It’s all about FOCUS!
Time is our most precious resource. Once it’s gone, there’s no getting it back. so it’s vital that we make the most of our time. Though we refer to time management as if it’s a skill, in reality you can’t manage time – there are never going to be more than 24 hours in a day, no matter how much you may wish there were! All you can do is to ensure that the time you do have is used effectively, by focusing on the important stuff that will make the most difference to your business.
Here are our 10 quick tips to help you make the best use of your time:
1. Be Decisive!
Procrastination will get you nowhere; it’s almost always better to do something than to do nothing! So don’t just sit there overthinking – make a decision, and take action!
2. Set Goals!
Setting clear goals and objectives will give you more focus. Make sure your goals are SMART:
- Specific,
- Measurable,
- Achievable,
- Results-driven,
- and have a Timeframe attached.
Then be ruthless – if your task isn’t moving you towards your goal, then delegate, dump or defer it!
3. Prioritise!
Write down all your tasks and use a system to prioritise them. Recognise the difference between urgent and important tasks, and take time to do the important and minimise the urgent. Remember that 80% of your success will come from 20% of what you do, so focus on that 20%!
4. Plan Ahead!
Draw up a daily work plan each evening for the following day, so you’re clear and confident of what you need to achieve that day to move you towards your goals!
5. Know the Value of Your Time!
Calculate the cost per hour of your time. If you’re spending time doing tasks that could be done more cheaply or efficiently by somebody else, then pass them over!
6. Eat that Frog!
Always do the least favourite task on your list first, so you can get it out of the way and enjoy the rest of the day, without that feeling of dread hanging over you!
7. Systemise!
Systems stand for: Saving Yourself Stress, Time, Energy and Money, so systemise wherever you can! And remember, writing down systems and processes means you can pass the task on to somebody else and not always have to do it yourself!
8. Don’t Spin Too Many Plates!
Concentrate on one task at a time and finish it before moving on to the next. Spinning too many plates only leads to broken crockery!
9. Work to Live!
Work to live, don’t live to work! You need to have a healthy balance of work and life. Smart people spend money to get time!
10. Use Your Down Time!
Make time when you’re away from work to improve your learning, prepare and plan, so you can be more efficient and effective in the workplace.
