Why is time important to you in your life.

Create systems

As much as flying by the seat of your pants is exhilarating, the best families, organizations, and businesses function at peak performance when systems are in place to deliver an agreed level of performance.

The better the system used, the better the outcome.

Look at other families – what systems are they using, is it more organized than you or not.

Look at a business – what systems are they using?

Looking at these systems, both in your business and personal life, may give you some time back.  With more time available you may be able to produce better goods or services for your clients, complete household chores and enable you to enjoy more quality time with your family.

Remember systems are the secret formula to success in any human effort.

Stop Procrastinating

We all have 24 hours in a day and we all must sleep and eat, so let us say you are left with 12 hours a day to be productive.  Have you ever thought about what you could achieve if you got off your backside and fulfilled what you have been dreaming about?

You could, however, choose to talk yourself into action with either a rich reward or a punishment – if that works for you.  Only you can motivate yourself.

If this is a major problem then schedule your time and do what needs to be done and I can guarantee you will be surprised with yourself.  If you need help with this my advice would certainly be to get yourself a good coach.

So, what are you waiting for?

Analysis Paralysis

So many people want all the details, before doing anything, and then they find themselves paralyzed before taking the steps forward.

These people believe that they need all the answers to move forward with their life,  becoming overloaded with information – going round and round in circles. Your best advice is to get started, we will never have all the answers all the time.

The main thing is to stay flexible, you can always correct your course of action as you move forward.

Remember to make the best decision with the information you have available.

GIve yourself deadlineS

The energy and motivation you receive from giving yourself a deadline is important to your completion of the task.

Setting realistic deadlines keeps you focused, motivated and organized so that you can get your work done in a timely manner. If meeting deadlines sends you into a panic ask yourself “Why?”

You may need to discuss things with a coach, but please do not fret.

The more you challenge yourself to achieve what you want, the sooner you will reap those rewards you so rightly deserve.

Remember to do what you say you will do on time, and you will transform your life.

Make your breaks productive

How do you spend your coffee breaks?

Do you take five minutes to recharge your battery?  Do you respond or reply to important tasks, messages, or return important phone calls? Do you engage in conversations with someone in your field?  Or do some reading of a good Personal Development book, or do you just drown yourself in drinking coffee?   Counting down the minutes of the day till you can down tools and go home.

I like to make every minute of every day count.

Working out 15 minutes breaks x 500 breaks per working year = 25 hours of wasted time or valuable time you choose how to use.

Leave work at work

This can be challenging when you’re working from home.   I have found by closing the door on my work space it does seem to stay in there.

Like on a football pitch the two opposing teams are kept separate from each other.

Now you can spend quality time with the people that matter most to you, being present and able to engage.

Remember never to let work come between you and what matters most.

Create a file system

This can save valuable time keeping your important papers in order, saving you hours if you know where all your important documents are kept.

So, for example, you can have all your car documents stored under C or your house documents stored under H and all your self-employment information under T for the taxman, making life a lot easier for you.

When I was growing up the number of times my Dad would say to my Mom “put this in a safe place”. The safe place was so safe, they would spend ages searching, leading to arguments that could have been avoided which would certainly have saved both stress and time.

Set your filing system up and you can forget it and know where things are when needed.

Keep an Idea in a file

This is an outstanding idea that does work.  When was the last time you woke up in the middle of the night with that amazing idea and swore to yourself you would remember it … the secret of the universe that came to you in a dream!  Only to fully wake up hours later racking your brain for that quote or that bit of good information or idea.

Have a notebook and pen by the side of your bed so that when you have an amazing idea you can make a note of it.  This will mean you can find your ideas easily and then organize them e.g. in alphabetical order, so you will know where to find them when you need them.  (NB This also works for night time worries that keep you awake, allowing you to deal with them in the light of day – even if that is burning them!)

This ideas file will become an amazing goldmine that you can use when you need inspiration.

Remember the point of keeping an ideas file is to keep your ideas organized and in one place, so you do not have to scramble to find them or remember them.

Leverage your Time

Ask yourself how is your time best spent?

When are you in your best working zone?

Ask yourself what are the moments and activities that produce the best results in the most productive time. If your emails need sorting and you are using public transport maybe you can delete your junk mails and emails that are rubbish, or you have dealt with.

Remember when time stands still – keep moving. Also, reread the 80-20 rule.