Ten Tips to Master Time Management
November 1, 2009 | 2 Comments
“Until you value yourself…..you will not value your time; until you value your time…..you will not do anything with it.” – M. Scott Peck, Author
Time management, as anyone who works with me would know is one of my big complaints, issues, concerns. It’s also one of the most frequent things that people rate themselves lowest on in things like performance reviews.
Today I just wanted to provide you with some simple tips to improve your time management, efficiency and productivity.
1. Eliminate these words from your vocabulary: “I don’t have time” This one’s a tough one and although this is one of my aims I’ll admit that sometimes they do slip out, but my aim is consistent – to eliminate them. The next time you go to say those dreaded words, just remember – you have exactly the same amount of time as everyone else, you have exactly the same time amount of time in your day as the Olympic Swimmer who gets up at 4am, you have the same time amount of time in your day as Presidents and World Leaders who run entire countries. Eliminate the words because what you’re really trying to say is: “I don’t want to make time to do that”, and that’s quite alright too! The next time you go to say I don’t have time, imagine if that task you’re saying you don’t have time for was a family member at hospital – you’d have time to get there, so what you really need to decide is “Does this deserve my time”.
2. It’s an oldy but a goody – start each day by getting rid of your most despised task. Nothing ruins a day like dreading a task you have to do later in the day.
3. Set rewards for yourself if you can achieve all your tasks, find out what motivates you. For me – it might be that if I can get through these three hard tasks I can eat some of the doughnuts that one of my team brought into work today. Another great thing about that reward is that if I procrastinate – the doughnuts will be gone! Another great thing to do is to buddy up with someone and become accountability partners for getting your tasks done.
4. Unless you have the worlds best memory (I don’t) Make Lists. When someone gives you a responsibility, write it down, whether you record it in your phone, your organiser, email yourself, write it on the back of a panadol packet – it doesn’t matter how, write it down! Nothing’s worse than the feeling of waking up in the middle of the night thinking – oh no, I forgot to do that.
5. I’ve never been a huge believer in labeling tasks A, B, C in order of their importance. I’ve tried this system and it doesn’t work for me – of course that doesn’t mean it won’t work for you. What I try to do instead is what I call Little Things First. What this means is that when I get an email, if it’s small or has a small task, I’ll get rid of it quickly rather than continually come back to it over and over again. I have many recurring tasks in my diary and the small things on my list are gone by about 10.30am usually. Leaving me the bulk of my day to work on larger projects.
6. Set or get deadlines for your tasks. When setting yourself a task or getting one from someone else – always find out when it needs to be done by. Then diarise an appropriate amount of reminders before the due date.
7. Work / life balance seem to the be buzz words all over the world at present – but you really do need to put time and energy into this area. Schedule in time to relax, time with family, time reading, time with your partner – if it’s in your diary and your commit to it, you’re less likely to neglect it.
8. My desk at work is my haven. My trays work for me. Now I can’t tell you what the best desk system is for you, all I know is that if yours doesn’t make your day easier – change it, constantly change it until you get something that works. For me, I don’t allow anyone to put anything on my desk. My assistant is allowed to put things in one tray and one tray only, everything else is put in my communal pigeon hole. I have a single out tray – this simple tray stops me from getting up 20 or 30 times a day as much of what comes in to me needs to go elsewhere in the office. I have a tray full of non urgent things to read, when I get time, I start going through it. I have a tray full of things I’m waiting on others for and I have an email folder full of these sorts of emails – my diary prompts me with a recurring reminder to check through these two areas. Whatever works for you, works for you, just take some time to find it!
9. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. What’s worse – asking for help once or doing the task incorrectly or incompletely 5 times, or even worse, hiding the work! It happens, don’t be a victim of the “scared to ask” disease.
10. Your mind isn’t a computer, use your computer to help your mind become like one. Each week on a Friday a little reminder comes up in Outlook telling me to send out my weekly email. Each week on a Wednesday I’m told I have two meetings first up. You’re not a machine, use your technology to its best advantage.
“Nothing is a waste of time…if you use the experience wisely.” – Rodin
Copyright/Reprint Info – The contents of this article written by Kirsty may be copied, reproduced, or freely distributed for all nonprofit purposes without the consent of the author as long as the author’s name and contact information are included. Example: Reproduced with permission from the Kirsty Dunphey weekly email. To subscribe to Kirsty Dunphey’s weekly email, go to www.kirstydunphey.com
See more at: www.kirstydunphey.com
Kirsty Dunphey
http://www.articlesbase.com/strategic-planning-articles/ten-tips-to-master-time-management-95502.html
Questions To Ask A Construction Contractor
November 1, 2009 | 6 Comments
Are you in need of a repair or renovation to your home? If this sounds like something you are dealing with, you will more than likely need to contact a construction contractor. By doing this, you will be able to get further information on your project so that you can make a decision on whether or not you want to proceed.
Construction Contractors
When you are hiring a construction contractor, there are a few questions that you will want to be sure to ask. In other words, never hire a construction contractor without asking them questions about price, details, and prior experience. If you do, you may end up wasting a lot of time and money in the long run.
1. The most important question to most people is how much the project will cost. When you ask this question, make sure that you get specific answers. It is better off to get the answers up front instead of finding out half way into the project that your construction contractor needs more money. Get all of the pricing details in writing so that you can fall back on it if necessary. It’s important that your contractor lay it all out for you on paper. Get a total estimate of the project as well as a breakdown of what each stage will cost you. That way, you can check to make sure that your on track throughout the project.
2. Ask what type of experience they have. Even though a construction contractor may have a lot of experience with certain projects, they may be out in the dark when it comes to what you are asking for. To take things a step further, you may even want to ask for references. Many people are afraid to do this, but it should be a common step in the hiring process. Don’t just choose whoever does it the cheapest. If you choose someone who is cheap, but they don’t do a good job, you’ll have to redo it which will cost you more money in the end.
3. Make sure that your construction contractor has enough time to complete your job in the time frame that you need. At this time, construction contractors are in great demand. You will want to make sure that they will be working on your project as scheduled in order to ensure timely completion. By setting a completion date up front you will be able to avoid any problems as far as this is concerned.
John Morris
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/questions-to-ask-a-construction-contractor-64259.html
