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“He who every morning plans the transactions of that day and follows that plan carries a thread that will guide him through the labyrinth of the most busy life.” - Victor Hugo.
As a #businessstrategist, I often see clients struggling to manage their time.
Whether it's procrastinating or a lack of focus, they often start something - and then can't complete it.
If this is YOU, here's a sure-fire way to get going:
Start your day the night before.
Sounds Crazy? Let me explain.
Mornings are usually hectic - kids, lunches, babysitter - you know how THAT goes.
It takes one unexpected event to throw you off-and by that time you're in the thick of your day.
To make sure this isn't you, set aside at least half-hour every night to set a loose agenda for the following day. It doesn't have to be perfect, but trust me, it will keep you on track and ahead of the game.
Other things you can do:
1. Wake up at least five minutes earlier each day:
By this I mean give yourself a challenge - wake up 5 minutes earlier than the DAY BEFORE.
I know that Mel Robbins gave a proven strategy
But we all fall off the wagon (at least I did - sorry Mel!!)
So if setting the alarm clock seems harder than it is; set it back five minutes every day - and watch the magic happen!!
2. Turn off your devices - and focus on the task at hand:
We've all become slaves to technology, with our smartphones permanently attached to us,
But this reliance has also become one of our biggest distractions.
To get this one to work you'll need to switch them ALL off-phone, tablet, email, WhatsApp, and especially your notifications
and FOCUS!!!
"Time is non-refundable...use it with intention"-Anon.
3. Keep a notebook handy at all times - or better yet, keep a few.
A few months ago I did a blog about "Why it's important to write things down"- you can find it here.
My point is, inspiration can strike at any time - make sure you have something to record it.
You can also use your smartphone, or a note-taking app - even those already on your phone. Despite this, writing is still the best way to "hardwire" it into your psyche.
“Lack of direction, not lack of time, is the problem. We all have twenty-four hour days.” - Zig Ziglar
4. Try the two-minute rule:
In a nutshell, anything that takes 2 minutes (or less) to do - Do it.
Leaving it for later or writing it down will actually take MORE TIME.
Makes sense? it does.
Bonus Tip: For success, set a timer for each task.
My favorite is the Pomodoro App. Using it gives you a sense of urgency, and forces you to work a little faster. It also helps you keep track of time. And it rewards you with the promise of a mental break when the timer’s up.
So those are some of my time management hacks.
I have a few more - but these are enough to get you started!!
I've also enclosed a worksheet to help you get started. You can get it here