A Publication of Lighthouse Consulting Services
you actually can.
Delegate: Assign routine duties or special projects to others when you
can. This will free you up to do more important tasks.
Learn to Say No: I would venture to say that saying no is
the most important part of effective time management. Many people
constantly overcommit themselves to projects and tasks, rather than
having quality time for themselves and their family. If you have
problems saying no then you might want to get some assistance to
further develop this skill.
Break It Down: A very effective method to starting difficult
projects is to break it into smaller, more manageable tasks. This can
help to avoid procrastination, and transform overwhelming projects into
easier tasks. If procrastination has become a chronic habit for you,
dig beneath the surface to find out what is stopping you from getting
things done. Some people procrastinate,
because of some fear, like failing to do the project right or perfect.
Discovering the source helps to heal the problem. Again, get help when
needed.
Organize Thyself: Strive to eliminate clutter from your
workspace by creating an easy to access filing system and keeping your
work areas cleared off. Don’t let reports and papers pile up -
either file or dispose of them as soon as you can. File trays,
horizontal or vertical, are very helpful to store paperwork that is
currently being worked on.
Throw It Out!: Every two to three months, set a day aside and purge your files - both computer and regular files. Put this day on your
appointment book and keep your appointment with
the trash can. You'd be amazed how much stuff can be tossed or deleted
and how good you will feel!
Quiet Time: Designate a quiet hour or so to work on major
projects. If possible, close your door and post a “Do Not
Disturb” sign or make sure everyone in your area knows not to
disturb you to avoid interruptions.
Treat Yourself Right: Be sure during the workday to take
walks, get something to eat or close your eyes for a few minutes. Also
important is a healthy diet and an active exercise routine. This will
help improve your concentration and productivity.
Time management is a difficult skill to master. Start with some small
steps. Soon you will find you are controlling events and tasks that are
within your power, rather than them controlling you.
This information contained in this article is not meant to be a substitute for professional counseling.
Permission is needed from Lighthouse Consulting Services to reproduce any portion provided in this article. © 2000
New Developments at LCS
We would like to introduce a new section that we are very excited
about. We have a number of strategic partners that can be found on our
website. Some of our
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