Statistics show most people are only productive between twenty-five minutes to four hours per day.
Frightening, isn’t it?
When life is busy and we feel overwhelmed, our to-do list feels like we are fighting a battle we are never going to win.
That is not the truth, you can win, however, like anything worthwhile it will need action from yourself.
The thought of controlling your own time management can feel like there is a big rock about to fall off the tip of the cliff above you, landing on top of you, squashing you so much, that all people can see are your feet and arms wriggling, and hear your voice screaming for someone to lift the rock off you and show you how to control your time.
That’s where I step in. I’m going to share with you five tips that will help you achieve more time in your day.
Here are five things that steal some of your time every day in no particular order:
- Emails – how often do you check your emails during the day, not only check them, read them, reply to them, send them, why not set one time during the day to do this, first thing in the morning, if you get a lot, maybe set two times, start of the day and near the end of the day, giving yourself some time, so you can reply to those that are urgent.
- Meetings – how many meetings do you have that are unnecessary, do not move you or your business forward, how many go overtime, stealing time you had planned for other things. Take note and cut out the ones that don’t benefit you in any way and put time limits on those that do.
- Open door policy/phone calls from family or staff – are you getting interrupted at all times of your day? Put some rules in place to stop this from messing with the flow of your day. No business or staff calls after 5 pm, and no family calls between 9-5 (if that is your working hours), unless important of course. Set the timeframe that works for you and train others to stick to it.
- Cell phone/text messages – this is a big one, how often do you see someone not carrying their phone with them, do me a favour next time you do and look at the relaxed smile on the faces of people who don’t carry theirs. Unless you are receiving a phone call, or need to make one, don’t pick up your phone, the temptation to look at Facebook, Google, WhatsApp, or check in on the many apps you have downloaded, are all massive time wasters. If you are having dinner, leave your phone in another room, be present.
- You – by far the biggest saboteur of your time is you. We are responsible for our own hours, what we chose to do and how we spend our time. We all have the same, yet some people achieve so much more. Look out for any unhealthy habits that have crept into your days and stop doing them.
If you look out for these time stealers, slow them down, or stamp them out altogether, you will find extra hours you thought were gone forever.
