Saving 2 Hours Per Work Day is Easy!

Some people talk about the notion that they don’t have enough time. They talk and talk and talk… but they don’t take any action and change what they’ve got. They hope their circumstances change so they can benefit more from what they do.

Smart people take charge. They change their lives by doing things differently. They understand that the only change they can count on is the change they create. For those people, this is the article that can make them save 2 hours per work day. Of course everybody else is invited to read along as well. Just make sure you don’t just read. You have to read, implement, and benefit. Reading alone won’t make you save time.

This Is The Basis Of 2 Hours Saved Per Day

Since you have time to save and not time to waste, I won’t go into all the tiny details. I know you are a professional, highly educated person who can think for yourself. So here are the 4 rules you can use to start saving time.

1. Know what you want and do everything possible at any moment to get there.
2. Make a clear plan and start working consciously.
3. Learn smart working techniques (more on that later).
4. Analyze your working day and remove all that is not helping you (outsource, eliminate, etc.).

That’s basically it. When you do that, there is no way you cannot save time when working.

Smart Working Techniques

Plan Your Time

One of the most important things you can do is learn to plan your time ahead. I’m not just talking about the current day or week, but also this month and probably even this year! Many people let others dictate their schedule. This could be co-workers, your boss, customers, etc. Find out your own productive times and do what you do best during those hours.

Interruptions

Make sure you don’t just outline your day with the things you can plan, also schedule time for interruptions. That’s right, you must schedule your interruptions: all of the people who have questions, those who want to chat with you and just try to put their problems on your plate. You need to schedule this into your planning.

You could say that from 12:00 until 12:30 everybody can ask questions on whatever they want. Outside these hours, people should not do any kind of small talk. I know this may sound harsh and cold, but think about it… what is your biggest goal at work?

Are you paid to get results or be a person who talks with others about nothing all day? Small talk is great, but not all day. And of course, you can make it 1 hour in the morning and 1 hour in the afternoon, or 4 times for 30 minutes, whatever you want. Just schedule this so you can get things done!

Educate People

One reason why you will get more done using the ‘schedule interruptions’ method is because you educate people that you want to work during your non-interruption moments. Of course, the way you deliver that message also has a big impact on the way people look at you. :) Educate people with clarity and a good heart; be firm and let them know why you do this.

You also educate people by the way you work with them. You can schedule interruptions and still have this fail. Why? Because if you start to make small talk with everybody else during your normal working time then you will not set a good example.

Be the change, live the change, and change will occur! If you can’t change, how can you expect other people to change for you?

Meetings

One of my rules about meetings is this: I don’t take part if it is not really, really necessary for me to be there.

Even if my presence is needed, I make sure that I influence or change the agenda in such a way that my sections are at the beginning. I enter the meeting when it starts. I leave when the meeting has discussed my points.

Also, when a meeting is really unstructured and seems to go nowhere, I tell people I have to leave. My time is really valuable and I don’t want to waste it. Doing what I do best has more impact than sitting with a group of people who are sitting there to kill time.

Does this work? You bet! Do I get to see strange faces when I leave? In the beginning, people thought this was strange. When I explained to them why I do this, they usually understand.

Email

Oh boy… the big one. The one thing that most people start at the beginning of the day and close when they go home is their email client.

When you need distractions, and you have lots of time, you must keep your email client open. If not, close it. Don’t open it until the end of the morning. Process all your emails and close the tool again. Then, at the end of the day, you open up the email tool and process your emails again.

When this is working out for you, only go through your emails once a day. Just imagine, before you had a look at each email coming in — all the time you were losing, a minute reading that email and responding to it (another 1 to 2 minutes). That means 2 to 3 minutes per email.

Just say you receive 40 emails each day (that few??? Yes, because this is an example). 40 emails mean 40 distractions and 80 to 120 minutes of email time.

Now you do this only once and you see immediately that things are solved via email by others, things are no longer relevant, etc. You can email back faster because you see all of them. Perhaps you include a couple of people in one response. You can easily save 60 minutes alone on your email time!

Reading Materials

Yes… you can save time when reading. You probably heard about speed reading techniques.

Now don’t go wild and imagine that you need to read with 1000 or perhaps 2000 words per minute to make a real difference.

Imagine you read 2 hours each day. When you double your reading speed, you save one hour each day. Simple stuff, yet you are able to save lots of time. And that is done by just doubling your reading speed! The beauty is that you can do that easily in a couple of short sessions. Then, from that moment on, you can read twice as fast as you did before.

The Result

What do you think will happen when you start applying these ideas? Do you think 2 hours per work day is a lot or just the beginning? I am sure that the moment you do what you learned here, you will be on your way to wonderful working days again.

You will be home on time, have lots of free time, accomplish more, and have less stress. The biggest pitfall is this: you look at what you just read and think “I know this stuff and it works,” but you don’t actually use it on a consistent basis. When you don’t use this every day and you just think about the article… you just wasted a couple of minutes of your own time.

Sorry to be this direct, but you know in your heart this is the truth.

Action Points

People who want more time take one of the items above and use it for at least a week. People who want to change their lives, have a lot more free time, accomplish a lot more in the time they have… they start using all of this right now! These are the people who will benefit the most.

Action point: use what you read

Action point: if you don’t use what you read, stop talking about the fact that you don’t have enough time. You now have a way to do and be more in the time you have each day.

Action point: Make a list of things you want to accomplish with the 2+ hours you get each working day from now on. You need this :)

Read The Original Article Here

A rant from the heart, hip and head

10 Tips for Time Management in the Workplace

Are you having difficulties managing your time at work? Here are a few quick suggestions for boosting your productivity and improving time management in the workplace:

Question Yourself

It’s easy to get caught up in mundane “busy” work that distracts you from more important projects. Always ask, “Is this the best possible use of my time at this exact minute?” If not, stop what you’re doing and direct your efforts toward another activity that is going to give you a bigger payoff.

Shut Your Door

If you find it hard to get your work done because of drop-in visitors, don’t be shy about shutting your door to discourage interruptions. Of course, you don’t want to lock people out all day long, but this is a particularly useful technique when you really need to concentrate for just an hour or two.

Tame Your Technology

Do you find your entire day eaten up by phone calls and emails? You may think that you’re being efficient by responding the second a new communication comes in but many times, the reverse is true. Send your calls to voice mail and turn off your email notification. Then check your messages once in the morning, once after lunch, and once more before you leave the office. You’ll be able to respond to important issues as they come up, and still have time to get some actual work done!

Clear The Clutter

Some people have a hard time staying focused because the piles and stacks distract them from the task at hand. Clear the clutter off of your desk and other visible surfaces, then only have out what you are currently working on. That way, your eye (and your attention) won’t be drawn away as easily.

Write It Down

If your mind can’t seem to settle down, and you keep thinking of the million OTHER things that you have to do, keep a pad of paper on your desk and write down each of these to-do’s as they occur to you. Emptying them out of your head will allow you to stay focused on the task at hand, without fear of forgetting something important.

Organize Paper To-Do’s

Rather than simply piling all of your paperwork into a single “in-box” tray, consider setting up a series of action files in a rack or box on your desk with one for each type of to-do. You might have a folder for “to file,” one for “to read,” one for “to contact” or whatever makes sense for your job. When you receive a new stack of paper, take a second to sort it into the appropriate files, according to the next step you need to take with each item.

Schedule It

A lot of folks are great about creating to-do lists, but never seem to get around to marking any of the items off! If you face this sort of challenge, try actually scheduling each to-do on your calendar. Commit a chunk of time on a specific day to each item on your list and you will be amazed at how quickly you get it all done.

30 Seconds Or Less

Not all to-do’s are created equal nor do they all take the same amount of time. Some items can be completed very quickly (like bookmarking a website, filing a business card in your Rolodex, or entering an important number in your cell phone). When a to-do crosses your desk, ask if it can be completed in 30 seconds or less. If so, just go ahead, do it, and get it over with -- just one less thing to have to worry about later!

Sometimes, It’S Okay To Procrastinate

This one is a corollary to the previous rule. It’s not always the best use of your time for you to tackle a to-do right when it comes in. Let routine items that have no set deadline and that take a bit longer pile up (in a folder, not in a stack) for a few days, then tackle the whole batch at once.

Consolidate Routine Actions

Hopping back and forth from one activity to another is a big time-waster. If you file a piece of paper then make a call then send an email then file another piece of paper, your brain has to switch gears at each step. Instead try to complete all of one type of to-do before moving on to the next task. Make all of your calls, do all of your filing, and then send all of your emails. You’ll find that you move faster and get more done in a shorter amount of time when you’re in a groove!

These may seem like simple tasks but combined they add up to a great improvement in efficiency and time management in the workplace.

By: Ramona Creel, Professional Organizer

Read Original Article Here

Hints to The Purpose of Life

6 Tips to Improve Your Time Management Skills

When you learn and maintain good time management skills, you’ll find freedom from deadline pressure and from stress in general. You’ll be more productive, procrastinate less, and have more time to relax, which helps further decrease stress and anxiety.

Time management skills are like shoes or a good pair of jeans — you may have to try several pair before you find just the right fit. They’re different for each person and you have to find what works best for you. Below are a few that work for me which you may want to borrow.

1. Make a list.The thing about making lists is that you actually have to use them. You may want to set reminders on your phone and computer.Lists really do work if you use them. One of the most important things is to make sure your list feels attainable. No one wants a 30-item to-do list and have to, at the end of the day, look at the 20 items that didn’t get done. Prioritize yours and others’ needs and plan accordingly. You might even want to make three lists — personal, home and work.
2. Set deadlines. Again, there is no point in setting deadlines if you make executive decisions to always push them back. Set a deadline and try your best to stick to it. Set your deadline a few days before the task absolutely has to be done. This allows for the possibility that other things will get in the way, but also allow for you still to get the task done.
3. Stop multi-tasking. Multitaskers often seem to think they get more accomplished, but it’s not always the most productive or efficient route. Let’s face it, our minds work better when we are truly able to focus and concentrate on one thing.
4. Delegate responsibilities. For those of us who like to be in control the very thought of this is likely to provoke a bit of anxiety. The truth of the matter is that no matter how good we are, we can’t do everything. Sometimes we take on more than we can handle. Delegation is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of intelligence. Find competent, reliable people and share some of the responsibilities. It will allow you to be less stressed and more productive.
5. Use your downtime. This tip requires some balance. Using all of your downtime for planning and prioritizing is bad and can lead to increased stress and burnout. However, if you find yourself sitting in early morning traffic, this may be a good time to start prioritizing your day or making plans for dinner. If you’re waiting in the doctor’s office, this may be a good time to write the grocery list. (Just don’t forget it.) If you have opportunities like these make the best of them, but also remember to use them for relaxation as needed.
6. Reward yourself.When you accomplish something, celebrate it! How you celebrate is up to you. My word of advice is to keep whatever you choose to do healthy, make sure it’s something you really enjoy, don’t do it in excess, and don’t let it cause you to get further behind.Time management skills are an essential part of making your day just a little easier. Find what works for you and stick to it.

Read More Here 

Be Present: 5 Ways To Embrace How Spectacular Right Now Is

A lot of the time, we, as humans, worry about the past and fantasize about the future.

It is this perpetual cycle that keeps us from recognizing what’s going on around us.

In other words, it’s looking at what’s behind us and ahead of us instead of what’s right in front of us.

If you’ve ever taken an improvisational comedy class, you’ll know that being in the moment and reacting to what’s happening RIGHT NOW is all that matters.

That’s one of the key lessons in improv, and the same goes for life.

In life, the only time that should ever matter is right now. Except, in this day and age, sometimes we get caught up in our own mental time machine that only has two settings (past and future).

We can change how we live and how we interact with the world around us right now.

Here are five ways to start being “here” instead of traveling to the past or future:

Listen With Your Eyes, Not Your Ears

Listening is one of the most important aspects of being in the moment.

This means when you’re interacting with someone, you’re not in your head thinking about what you’ll say next or how you can interject into the conversation.

If you’re talking with a friend, listen to what he or she says by actually looking at him or her.

We all know the one-uppers out there who just talk so they can tell you how great their lives are.

In reality, they’re only one-upping you because they have a myriad of self-esteem issues.

Don’t be one of those people, and if you are one of those people, change it up. Don’t be someone who’s just waiting for a chance to talk. Really think about how you interact with people now.

Do you look at your phone when you’re talking or are you looking in someone’s eyes?

There is huge difference in how you listen when you’re looking at someone.

There’s no distraction; it’s just you and him or her. By actively taking note of how you listen and communicate, you can make a significant change in how present you really are.

---

Disconnect From Social Media

We spend way too much time online.

We spend countless hours on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, etc. New and upcoming app? Boom. Installed. Account created.

In this day and age, we are in need of constant reassurance. Is this funny? Is this worthwhile?

Will anyone like this? We ask ourselves these questions constantly, which leads us to invest more time in social media to find the answers.

With each photo, tweet or status, we look for validation.

We take photos of every waking moment so they can sit in the cloud somewhere untouched, never to be viewed again.

We try to capture the moment in a photo when in reality, being there and feeling every other stimulus, like sight, sound, taste and smell, is what’s really important.

It’s an evil cycle and we’re all guilty of it.

However, by taking time off, you allow yourself to reset. Taking a break allows you to start appreciating the real world that’s around you rather than the digital façade that you’ve created for yourself.

Take a break for a week by either deactivating your account or uninstalling the apps on your phone to spend more time looking up than down at your crotch.

Another way to be in the moment is to turn off your phone.

The next time you’re on a train or a plane, turn it off for a few hours and come back later. The world won’t end because you can’t check your phone.

Turn it off before you go to bed, and if you use the phone as your alarm clock, put it on airplane mode.

---

Go On A Retreat Or A Vacation

There is no better way to be in the moment than by going on a vacation and admiring the world around you.

Also, it’s your way to connect with someone else, whether it be friends or family.

Vacations allow you to escape from the stresses of the world or of the grind you’re currently in. They allow you to once again stop and smell the roses.

The main objective, though, is to focus on the trip rather than trying to capture the trip in a photograph or status.

Schedule a getaway for the weekend with your husband, wife or family members and go sit by the beach with your toes in the sand.

---

Write Down Your Appreciations

Another way to really be present is to write down the things for which you’re appreciative.

Each day, stop to write down something about which you’re happy happened that day.

It is this task that allows you to acknowledge the now and appreciate it for all it’s worth.

Sometimes, you’ll have good days and sometimes, you’ll have bad days, but there’s always something to be grateful for — whether it be your health, relationships or just the fact you are able to read, write, walk or talk. Some people don’t have those luxuries.

So, right now, take out a paper and pen or open up a word document and write, “I’m happy for…,” at the top.

Then, finish that sentence at the end of the day, before you go to bed. In addition, make sure you keep track of this list.

While the point of this whole thing is to be in the present and not worry about the past, it can be a great motivator to look back at all the things you’re happy for and all that you’ve accomplished.

---

Right Your Wrongs

One of the main reasons we worry about the past is because of some event or experience that we regret.

It’s important to first note what’s bothering you and then actively pursue making it right.

If you’ve hurt someone and you constantly think about it, give him or her a call and apologize. It is this regret that stops us from progressing and moving forward in our lives.

We can’t advance because we just keep reliving the event in our heads in a loop. Make the decision to rectify it so it never happens again and you can sleep peacefully.

For example, in Alcoholics Anonymous, compiling a list of the people you’ve hurt and then making direct amends with them are two of the 12 steps on the journey to sobriety.

With that, you can see that the proof is in the pudding.

Making amends allows you to rebuild relationships and reconnect with those who you’ve hurt or who have hurt you so that you can move forward mentally, spiritually and physically.

Saying “I’m sorry” also helps you rebuild your character and it says a lot about the kind of person you strive to be.

Ultimately, we all need to start being more present.

It’s ironic how the advent of technology has allowed us to be more connected with people all over the world, yet so disconnected.

By doing some or all of the above, you’re allowing yourself to take hold of your life.

You can’t change the past and you can’t predict the future, but you can live in the now.

Now, go start living.

Read The Original Article At Elite Daily

Work Smarter, Not Harder: 21 Time Management Tips to Hack Productivity

Synopsis

“Don’t say you don’t have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michaelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein.” ― H. Jackson Brown Jr.

A lot of folks in our society try to be hyper-productive.

You know — the people who scurry from task to task, always checking e-mail, organizing something, making a call, running an errand, etc.

The people who do this often subscribe to the idea that “staying busy” means you’re working hard and are going to be more successful.

While this belief may be true to an extent, it often leads to mindless “productivity” — a constant need to do something and a tendency to waste time on menial tasks.

Instead of behaving in this way, I choose to do things differently.

Working Smarter, Not Harder

The old adage, “work smarter, not harder” has become a staple in the way I go about work of any kind.

Instead of being robotic in how I approach tasks, I try to be thoughtful and always ask myself if something can be done more efficiently or eliminated altogether.

Managing my time isn’t about squeezing as many tasks into my day as possible. It’s about simplifying how I work, doing things faster, and relieving stress.

It’s about clearing away space in my life to make time for people, play, and rest.

I promise you — there really are enough hours in a day for everything you’d like to do, but it may take a bit of rearranging and re-imagining to find them.

21 Time Management Tips

I compiled this list of 21 tips to hopefully nudge you in the right direction.

Remember: There are innumerable hacks and tricks to manage your time effectively. These are some tips that I find helpful, but everyone is different.

Let this list be a catalyst to get you thinking regularly about how to refine your own practices.

1. Complete most important tasks first.

This is the golden rule of time management. Each day, identify the two or three tasks that are the most crucial to complete, and do those first.

Once you’re done, the day has already been a success. You can move on to other things, or you can let them wait until tomorrow. You’ve finished the essential.

2. Learn to say “no”.

Making a lot of time commitments can teach us how to juggle various engagements and manage our time. This can be a great thing.

However, you can easily take it too far. At some point, you need to learn to decline opportunities. Your objective should be to take on only those commitments that you know you have time for and that you truly care about.

3. Sleep at least 7-8 hours.

Some people think sacrificing sleep is a good way to hack productivity and wring a couple extra hours out of the day. This is not the case.

Most people need 7-8 hours of sleep for their bodies and minds to function optimally. You know if you’re getting enough. Listen to your body, and don’t underestimate the value of sleep.

4. Devote your entire focus to the task at hand.

Close out all other browser windows. Put your phone away, out of sight and on silent. Find a quiet place to work, or listen to some music if that helps you (I enjoy listening to classical or ambient music while writing sometimes).

Concentrate on this one task. Nothing else should exist. Immerse yourself in it.

5. Get an early start.

Nearly all of us are plagued by the impulse to procrastinate. It seems so easy, and you always manage to get it done eventually, so why not?

Take it from a recovering chronic procrastinator — it’s so much nicer and less stressful to get an earlier start on something. It isn’t that difficult either, if you just decide firmly to do it.

6. Don’t allow unimportant details to drag you down.

We often allow projects to take much, much longer than they could by getting too hung up on small details. I’m guilty of this. I’ve always been a perfectionist.

What I’ve found, though, is that it is possible to push past the desire to constantly examine what I’ve done so far. I’m much better off pressing onward, getting the bulk completed, and revising things afterward.

7. Turn key tasks into habits.

Writing is a regular task for me. I have to write all the time — for school, work, my student organization, my blog, etc. I probably write 5,000 – 7,000 words per week.

The amount of writing I do may seem like a lot to most people, but it’s very manageable for me, because it’s habitual. I’ve made it a point to write something every day for a long time.

I rarely break this routine. Because of this, my mind is in the habit of doing the work of writing. It has become quite natural and enjoyable. Could you do something similar? 

8. Be conscientious of amount of TV/Internet/gaming time.

Time spent browsing Twitter or gaming or watching TV and movies can be one of the biggest drains on productivity.

I suggest becoming more aware of how much time you spend on these activities. Simply by noticing how they’re sucking up your time you’ll begin to do them less.

9. Delineate a time limit in which to complete task.

Instead of just sitting down to work on a project and thinking, “I’m going to be here until this is done,” try thinking, “I’m going to work on this for three hours”.

The time constraint will push you to focus and be more efficient, even if you end up having to go back and add a bit more later.

10. Leave a buffer-time between tasks.

When we rush from task to task, it’s difficult to appreciate what we’re doing and to stay focused and motivated.

Allowing ourselves down-time between tasks can be a breath of fresh air for our brains. While taking a break, go for a short walk, meditate, or perform some other mind-clearing exercise.

11. Don’t think of the totality of your to-do list.

One of the fastest ways to overwhelm yourself is to think about your massive to-do list. Realize that no amount of thought will make it any shorter.

At this point in time, all you can do is focus on the one task before you. This one, single, solitary task. One step at a time. Breathe.

12. Exercise and eat healthily.

Numerous studies have linked a healthy lifestyle with work productivity. Similar to getting enough sleep, exercising and eating healthily boost energy levels, clear your mind, and allow you to focus more easily.

13. Do less.

This is a tactic recommended by one of my favorite bloggers, Leo Babauta. Basically, do less is another way of saying do the things that really matter.

Slow down, notice what needs to be done, and concentrate on those things. Do less things that create more value, rather than more things that are mostly empty.

14. Utilize weekends, just a little bit.

One of my favorite memes depicts a gentleman casting his work aside, declaring, “It’s Friday! F#%$88u this shit.” The following image reads “Monday”, and the man is stooping to pick up the papers he’d tossed to the ground.

This is comical, but I’ve found that it’s amazing how doing just a little bit on weekends can really lessen the workload during the week. Aim for 2-4 hours per day. You’ll still leave yourself plenty of free time for activities.

15. Create organizing systems.

Being organized saves tons of time, and you don’t have to be the most ultra-organized person in the world either. Systems aren’t complicated to implement.

Create a filing system for documents. Make sure all items have a place to be stored in your dwelling. Unsubscribe from e-mail lists if you don’t want to receive their content. Streamline, streamline, streamline.

16. Do something during waiting time.

We tend to have a lot of down-time where we don’t try to do much. Waiting rooms, lines at the store, time on the subway, on the elliptical at the gym, etc.

Find things to do during this time. I tend to have a lot of reading for classes, so I bring some of it almost everywhere I go and read during waiting time.

17. Lock yourself in.

No distractions, no excuses. Sometimes, the only way I’m going to get something done is if I’m under lock and key, alone in a room. If you’re like me, realize it, and act accordingly.

18. Commit to your plan to do something.

I kind of mentioned this already, but it’s worth repeating. Don’t flake on your own plan to do something!

Be resolute. Be committed. Be professional about it, and follow through. A firm will to accomplish what you decide to accomplish will take you anywhere.

19. Batch related tasks together.

Let’s say that over a given weekend you need to do two programming assignments, write three essays, and make two videos. Rather than approaching this work in whatever order you feel, group the like tasks and do them consecutively.

Different tasks demand different types of thinking, so it makes sense to allow your mind to continue to flow with its current zone rather than switching unnecessarily to something that’s going to require you to re-orient.

20. Find time for stillness.

In our go, go, go world, too many people don’t find time to just be still. Yet, it’s extraordinary what a stillness practice can do. Action and inaction should both play key roles in our lives.

Discovering time in your life for silence and non-motion reduces anxiety and shows you that there is no need to constantly rush. It also makes it easier to find your work pleasurable.

21. Eliminate the non-essential.

I know this one has been mentioned in one capacity or another already, but it’s one of the most useful tips you can take away from this post.

Our lives are full of excess. When we can identify that excess and remove it, we become more and more in touch with what is significant and what deserves our time.

One Last Tip (The Best One)

There’s one final tip I want to mention. If you remember one thing from this post, remember this:

Enjoyment should always be the goal. Work can be play.

We get so caught up in busyness that we forget to enjoy what we’re doing. Even when we focus on working smarter, we’re still often too focused on getting things done.

This should never be the point. Always ask yourself: What can I do to spend more time enjoying what I’m doing?

The goal should be to arrange your commitments in a way that you’re happy living out the details of your daily life, even while you’re working.

This may sound like a pipe dream, but it’s more possible than ever in today’s world. Be curious. Be open to opportunity. Know yourself. Embrace your passions.

Wonderful things will happen. Best of luck implementing these tips, and let me know if I can do anything else to help you.

Your Friend,
Jordan Bates

http://www.creativitypost.com/create/work_smarter_not_harder_21_time_management_tips_to_hack_productivity