coming Holidays Will Stress Our Time Management!
And that can lead to stress-eating. So, how do we best manage our time?
Taking action makes the difference.
Doing something that moves you forward helps you feel you have more control of your day and your workload. Just thinking about doing something is a waste of your time. Here are some suggestions about how to take action:
Delegate: Don't be afraid to enlist the help of others to complete projects that are time-consuming or monotonous. Whether you have to hire a professional or your 10 year-old do it.
Set goals: It's much easier to get something done if you know exactly what it is you're working toward. Set longterm goals first and then determine the shortterm goals that will serve as stepping stones toward the larger goal.
Sort mail immediately: Mail can quickly become beastly, taking over every nook and cranny. When you get your mail each day, open it directly over the garbage can. Most likely, the bulk of it can be dropped right in. For the rest, determine what action needs to be taken and deal with it appropriately.
Make an appointment with yourself: Schedule at least one hour each day for "catch up" tasks such as work overflow, returning phone calls, answering emails, etc. If you pencil time into your calendar, you're less likely to let the mundane (but necessary) tasks pile up.
Have an assembly line mentality: Complete similar tasks together such as returning phone calls, answering emails, sending out invoices, etc. You'll be much more productive.
Work when you're most alert: Figure out your most productive time of day and set your work schedule accordingly.
Use checklists: For tasks that must be completed on a regular basis, make and keep simple checklists to ensure you don't overlook important steps in the process.
Give everything a place: Don't waste your time trying to find things that seemed to have disappeared. Organize your workspace so that every item has a home. It'll make locating and storing items a snap.
Prepare ahead of time: Reserve 5 minutes at the end of each day to review your schedule for the next. That way, you'll have no surprises.
