By
Kyle Robbins
Your time is valuable. It’s a limited, finite resource that, once used, can never be reclaimed. Yet too many people waste it with little or no thought to the ramifications. By getting a full understanding of how your time is spent and spending the time to ensure you understand your priorities, you will be able to stop wasting time and live a more meaningful, full life. Learn how not to waste your time and live a more productive and happy life in 7 easy steps:
2. Create a list every morning. Write it down. And stick to it.
3. Value your time and learn to say no.
4. Take time to find out what you do well and what needs improvement.
5. Understand all ramifications of major decisions.
Kyle Robbins
Your time is valuable. It’s a limited, finite resource that, once used, can never be reclaimed. Yet too many people waste it with little or no thought to the ramifications. By getting a full understanding of how your time is spent and spending the time to ensure you understand your priorities, you will be able to stop wasting time and live a more meaningful, full life. Learn how not to waste your time and live a more productive and happy life in 7 easy steps:
1. Prioritize your day.
Often we
are more efficient when we are the most busy. Take the holidays for
example. We have a list as long as Santa’s and seemingly no time to get
it done, yet we do. So let’s learn from that and prioritize tasks like
it’s just before your holidays. Create a list containing everything that
must be done that day. That will help you prioritize your day and not
waste time on things that don’t matter.
2. Create a list every morning. Write it down. And stick to it.
Planning
out your day and the steps that need to be taken for it to be
successful is the quickest way to stop wasting time. You need a visual
reminder of what needs to be done and how much has been completed. This
can’t be done “in your head”. Be clear on what you need to do. It needs
to go on a sheet of paper, in your phone, emailed to yourself, or placed
on your desk each and every day. Most people don’t realize they are
wasting time until it’s too late. Plan ahead and ensure you know exactly
what you need done each and every day.
3. Value your time and learn to say no.
Make
sure you value all your available time. Helping others is a great
thing, but stop pleasing people at the expense of your own productive
time. Ensure that your lists and tasks get done before helping others.
By focusing on staying productive in the tasks that you do, you will
find you will have much more time to help others without cutting into
your productivity.
4. Take time to find out what you do well and what needs improvement.
Be
proactive about becoming more efficient. Track your time for a few days
and find out the pattern you spend time on. Write down everything. If
you spend 5 minutes checking Facebook, write it down. You may find that
those 5-minute distractions add up to a much larger chunk of wasted time
than you expect. Be sure to look for trends. Did a task take longer on a
certain day? Did you find that you’re more productive in the morning or
just after lunch? Find the time when you’re most focused and the tasks
that need the most concentration, and put them together.
5. Understand all ramifications of major decisions.
Major
decisions, changes and projects can seem like a great decision, and
often these changes need to be made. But large, sweeping changes often
lead to inefficient management of your time and wasting time. Take the
time to think through and project out how these decisions will play out
in the long run. Who will be affected, and what might the response be?
By understanding the ramifications, you can better steer clear of the
pitfalls of productivity that a new major change can bring.
6. Keep your mind sharp…
A
healthy person of mind and body is a productive person in practice.
Learn something new every day, read a book or study a second language.
Don’t give up habits that help you warm up; rather, continually work out
your brain. You’ll be more productive and perceptive.
7. And your body fit.
The
same is true of your body. Spending 30 minutes, three times a week can
do wonders for your energy levels. An active person will be a more
productive person. You’ll sleep better and your time awake will be more
focused and productive.
Never forget how valuable
your time really is. Taking time to reflect about your current
processes, focus on planning your future endeavors and taking care of
you body and mind will continue to make your time more productive and
your life more fulfilling.
Source: http://www.lifehack.org
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