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Blog: Simplify Your Life
 Trimming The Time Management Fat
If you ask a group of people to define "time management", they will probably talk about getting it all done, crossing items off of a list, and being productive. However, good time management is not the ability to cram more and more into your day. It's a mindset that helps focus your time on those activities that are most valuable and meaningful to you.
Getting The Right Things Done
There's a lot of confusion out there about what it means to be "efficient" -- some see this as the holy grail of time management. But there's more to using your day wisely than just how much you accomplish. Efficiency means getting a lot done in a short time -- effectiveness happens when you also invest your energies in projects that matter to you.
Think back to a time (maybe yesterday) when chunk of your day was eaten up by a menial task, like checking email. You may have gotten through hundreds of messages, even emptied your in-box, yet still felt vaguely dissatisfied with your effort. It didn't seem as though you actually accomplished much -- because it wasn't a task near and dear to your heart. The good news is, it's easy to change these mindless habits -- all it takes is a conscious choice to spend your time differently, and a little planning:
- when you come home, leave the TV off and find a more meaningful way to decompress (go for a walk, read a book, play with your kids) -- review the TV schedule once a week, find those shows you really care about, and record them to watch later without commercials
- get into a routine of checking email no more than 3 times a day (morning, noon, and end of the day) -- turn off the "you've got mail" alarm and program your system to only download emails on command
- if you lose track of the world while web-surfing, set a timer to go off in 15 or 20 minutes -- then make yourself get up and turn off the computer when it dings
- for 30 days, shop only from a list -- only go to stores that carry the item you need, and if you don't actually need anything, don't go to the mall in the first place
- set aside a single "errand day" each week and sit down with your family to plan your list -- put everything you need in one basket by the door, and plot your route in advance to avoid backtracking -- if someone forgets an errand, either insist that it wait until the next errand day, or let them do it themselves
- take 5 minutes to sort through incoming papers every day -- put "to-do" papers into a tickler/action file, and set aside time once a week to file and handle to-do's -- set up a spot for papers you're currently working on, and take 5 minutes to clear your desk before you leave each day
See if you can't trim some fat from your schedule -- just a few simple changes will free up hours each week. But don't waste this bounty -- be sure to put that bonus free time to good use. Block off room in your calendar for those important projects you've been neglecting -- and don't allow anything to interrupt you. If someone asks for your time during that slot, let them know you can't because you already have another appointment (you do -- with yourself!) And enjoy the satisfaction you get from spending your time effectively!
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posted on: 2/7/2012 11:30:00 AM by Ramona Creel
category: General Organizing Tips
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Simplify Your Life
by Ramona Creel
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About Ramona:
I have been a Professional Organizer for more than 10 years, I am a NAPO Golden Circle member, and I was the original founder of OnlineOrganizing. I have worked one-on-one with scores of clients and have trained dozens of newbie organizers as they got started in the industry. I provide both hands-on and virtual coaching to help clients improve their organizing skills and simplify their lives. I invite you to visit my website at http://www.RamonaCreel.com, and I challenge you to find one new idea that you can put into practice in your life, to help you become better organized, starting TODAY! I am passionate about coaching folks toward a more balanced, productive, and enjoyable life -- and I firmly believe that if I can do it, so can you!
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