Be honest - are you one of those people who puts things off? It's ok - we all do it. It's human nature. "Why do something today when you can do it tomorrow," or so the saying goes. But procrastination (to give it it's "proper" name) can cost us more than we can imagine.
Why do we procrastinate? In general, we procrastinate because the task we are putting off is unpleasant in some way. Either we don't like doing it (like calling a bank), or there is some physical discomfort (like going to the dentist). The task may even be boring and monotonous, or just plain difficult.
But the effects of procrastination can run deeper than just not doing the task. Other problems it may cause are:
Being branded as lazy: When people notice that you haven't completed particular tasks, you can be branded as a lazy person. Not only can this affect your job or personal life (promotions and the like), but it may mean the tasks you really want to do are offered to someone else who is considered more reliable!
Creates clutter: Many unfinished tasks can leave a lot of clutter around - books, papers or other items that are needed to perform the job.
Bad for morale: There is nothing worse than knowing you have a job you need to do, and knowing at the end of the day that the job wasn't done. It can make you feel down, and even preoccupy your mind while you're trying to concentrate on other things.
You have no leeway: When you put something off, jobs accumulate. This means if an urgent task suddenly comes in, you have no leeway to drop everything and work on it - there are too many other outstanding things that need doing.
It becomes more unpleasant: The job itself may not change by putting it off, but the feeling in our mind of how unpleasant we think the job will be grows. We think about how we have to explain not doing the job to other people, and the whole situation feeds on itself and becomes ugly.
Now to be fair, sometimes procrastinating isn't a conscious action. Particular jobs just never seem to get done, even though you never consciously decided not to do them. But at other times you do make the decision not to do the job at the moment, and just put it off.
But you can save yourself a lot of mental clutter, and perhaps even more discomfort later on, if you just adopt a "do it now" attitude. Decide that you're just going to get the job out of the way when it comes it, no matter how uncomfortable it may be. By doing the job straight away, often you will realise that the discomfort you associated with the task was simply your mind feeding on itself as you were putting it off. And the sense of relief you get from finishing the task is well worth it.
So, now you know about procrastination you have to ask yourself the question - "what am I going to do about it?" Hopefully you will decide to banish procrastination from your life, and reap the rewards of that decision!
Tampilkan postingan dengan label time management. Tampilkan semua postingan
Tampilkan postingan dengan label time management. Tampilkan semua postingan
Kamis, 19 Januari 2012
Minggu, 06 November 2011
What is Time Management?
Because each of us is unique and different, we have to find out what works best for us in our own ways. This path to this starts with the basics in our own time management. Basic time management is setting up goals and plans that are reachable.
When setting goals for ourselves we should ask…”Is this goal reachable? Can I achieve this goal? What do I do to make this goal successful? Asking yourself the right questions is one basic element of developing a time management routine that works for you. Another basic element in time management is asking for help. That is a plan that helps to lead you to success.
We can’t know everything, or do everything, so sometimes you have to ask for help. When you are asking questions, you are letting others know that you are seeking a solution to a problem, or attempting to reach a goal that you have set. By asking yourself and other questions, you are relying on your own fortitude, and trusting others.
In time management, the best way to get something done is by keeping it simple. Simple means to put a plan in motion that will work smoothly and effectively that will allow you to reach the goal you have set.
When setting goals, you should scrutinize carefully which strategies might work most effectively to reach that goal. You will want a plan that is logical and uncomplicated, but that takes into account that there might be setbacks along the way. Since no plan is perfect, keep in mind when you are creating a plan for time management that things could go wrong, so that you are not thrown off when there is a crisis.
Life is too short to waste time on not getting the job done, and time is money. Learning how to manage your time effectively will help you to reach all of your goals. Everything is at the mercy of time. There is no getting around it. Learning how to manage what we can control is the best way to achieve goals with less stress.
When setting goals for ourselves we should ask…”Is this goal reachable? Can I achieve this goal? What do I do to make this goal successful? Asking yourself the right questions is one basic element of developing a time management routine that works for you. Another basic element in time management is asking for help. That is a plan that helps to lead you to success.
We can’t know everything, or do everything, so sometimes you have to ask for help. When you are asking questions, you are letting others know that you are seeking a solution to a problem, or attempting to reach a goal that you have set. By asking yourself and other questions, you are relying on your own fortitude, and trusting others.
In time management, the best way to get something done is by keeping it simple. Simple means to put a plan in motion that will work smoothly and effectively that will allow you to reach the goal you have set.
When setting goals, you should scrutinize carefully which strategies might work most effectively to reach that goal. You will want a plan that is logical and uncomplicated, but that takes into account that there might be setbacks along the way. Since no plan is perfect, keep in mind when you are creating a plan for time management that things could go wrong, so that you are not thrown off when there is a crisis.
Life is too short to waste time on not getting the job done, and time is money. Learning how to manage your time effectively will help you to reach all of your goals. Everything is at the mercy of time. There is no getting around it. Learning how to manage what we can control is the best way to achieve goals with less stress.
Rabu, 02 November 2011
To do or not to do ... That is the question!
T
Do you think Jullius Caesar worried Marcus Brutus kept a task list? Perhaps he should have!
So how do you manage your task list? WHAT ... you don't have one? Better start one today! One of the biggest challenges we have in our fast paced world is we are bombarded with information. So much so, it makes it increasingly difficult to remember everything we need to. How much could a missed commitment to a valued client cost you?
A task list will make you much more productive! Guaranteed.
To do lists, or task lists are not only for your business tasks but personal tasks as well. It doesn’t matter what system you use, be it paper or one of many excellent software programs on the market today, as long as you use it. I find Microsoft Outlook works well for me; I print a hard copy of my day's appointments and tasks. With this list at my ready reference I can add and update my list with ease. It only takes me a few minutes at the end of the day to update my electronic version.
Task lists work like this. If your brain knows that you are recording tasks that need to be done, subconsciously it relaxes. It doesn't attempt to keep looping the task around which adds to your stress as you tend to react is some way each time you "remember".
Task lists make you productive in another way as well. Pick your favourite colour ... go out and buy that colour highlighter. When you complete a task, stroke it out with the highlighter. Your brain will begin to associate the colour with success. Within 30 days you will look forward to completing the tasks and the colour reward you see. You'll become more organized and actually look forward to adding more tasks to your list with the extra time you have freed up. As productivity increases so will your personal success - guaranteed!
As I said to Brutus the other day, et tu Brutus? He replied, "You bet, I wouldn't be caught dead without my task list!"
Do you think Jullius Caesar worried Marcus Brutus kept a task list? Perhaps he should have!
So how do you manage your task list? WHAT ... you don't have one? Better start one today! One of the biggest challenges we have in our fast paced world is we are bombarded with information. So much so, it makes it increasingly difficult to remember everything we need to. How much could a missed commitment to a valued client cost you?
A task list will make you much more productive! Guaranteed.
To do lists, or task lists are not only for your business tasks but personal tasks as well. It doesn’t matter what system you use, be it paper or one of many excellent software programs on the market today, as long as you use it. I find Microsoft Outlook works well for me; I print a hard copy of my day's appointments and tasks. With this list at my ready reference I can add and update my list with ease. It only takes me a few minutes at the end of the day to update my electronic version.
Task lists work like this. If your brain knows that you are recording tasks that need to be done, subconsciously it relaxes. It doesn't attempt to keep looping the task around which adds to your stress as you tend to react is some way each time you "remember".
Task lists make you productive in another way as well. Pick your favourite colour ... go out and buy that colour highlighter. When you complete a task, stroke it out with the highlighter. Your brain will begin to associate the colour with success. Within 30 days you will look forward to completing the tasks and the colour reward you see. You'll become more organized and actually look forward to adding more tasks to your list with the extra time you have freed up. As productivity increases so will your personal success - guaranteed!
As I said to Brutus the other day, et tu Brutus? He replied, "You bet, I wouldn't be caught dead without my task list!"
Senin, 21 Februari 2011
The Importance Of Rest And Relaxation
Life is busy and it seems each year it just gets busier. Work, family, school, and other commitments just eat the day away and leave you with no time to sit back and relax. However, rest and relaxation is very important. In fact, getting enough rest is imperative to living a healthy lifestyle and when you do not relax and get enough sleep you are putting yourself at risk for illness as well as other side effects.
Side Effects of Not Getting Enough Rest
Believe it or not but the body needs enough rest each night to function properly. The amount of rest each individual needs every night differs, however the average adult needs approximately 7-8 hours of sleep each night to restore their body with the energy it needs to handle all of the demands of living each day. However, most individuals cut back on their sleep to pack more activities into their day. Unfortunately, this runs the body down allowing more viruses and diseases to attack the body because the immune system is not functioning as well as it should. Then, the individual gets sick and misses days or even weeks of all of those important activities. When you get enough rest your body runs as it should and your immune system is stronger and able to fight off infections more easily.
Also, when you don’t get enough rest you have difficult concentrating, thinking clearly, and even remembering things. You might not notice this at first or blame it on your busy schedule, but the more sleep you miss and rest you miss out on the more pronounced this symptoms will become.
In addition, a lack of rest and relaxation can really work a number on your mood. It is a scientific fact that when individuals miss out on good nightly rest their personality is affected and they are generally more grumpy, less patient, and snap easier. As a result, missing out on rest to fit in all those activities might make you a bear to be around, which is not much fun at all.
So, the next time you think it is a good idea to stay up late to complete a task or hang out with friends, think again. Of course, one night is not going to hurt you, but night after night of not getting enough rest really will.
Side Effects of Not Getting Enough Rest
Believe it or not but the body needs enough rest each night to function properly. The amount of rest each individual needs every night differs, however the average adult needs approximately 7-8 hours of sleep each night to restore their body with the energy it needs to handle all of the demands of living each day. However, most individuals cut back on their sleep to pack more activities into their day. Unfortunately, this runs the body down allowing more viruses and diseases to attack the body because the immune system is not functioning as well as it should. Then, the individual gets sick and misses days or even weeks of all of those important activities. When you get enough rest your body runs as it should and your immune system is stronger and able to fight off infections more easily.
Also, when you don’t get enough rest you have difficult concentrating, thinking clearly, and even remembering things. You might not notice this at first or blame it on your busy schedule, but the more sleep you miss and rest you miss out on the more pronounced this symptoms will become.
In addition, a lack of rest and relaxation can really work a number on your mood. It is a scientific fact that when individuals miss out on good nightly rest their personality is affected and they are generally more grumpy, less patient, and snap easier. As a result, missing out on rest to fit in all those activities might make you a bear to be around, which is not much fun at all.
So, the next time you think it is a good idea to stay up late to complete a task or hang out with friends, think again. Of course, one night is not going to hurt you, but night after night of not getting enough rest really will.
Kamis, 08 April 2010
Are You A Time User Or A Time Waster?
If you are like me, you’ve often wished there were 48 hours in a day instead of just 24. There never seems to be enough time to get everything done that you want. Since we just have about 16 hours a day not counting sleep time, it’s important how we use the time we have.
On the average, people waste about 2 hours a day. This is mainly from poor planning. If a person is unorganized, they waste time trying to find things, they miss appointments, they only do one thing at a time when they could be doing two.
Good time management is a major building block to success. Oftentimes, it’s not how much time we spend working but how efficiently we do the work. The key to successful time management is careful planning and setting priorities.
Plan your day, your week, and your month in advance. Know when things need to be done. A great way to “buy time” is to multi-task. Do more than one thing at a time. There are many things that do not require concentrated mental effort. These are more easily combined.
“Failing to plan is planning to fail,”
- unknown
Even though I am a big pro football fan, I can’t justify sitting down and spending three hours watching a game. I have to be doing other things while I do it. Thank goodness for instant replay! I’ve found this is a good time to spend icing injuries or some other busy work. I can also record the games and watch them while exercising. I exercise about 30 minutes a day so during the football season I can watch a game during the week without wasting any time doing it.
When you run errands try to do as many as you can on one trip. If you are self-employed, you can combine personal errands that are on the way to a business errand and have the mileage written off as a business expense.
I’ve been fortunate to have been able to work at home for the past ten years. It’s been great because I hate to waste time commuting. If you must commute, you can use the time to listen to audio self-improvement tapes, audio books or anything educational.
If you are a regular exerciser and belong to a gym, think about working out at home. If you lack the space and money for exercise equipment, try traditional body weight exercises. A little research on the Internet can show you websites devoted to this subject. Even though I lifted weights for 20 years, I’ve converted to body weight exercises. I’ve found they feel better and get the same if not better results. Of course, if you go to the gym to socialize or network, that’s okay. You’re doing more than one thing at a time. You can go walking with your wife. That way you’re getting exercise and husband / wife interaction at the same time.
Setting priorities enables you to get the most important things done. Keep you eye on the big picture. Don’t let low priority things bump off the higher priority tasks from your schedule. If you’ve only got so much time, it’s imperative you spend your time doing the things that bring you the most benefit.
“Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.”
– Goethe
Time is so precious. If you want to be successful in life you need to be spending more time being productive and doing things that are moving you forward. Spending hours a day watching TV, playing computer games, or surfing the Internet is not productive time usage. We all need downtime but you need to determine how much is really necessary. If you use your productive time efficiently then you will have more time to relax and do the fun things.
On the average, people waste about 2 hours a day. This is mainly from poor planning. If a person is unorganized, they waste time trying to find things, they miss appointments, they only do one thing at a time when they could be doing two.
Good time management is a major building block to success. Oftentimes, it’s not how much time we spend working but how efficiently we do the work. The key to successful time management is careful planning and setting priorities.
Plan your day, your week, and your month in advance. Know when things need to be done. A great way to “buy time” is to multi-task. Do more than one thing at a time. There are many things that do not require concentrated mental effort. These are more easily combined.
“Failing to plan is planning to fail,”
- unknown
Even though I am a big pro football fan, I can’t justify sitting down and spending three hours watching a game. I have to be doing other things while I do it. Thank goodness for instant replay! I’ve found this is a good time to spend icing injuries or some other busy work. I can also record the games and watch them while exercising. I exercise about 30 minutes a day so during the football season I can watch a game during the week without wasting any time doing it.
When you run errands try to do as many as you can on one trip. If you are self-employed, you can combine personal errands that are on the way to a business errand and have the mileage written off as a business expense.
I’ve been fortunate to have been able to work at home for the past ten years. It’s been great because I hate to waste time commuting. If you must commute, you can use the time to listen to audio self-improvement tapes, audio books or anything educational.
If you are a regular exerciser and belong to a gym, think about working out at home. If you lack the space and money for exercise equipment, try traditional body weight exercises. A little research on the Internet can show you websites devoted to this subject. Even though I lifted weights for 20 years, I’ve converted to body weight exercises. I’ve found they feel better and get the same if not better results. Of course, if you go to the gym to socialize or network, that’s okay. You’re doing more than one thing at a time. You can go walking with your wife. That way you’re getting exercise and husband / wife interaction at the same time.
Setting priorities enables you to get the most important things done. Keep you eye on the big picture. Don’t let low priority things bump off the higher priority tasks from your schedule. If you’ve only got so much time, it’s imperative you spend your time doing the things that bring you the most benefit.
“Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.”
– Goethe
Time is so precious. If you want to be successful in life you need to be spending more time being productive and doing things that are moving you forward. Spending hours a day watching TV, playing computer games, or surfing the Internet is not productive time usage. We all need downtime but you need to determine how much is really necessary. If you use your productive time efficiently then you will have more time to relax and do the fun things.
Jumat, 15 Januari 2010
5 Great Tips To Make Your Goals Your Reality
Goals are a great tool for motivation. But if you don't use them correctly, they can also be a source of frustration. Goals are only empowering if they are used properly. So how do you make a goal into something that is a benefit for you?
Goal-setting strategies are important especially for to help you create the type of success you desire and deserve. Here are five goal-setting techniques to help you realize them.
1. Balance Your Goals: In your life you will have per...
Goals are a great tool for motivation. But if you don't use them correctly, they can also be a source of frustration. Goals are only empowering if they are used properly. So how do you make a goal into something that is a benefit for you?
Goal-setting strategies are important especially for to help you create the type of success you desire and deserve. Here are five goal-setting techniques to help you realize them.
1. Balance Your Goals: In your life you will have personal development goals, personal finance goals and things goals. Don't neglect any of them. It is ok to want things, but don't forget to balance those pursuits with your own growth as a person. All of these goals are important so be clear about all of them and make them real for you.
2. Plan Actions From Your Goals: Goals are not items for your to do list. Your goal is what you are striving for. Plan specific actions that lead you towards those goals. Use the goals to provide your compass for those actions. When you plan actions for the day you can easily tell if they're going to be effective if you have clear goals to compare them against.
3. Share Your Goals: If you were an archer, would you keep it a secret that your goal is to hit the bull's-eye? Too many keep their goals a secret. Share your goals with people who will support and encourage your aims.
4. Write Down Your Goals: Make your goals real by recording them. Put copies of your goals on index cards and keep copies in the car and in the bathroom and review them regularly. Make them the center of your focus. Don't just set them and then ignore them. Your goals are like a compass to tell you which way to go. The exciting part is that you get to chose the alignment of your compass.
5. Don't Give Up: Your goals and the actions you take to get them are different things. Don't be afraid to try something, fail and try something else. Take effective and massive action to meet your goals and understand that any true goals will take many steps to achieve. Sometimes you will make a misstep, but that doesn't mean there's anything wrong with the goal. Everyone makes mistakes, but it's only those who abandon their goals who don't achieve them.
Goal-setting strategies are important especially for to help you create the type of success you desire and deserve. Here are five goal-setting techniques to help you realize them.
1. Balance Your Goals: In your life you will have per...
Goals are a great tool for motivation. But if you don't use them correctly, they can also be a source of frustration. Goals are only empowering if they are used properly. So how do you make a goal into something that is a benefit for you?
Goal-setting strategies are important especially for to help you create the type of success you desire and deserve. Here are five goal-setting techniques to help you realize them.
1. Balance Your Goals: In your life you will have personal development goals, personal finance goals and things goals. Don't neglect any of them. It is ok to want things, but don't forget to balance those pursuits with your own growth as a person. All of these goals are important so be clear about all of them and make them real for you.
2. Plan Actions From Your Goals: Goals are not items for your to do list. Your goal is what you are striving for. Plan specific actions that lead you towards those goals. Use the goals to provide your compass for those actions. When you plan actions for the day you can easily tell if they're going to be effective if you have clear goals to compare them against.
3. Share Your Goals: If you were an archer, would you keep it a secret that your goal is to hit the bull's-eye? Too many keep their goals a secret. Share your goals with people who will support and encourage your aims.
4. Write Down Your Goals: Make your goals real by recording them. Put copies of your goals on index cards and keep copies in the car and in the bathroom and review them regularly. Make them the center of your focus. Don't just set them and then ignore them. Your goals are like a compass to tell you which way to go. The exciting part is that you get to chose the alignment of your compass.
5. Don't Give Up: Your goals and the actions you take to get them are different things. Don't be afraid to try something, fail and try something else. Take effective and massive action to meet your goals and understand that any true goals will take many steps to achieve. Sometimes you will make a misstep, but that doesn't mean there's anything wrong with the goal. Everyone makes mistakes, but it's only those who abandon their goals who don't achieve them.
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