The Use Of Time Management

Time Management Exercises? What the heck? But seriously. Time management is a skill, and as with all skills, practice makes for improvement if not necessarily perfection. But what sorts of exercises could help you practice time management? Read on and find out!
Just like you can exercise your muscles and your brain, you can build your time management skills by practicing some of the sub-skills that are involved.
And as I was looking around for ideas about time management exercises, I remembered where I had read the perfect exercises to practice those sub-skills: In an old book that had been sitting on my bookshelf for years. That book was on dieting, but its lessons apply just as much to making the most of time, especially by getting a grip on procrastination.
The book, "How to get yourself to stay on any diet," whose author is Charles Whetherall, starts from the premise that in order to be successful at dieting, you must exercise your willpower. No, not merely use your willpower, though that is included, but to literally give it a regular workout so that it will get better at keeping you on track.
While this is no longer necessarily considered the ultimate solution to dieting -- although that varies from guru to guru, it can be very useful for reducing problems with procrastination. In fact, these same exercises might work even better on time management than on dieting.
So what are the exercises? To some degree, they all involve doing specific activities, whether or not you feel like doing them. I'm sure you can immediately see the ramifications of that particular approach.
The types of exercises in the book include:
1) Doing what's disagreeable (like washing the dishes or cleaning the bathroom).
2) Doing what's pointless (like counting a bag full of dried beans or the number of ribs in a sweater.
3. Doing something immediately, whether you feel like it or not.
4) Postpone doing something you would prefer to do right away.
Whetherall argues that doing these kinds of exercises regularly will strengthen your willpower and help you get a better handle on your diet. And, by extension, as time management exercises, they can also help you reduce procrastination.
Then again, isn't there a better way? Of course there is! Check out my favorite time management course for a very different, much less painful, and much more effective approach. Start applying the techniques and watch your productivity double and even triple.
While it's designed especially for internet marketers, it will also be very helpful to professionals from other fields -- basically anyone who has time management challenges.
Find out more by clicking here: Time Management Course. It has made a huge difference in my own life, and I'm very excited to be able to share it with you.
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Professionals who don't understand the secret of time management are doomed to futile complaints about "needing more hours in the day," "running out of time" and "not being able to remember all they have to do." They also falsely believe that time can actually be managed, in the sense that money, food or employees can be managed. These mistakes in thinking about time, and time management, keep professionals in a state of stressful denial, as they look for solutions in all the wrong places.
The fact that time is impossible to be managed is not enough, however, for those who are interested in having a practical peace of mind in the midst of their daily activities. Instead, they need to understand that the essential building block of all time management systems is something they can control -- a habit or practice. Every professional who works uses some kind of system that they developed themselves, and they are all comprised of habits. However, most of them also don't understand that their habits need to cover the 11 fundamentals of time management if they hope to produce the peace of mind they desire.
Some might get lucky, and teach themselves practices that provide full coverage. Most, however, suffer and complain that their memories are faulty, they are lacking hours in the day and that they are always running out of time. What are the 11 fundamentals that a time management system needs to cover in order to be effective?
They can be divided into 7 Essential and 4 Advanced Practices, which must be customized by professionals into habits that they can comfortably support. In the following definitions, a “time demand’ is simply a decision that a user makes to complete a task that requires a time expenditure. To-Do lists for example, are lists of time demands. So are the messages in our email Inbox that we intend to work on later.
The Essential Practices
1. Capturing: placing time demands in reliable places for temporary storage, using as few places as possible, and never using one’s memory! These “reliable places” are called capture points.
2. Emptying: moving these time demands from capture points into other parts of our time management system
3. Tossing: after some consideration, deciding not to perform an item that’s in a capture point
4. Acting Now: immediately executing time demands that can be completed within 5 minutes
5. Storing: placing information that needs to be used later in a safe place (such as an email address or URL)
6. Scheduling: deploying time demands into a calendar as a set of appointments that include oneself, or also other people
7. Listing: sorting numerous time demands into lists that are too detailed to be scheduled in a calendar (e.g. a grocery list)
The Advanced Practices
1. Interrupting: creating ways to signal the start of a new time demand in a way that forces the user to make a decision about switching
2. Switching: deciding what to do next, once a time demand is complete
3. Warning: being advised that one’s time management system is about to fail
4. Reviewing: proactively maintain one’s time management system to ensure that it is working as planned
Within each of these practices it's possible to move from a level of basic learning to that of mastery. The choice is the user's, and it's one that they can make as they grow as a professional and take on increasing responsibilities, with a commensurate rise in the number of time demands that they must handle each day.
A professional who makes a conscious choice to develop some capability in each fundamental, according to their needs is one who is taking charge of a critical aspect of their lives. They don't complain about what life has given, or not given them, and instead focus on practicing the fundamentals until they achieve the level of mastery they need for their lives to work.
They have found the hidden secret of time management.
Francis Wade is the author of the 2Time website, plus several articles, presentations and courses that focus on Tmme Management 2.0. See http://2time-sys.com for more information.
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Managing time means to organize and prioritize our time in such a way that we can achieve maximum benefit out of the short time available at our disposal.
The great dividing line between success and failure can be expressed in five words; "I did not have time." - Franklin Field.
All of us often say that, "I want to do that, but I don't have time."
Learning to manage time is a universal problem faced by employers, employees, students and home managers alike. Everyone complains that there are not enough hours in a day to complete the work.
When we complain about the shortage of time we often forget that all the great personalities in the world had / have exactly same hours in a day, month, and a year which we have then, why we are not so successful or not able to manage our time as they did?
The essence of time management is to make constructive use of time in the most beneficial way to achieve personal as well as professional goals. The results of one's efforts are directly attributed to the time management skills they develop and employ.
Time management is one of those skills which no one teaches you in the school but you have to learn on your own.
Time management is not a device to make you work harder and longer, rather it is a means to help you "work smarter." to accomplish your work more efficiently and effectively. Time management should be such that it gives you room for work, rest leisure and social activities as well.
Below are the few points that I would like to highlight for managing one's time effectively and efficiently:
1. Know your prime time, that is, it should be the time when you can give your hundred percent to your work. Some people like to work early morning and some at night. Always start important work at this time.
2. Be organized, in whatever you are doing whether, you are at office or at home. You can use calendars; prepare a list of to do things for long term / each day or week.
3. Plan ahead; find out the time that a particular task is going to take. Consider any activities that can be combined or any big tasks that can be broken into smaller tasks to save time.
4. Have a vision, of the broader picture as to why you are doing this, what are your personal and professional goals; know what is important to you whether these are conflicting? Have positive attitude to take the decision.
5. Set up, smart goals which are achievable. Don't set impossible goals.
6. Avoid procrastination, one simple way to avoid this is, do one thing each day which you don't want to do. It is natural human tendency to postpone the things for the next day. Know your weak points and overcome them first.
7. 80 / 20 rule, this rule is very important in effective time management; it suggests that, 80% of the work which is not done without focus can give only 20% results whereas 80% of results can be achieved with 20% of focused work done by managing the time properly.
8. Learn to say no, interruptions and demands from an external environment can be an obstacle in achieving your goals. You can manage this by diplomatically handling the situation with your friends or relatives, and telling them that you are busy in something without spoiling your relations with them.
9. Ease your work plan, a little bit and hey, remember that good time management is not only managing your time in relation to work but it also relates to managing personal time as well. Strike a right balance between the both.
10. The golden rule which should be remembered by everyone is that, "Do it right, the first time." Try to complete the job in the first time itself as; it will save the time to do another job.
The crux of this article is that, we should respect time and make full utilisation of it, to make our lives better and more manageable.
Time is one of our most valuable resources. Time well spent is worth much more than gold. Time management helps you finish your job effortlessly. By allotting the time properly to each job, you don't have to worry about how and what is the next thing to be done. With time management you become more organized and the things you do become more habitual than panic - driven. Once it becomes a habit you will become more productive. As Aristotle rightly said, "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is then, not an act, but a habit."
My name is Sonali Saripalli. I am a Chartered Accountant and a full time working mother in a corporate job. I am a very compassionate person always ready to help others. I like to do social service and believe in giving back something to the society. I strongly believe in Love and good values of life. I feel that only love and kindness can change the society as well as world. My areas of interest are reading, music, travelling, driving, learning new things and writing.
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Time management tips that inspire you to renew and deepen your gratitude also energize you, every single time you open your heart. If you really want to experience new zest, learn how to genuinely appreciate and care for your life, starting right now.
Cultivating the gift of gratitude is a powerful way to ground yourself and prepare yourself for any challenge. Gratitude enhances healthy humility that is based in self-respect. It also helps you assess your strengths and redirect your energy. The following reflections provide a fresh window of understanding to your inner powerhouse.
Finding Time for Gratitude - 5 Central Insights.
Gratitude's 3 Gifts to You.
Gratitude immediately enriches your life in 3 ways:
- How you look at your world,
- How you move through your days, and
- How you experience your moments.
It is a fundamental value, and the ultimate way to make full use of your time. In "Character Strengths and Virtues" by Christopher Peterson and Martin E. P. Seligman, gratitude is defined as "an enduring thankfulness that is sustained across situations and over time."
There are two types of gratitude, personal and transpersonal.
Personal gratitude is about thankfulness towards an individual, whereas transpersonal gratitude is a constant and fundamental appreciation of the world.
Gratitude is a very special gift to children.
According to studies, gratitude develops between 7 and 10 years of age. However, I believe that if a child is raised in an environment of appreciation, both specific and general, and if it is spoken about often and consistently, gratitude will begin to develop at an earlier age. At the very least, the child will be surrounded by positive energy.
Experience and express appreciation to others specifically and frequently.
How many times a day do you actively thank someone? And how often do you feel the energy of awe and wonder? Don't deprive yourself or others of this wonderful, free gift that strengthens relationships!
As an informative exercise, jot down each time you feel grateful for anything.
After 3 or 4 weeks, go over your documentation and identify patterns in your gratitude. Are there days when you are so absorbed in the activities of daily living that you "forget" life's gifts? What does this tell you? What happens to your energy? Do you habitually see the glass as "half empty" or "half full"?
There is a simple and wonderful exercise I've practiced for many years. It was reinforced in the Vanguard Authentic Happiness Coaching Course I participated in several years ago.
Enjoy the "3 Gratitudes" Exercise!
Each night, right before sleep, list at least 3 gratitudes you are aware of for that day. These blessings can be anything you notice and appreciate.
Recently, I asked a client if she was continuing her nightly gratitudes. She vigorously nodded. "It keeps me positive," she responded.
And it does. It helps you maintain enthusiasm, even in challenging times. Soon it becomes automatic to appreciate your moments.
Now ask yourself: How can you generate still more gratitude today by finding more time?
To take your next step, sign up for our free gift, "The New Finding Time Boundary Template: 9 Simple, Sequential Steps to Find More Time and Recharge Your Energy!" at http://www.findingtime.net/ezine.html
This time template will help you move beyond overwhelm, disappointment, and frustration. Using a workbook format, with room to record your answers, you will discover that 24 hours really are enough!
And for even more time thoughts and techniques, visit our blog at http://www.thetimefinder.com
Offered by Paula Eder, Ph.D. The Time Finder Expert.
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It is sad to see lots of people living as though they have all the time in this world in their hands. If I may ask you: What do you do with your time? You see, time is the longest and yet the shortest thing in the world. It is the swiftest and yet the slowest, the most divisible and the most extended. It is the least valued and the most regretted, without which nothing can be done. It is the most perishable commodity and its supply is limited to only 24 hours.
You may be cajoled into thinking you have all the time to do all you want, and then relax, only to realize you have wasted your whole life without achieving anything meaningful. As said in Psalm 90:12: "Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." You need wisdom to manage your time because it is your greatest asset given to you by your creator to make an impact in your generation.
A wise man continuously works to redeem his time in order to achieve maximum productivity. Henry David Thoreau wrote: "It is not enough to be busy; so are the ants. The question is: What are we busy about?" We must not allow good things to crowd out essentials.
Management expert Peter Drucker identified this leadership principle: He said that "good leaders need to regard first of all not their task, but their time." Never allow yourself to be deceived. The things you ought to have done in the morning may not be possible to achieve at night. Even Jesus declared by saying, "I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one works." There is time and season for everything.
Time management is crucial to utilizing your potential. You should know that time works against you if you do not manage it. Not redeeming your time is one major monster against achieving personal goals. Some say there is no time. This is a lie; you only have time for what you create time for and what you consider very important.
As noted by Charles Buxton "You will never 'find' time for anything. If you want time you must make it". It is your personal responsibility to make time for what you want to achieve in life. Developing a mental consciousness of "no time to waste" should put a spring in your feet to work doggedly in achieving all your set goals before the night comes on you.
Managing your time will effectively help you achieve greatness. Time is a key factor to fulfilling your destiny. Your all round success in anything can only be attributed to your wise use of time. Time is the defining divine gift of mortality. It is the ultimate scarce resource we have--one of the most essential decisions any of us can make is about how one's time is allocated or invested. Benjamin Franklin notes: "Lost time is never found again."
We all have equal time and no one is deprived of it. We can only deprive ourselves when we lack the proper management and effective use of our time. How we use our time determines the result we expect to achieve---either success or failure. It's a choice.
Below are tips on how to manage your time effectively:
(1) Spend time planning and organizing. Plan on paper! Develop blocks of time: Short Term, Mid Term, and Long Term. Organize in a way that makes sense to you.
(2) Determine your goals and objectives. Goals give your life, and the way you spend your time, direction. Set SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely) goals.
(3) Identify your personal and work- related priorities. Make an ABC of your activities: A-Must, B-Should, C-Nice/Necessary, D-Delegate, E-Eliminate.
(4) Consider your biological prime time. Knowing when your best time is and planning to use that time of day for your priorities is effective time management. Remember that 3 hours of unbroken time is more than 4 days of distracted work.
(5) Use a To-Do list. Pen down the activities of your day and follow it meticulously. This particular strategy has really worked tremendously for me over the years. It helps you track where your time is going at each moment of the day.
(6) Avoid procrastination: If you are a regular reader of my articles, you could still remember we dealt extensively on this topic in my previous write-ups. Form the habit of doing what need to be done at each moment in time. Never wait or delay any task that demands to be accomplished. Eradicate procrastination!
Finally, you make time to make things happen. You can never have time for anything except you make time for it to happen. Time does not wait for anybody. Whether you are working, sleeping, or playing, the time is in motion ticking towards eternity. If you truly want to unleash your potential, live a fulfilled life, achieve your set goals and objectives, then, you must catch up with time by managing yourself in it. It is dangerous to be living outside time.
Elvis Ukpaka provides impact-FULL Leadership, Self-Improvement and Business Development training and coaching solutions to high profile individuals and organizations. His reputation for helping people achieve peak performance at work, and in life, derives from a burning passion to deliver unparalleled value, by empowering his audience to actualize their potentials to become successful leaders and high performers.
To gain access to more of Elvis' tested wisdom and insight, on how to achieve peak performance - and leadership - that gets the NEEDED results, go to http://www.elvisukpaka.com, to signup for his Peak Performance Leadership Newsletter. You can reach Elvis directly via
Email: elvis@elvisukpaka.com or
Phone: 234-802-367-1070.
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Time is a very valuable resource that cannot be replaced. Therefore, it is very important that we make the best use of our time each and every day. It seems as though our tasks outnumber the hours we have available for them, and the things we most enjoy doing are sometimes not able to fit into our schedules. So, how can we really know if we are spending our time wisely? A good way to measure this is to examine whether or not we are spending time on things that reflect our personal values.
If you chose to sit down and write a list of all of the things you wanted to participate in and accomplish in one day, you most likely would find it impossible to make it happen, given the number of hours there are in one day. This is why prioritizing is important and necessary. Sometimes it is difficult to prioritize what is most important, because everything seems important or urgent. However, assessing what you truly value in life can provide a very solid foundation for how you choose to spend your time and the overall quality of your life. It helps you to gain control of your life instead of letting your life control you.
Although prioritizing is very important when it comes to making the best use of your time, it does not stop there. It is very important to figure out what your priorities and intentions are, but intentions need a plan and strategy. Intentions fade away into nothing without a clear plan of action. In this situation, a clear plan of action can be choosing to plan your week in advance so that you have a sense of direction for each day and how you will be spending your time.
This will help to set the tone for your week and give you a sense of how your week will flow. Remember, it is important to always remain flexible, even if you have this plan in your hand. I like to think of it more as a guide to get you back on track if you find yourself straying from what you set out to accomplish. It is there to remind you about what you most value and would like to accomplish.
Of course we cannot always plan for everything in life and inevitably other important things will come up and we will have to reevaluate how we will be spending our time. The key is to consciously make choices in life that are right for you instead of letting yourself get caught up in the hectic haze of life. When you begin to feel like you are on the hamster wheel, overwhelmed by life and its endless expectations, it is a good time to step back. Realize that every day, every minute, you have a choice. Choose to create the life you were meant to live.
Danielle Fischetti is a Wellness Coach dedicated to helping people achieve optimal wellness in their lives. She helps people to bridge the gap between where they are and where they desire to be in the areas of fitness, nutrition, stress management, time management, and lifestyle choices. As a coach, she helps her clients to achieve clarity, stay focused on their goals, and continue to progress toward desired results. Visit her website at http://www.journeywithinlifecoaching.com
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One of the biggest struggles for an entrepreneur is how to get focused. I think it's in an entrepreneur's DNA to have to contend with the focus monster. It is, however, imperative that you create a system for being able to focus on the most important tasks (high value) in order to reap the benefits. Here are five strategies you can use immediately.
F- Find the time. This means carving out a block of time that is dedicated solely to the highest value tasks. Grabbing 15 minutes here or there, jumping from one thing to the other, and trying to multitask are not conducive to using your time most productively. Allot specific times for specific tasks.
O- Optimize your surroundings. Clear physical clutter away, it's distracting. Don't set papers aside, deal with them then and there. Some people work well with music playing in the background, some do not. Some people like to have a snack handy, candles burning, etc. Recognize your work style and plan accordingly.
C- Chunk it. If a task seems overwhelming (and let's face it, owning a business IS overwhelming.) Break a large task down into sequential steps that can be crossed or checked off (SUCH a psychological boost!). This is also a great way to see where you are running into problems.
U- Uninterrupted time. This means just that! Shut the door, turn off the email, Twitter, whatever else is a distraction for you. I don't recommend more than 1 hour at a time, however, you must decide what works best for you. Still stand and stretch if you need to, but this time is devoted to a specific task(s) and should be treated as sacred.
S- Systematize. This tends to sound overwhelming and it is often the most misunderstood method of increasing focus and productivity. Creating systems could be as easy as batching your writing in one day, scheduling business calls at certain times, getting templates or hiring someone to do your low value tasks.
Using these five techniques will help you become better at focusing and optimizing your productivity and increasing your bottom line.
To learn more about adding a variety of success tools to your toolbox you can download my free report "The Success Minitoolkit" when you visit http://www.thetoolboxteacher.com
Danielle Miller
The Toolbox Teacher
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Not enough Hours? Then its time to stop and take the time management quiz.
Spending the right amount of time at work and at home and at social events is critical to living stress free - and tired. This situation arises because people often have too many competing priorities and have not decided what for them is the correct balance in their life - at that time. The key is good time management.
Life changes and our priorities change - sometimes we have to give more attention to things that we would prefer not to be doing at that time. To put it another way: immediate priorities compete with more endurable goals.
What we can do is recognise this and plan a route to a changed situation. Even if we cannot change what we must give most attention to, the mere fact that we re-assess and confirm this (maybe only to ourselves) and then establish a timescale for future change will usually have a positive effect upon our morale.
If this is you, then stop, find half an hour and sit calmly - if appropriate with your spouse or partner - and address the following questions:
How much time do you spend on different activities? What do you value most - are you doing as much as you would like doing that?
How much time do you spend on "relaxation" activities, and then afterwards only feel like you have "passed the time" and wish you had done something else?
If when watching TV you sit and channel hop, then later you will probably feel that the time has been largely wasted. Do you do this at all?
Could you simply readjust your schedule to avoid spending time doing things you would not otherwise do? For example could you avoid traffic jams, or idling time whilst you simply wait for others?
Could you persuade others to adjust their schedule so that you can more easily align your schedule to avoid "dead" time?
Could you do chores differently, or at a different time, or with another person, or with some other distraction, so that they would feel a little more "fresh"? Could others help you - if you have children are they old enough to help you and would they benefit from taking some responsibility?
Could you rearrange jobs in order to do two things together?
Could you be better organised so that you save time - for example if you look round your home, does it look visually well organised or disorganised?
Do you delay starting some tasks because you do not like doing them . If so can you share that task with someone else, or could you do it whilst doing something else?
Do you feel that you have too little time to start and finish tasks, so do not even attempt to start? - typical signs of procrastination that can be overcome.
Are you in good physical condition? Getting sufficient exercise, sleep and a well balanced diet will improve your physical condition, which in turn will improve your general feeling of well-being.
Making individually minor changes to our day-to-day routines can significantly improve our situation. Remember the list of suggestions provided above are only examples of what you might do, but should be sufficient to set you thinking about what would be appropriate for your personal situation.
If this has struck a chord with you, don't just read and dismiss it. Commit to making some changes. A good start is to make an open declaration of intent - do it now!.

This is a topic I've written on before, but it bears repeating -- there seems to be two different kinds of people in this world -- those for whom 'fun' is the primary preoccupation, and those for whom work always comes before play.
I was raised in the latter group. And later in life, when I became a single mom, the list of things that counted as being on the 'work' list was never-ending. In fact, work always came before play.
So that's how I raised my girls -- unfortunate that they were girls, because -- as women -- we tend to be that way, anyway. Always thinking about what needs to be done for the kids, the boss, the husband, the house, church responsibilities, etc. So, once again, the list of things on the 'work' list is never ending.
And therefore, the time for fun keeps getting postponed. Unless there is someone else who could sometimes take the reins, take over the 'responsibilities' and let me go and have some fun.
Well, guess how often that happens ... -- duh!
The only reprieve I got in those days was in the garden. I could go into the garden at the end of a long, stressful day, with a headache the size of tomorrow, and emerge, a couple of hours, later a new person. I didn't realize it at the time, but that -- for me -- was how I experienced 'fun'.
In my work now with burned out clients and care-givers, I define fun as 'any activity that so occupies your attention you lose complete track of time'. That's a fairly broad definition. But we women have different needs when it comes to letting loose.
Some of us just need to go out with the girls and enjoy a 'hoe-down'. Others are rejuvenated after an afternoon of meditation. Still others need time alone, in the garden, at the library, or just going for a long hot bubble bath.
Whatever it is that rekindles the juice in you, it is imperative that you indulge yourself on a regular basis. I tell my clients that they need to do so at least weekly (daily is better). Doing so makes you more able to give, more fun to be around, and gives you a reason to get up every day. My clients regularly tell me that they not only sleep better, feel more invigorated, enjoy sex more, but often find themselves earning more money -- how great is that?!?!!
So here are some ideas to help you bring that balance between fun and responsibility to a realization in your own life:
First, realize that fun takes many different forms for us -- if 'fun' for you is time alone, time at the library, getting a massage, going for a swim or a walk all by yourself, then be OK with that. You don't have to go out and act like a wild woman, dancing on tables in bars, or partying up with your friends. Do what 'feels good' to you -- and savour every moment of it.
Second, don't allow anyone (and that includes your inner critic) to make you feel guilty for needing this. Do you think for a minute that your husband feels guilty for taking a Saturday morning to go golfing with his friends? Nuh -uh!
Third, start making time in your calendar to do this -- make an appointment (you don't have to tell everyone what it is. I had a friend who after she'd had her fourth child, told her mother-in-law that she had a therapy appointment, so that the m-i-l would babysit. What she didn't tell her m-i-l was that her therapy was RETAIL THERAPY -- she went shopping!!!!) You can be creative about this -- join a tai-chi group, a quilting or scrap-booking group, meditate, do yoga, go see a movie -- whatever get's your groove back.
Finally, once you start to see how much better you feel, don't blow it by being generous with your time and taking on more 'responsibilities' or 'obligations'. Get comfortable slowing down, having 'me-time' and feeling relaxed. Your family will appreciate it more than you can imagine. And they won't even know ... which makes it all that much better.
So take the time you need to experience fun, or joy, or bliss -- whatever you call it. You're worth it. You deserve it. And you'll be a better person for it.

Time - you won't create more of it, and you'll never have enough of it.

Time is your most valuable commodity. It comes at you fast, and runs away from you even faster, often leaving you wondering what happened to it.

During my school years, and again in my early working years, I learned that the busier I kept myself during the day, the faster I lost time. The day seemed shorter when I avoided inactivity, and I felt like I spent little time working, and a lot of time at home, so I stayed as busy as possible during my working hours.

As I advanced into higher positions, and my responsibilities increased, I realized that I never had enough time to complete all of the tasks my career required.

Seemed like I always fell behind.

Then I lucked into a seminar on time management that exploded that bright light of an Aha moment inside my head. I built on that seminar with some self-study, and grew my time-scheduling techniques until I reached the point of not only completing those tasks I needed done, but also completing those tasks in smaller and smaller periods each day.

Perhaps you read that last paragraph and think, "How is it possible to accomplish everything I need in fewer hours when I can't get most of that stuff done in a full eight hour work day?"

Well maybe my experience can help you answer that question, but you must realize that these techniques take discipline, and if you don't truly want to increase your productivity while shortening your time consumption, you won't.

One technique of time management routine that I recommend is scheduling your activities:

At the end of each workday, take time to schedule tomorrow. List every task for tomorrow on paper, categorize each task, and then organize your tasks in order of how you'll work on them.

A. Your first category is "Important And Urgent Tasks." This category is for tasks that have importance to future gains, and carry the appearance that completion must happen immediately. For instance something you can complete gives you a strong step toward a promotion, but it has a deadline of "by the end-of-day tomorrow."

B. The next category is "Important But Not Urgent Tasks." These tasks, if successfully completed, give extreme impact on gaining an important goal or increasing your bottom line income. An example here is a task that leads you toward that promotion if you finish it, but you have all week to perform the task.

C. Category 3 is "Urgent But Not Important Tasks." These efforts have an air of immediacy, but won't particularly mean personal gain. A ringing telephone represents urgency, but some calls are nothing more than a waste of your productive time. These tasks are best delegated to someone else as they provide you with no personal growth.

D. Category 4 is "Not Important, Not Urgent." Working on tasks in this category totally wastes your time. Give these tasks to someone else, or simply throw them out.

Place the "Important And Urgent Tasks" at the top of your daily schedule. Commit your time to working on these tasks, and focus strictly on these tasks until completion of every one.

Start work on the "Important But Not Urgent Tasks" only after finishing your first category efforts.

If you have time remaining after completion of the Category A & B tasks, work on the "Urgent But Not Important Tasks." Don't concern yourself if you don't complete all of these, they rarely represent any dramatic impact to the future of your career.

Working on the first two categories will demand most of your every day activity, and you'll most likely never arrive at your "Not Important, Not Urgent" category. That's okay; those tasks never do much for you anyway.

Make this scheduling technique a habit, and you'll amaze yourself with how much you accomplish. And you'll enjoy admiration from your superiors and co-workers too.