“Our life is frittered away by detail … simplify, simplify.”
– Henry David Thoreau, American author, philosopher, and transcendentalist
Image from Flickr by joshuahoffmanphoto.
Time management is one of the top priorities of most people entering a coaching relationship. When I explore with these individuals what fills their day, it frequently includes:
- Unproductive meetings
- Internet use
- Social media
- Paperwork
- Unwanted interruptions
- Traffic jams
- Lengthy commute times
- Excessive kids’ activities
- Housework
- Cell phone use
There is simply not enough day or energy to ever get it all done.
Exercise:
Try some of the following techniques to reduce the frittering and simplify your life.
1. Create a time log to discover where your time actually goes. Self-awareness is the first step toward simplification.
2. Confirm all appointments to avoid dead time.
3. Think geographically to avoid excessive travel time.
4. Plan out each day in advance, and fill your schedule with the highest value items.
5. Handle both paper and email only once.
6. Structure your telephone time.
7. Schedule appointments with yourself to work on high-priority projects.
8. Cut each meeting by one third of the time. An hour-long meeting will now be 40 minutes.
9. Conduct standing meetings.
10. Delegate between 10-20% of your list to an appropriate person.
Extra credit: you can download my Time Management Strategies and Tactics workbook at:
http://www.dempcoaching.com/download-your-free-workbooks
Enter the password barrydemp to access the page. If you have any difficulties, please email me at barry@dempcoaching.com and I will send you the workbook.