Time Management Tips
Whether you spring clean your calendar in the spring or not, you probably think of spring cleaning as the process of really getting to the core – clearing, cleaning and purging every nook and cranny – and this process can benefit your time management as well. If you are overwhelmed with task lists, to-do lists, and appointments, then try “Spring Cleaning” your calendar!
Sometimes you just keep doing what you’ve always done because you’ve always done it. But maybe a regular meeting no longer has value to you and you want that time for something else. Or perhaps you find yourself running out of work time at the end of the week because you let other activities into your schedule earlier in the week.
Whether it’s done in the spring or not, you probably think of spring cleaning as the process of really getting to the core – clearing, cleaning and purging every nook and cranny – and this process can benefit your time management as well. If you are overwhelmed with task lists, to-do lists, and appointments, then try “Spring Cleaning” your calendar!
Sometimes you just keep doing what you’ve always done because you’ve always done it. But maybe a regular meeting no longer has value to you and you want that time for something else. Or perhaps you find yourself running out of work time at the end of the week because you let other activities into your schedule earlier in the week.
Here are three simple steps you can take to Spring Clean and organize your calendar.
Spring Cleaning Step 1 – Start by making one HUGE list of everything.
- Things you “need to do”
- Things you “want to do”
- Things you “should do”
- Things you “are doing”
You can capture these tasks on paper, in your iPhone, on your laptop. The medium does not really matter; just get everything out of your head. Don’t worry if the tasks are important or not, just capture them.
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Spring Cleaning Step 2. Prioritize.
- Put an “A” next to every task that is IMPORTANT NOW
- Put a “B” next to every task that is IMPORTANT SOON
- Write a “C” next to the tasks that are IMPORTANT SOMEDAY
- Finally, put a “D” next to the tasks that MIGHT BE IMPORTANT SOMEDAY.
Look at all the “A” tasks. Are there any tasks in that category that you can delegate to someone else? A key question to ask is, “Am I the only one who can do this task?” If you can answer “NO”, then this is a task you can delegate and put an “ * ” next to it. Go through the same process with your “B” tasks.
Next, try to cut down on the number of “C” and “D” tasks. Can you delegate any? If you can, put an “ * ” by them. Can you remove any? A key question to ask when deciding whether or not to eliminate a task is, “What is the worst thing that could happen if this task isn’t completed?” If you can live with the answer to that question, then cross the task off the list.
Now you have started to narrow down your task list to a manageable number. Assign a person or company to each of the tasks you identified with an “ * ” to delegate. Then, look at your “A” tasks and prioritize the top three. These are the tasks you should complete first.
Spring Cleaning Step 3.Take Action Steps:
Schedule 60 minutes in your calendar to complete the following tasks:
1. Capture all the tasks you need to do.
2. Prioritize your tasks A, B, C, or D.
3. Identify A and B tasks you can delegate.
4. Delegate to friends, family, virtual assistants, coworkers, others in your field. (You can learn more about delegating here.)
5. Identify C and D tasks you can delete.
6. Schedule additional time in your calendar each month to repeat this process.
If you find these ideas useful, don’t be stingy – share with overwhelmed friends!
Please share your thoughts and comments
Now that you know Lisa’s suggestions, share some of your own! In what ways do you clean out and reorganize your calendar, your schedule, your time? Let us know in the comments below!
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I’m excited to share a post by Lisa Crilley Mallis, a time strategy visionary who believes every person deserves the opportunity to live the life of their dreams feeling in control and bringing balance into their lives. The crazy, “I’m so busy” feeling does not have to be way of life. Lisa is a master at cutting to the heart of overwhelm to help you regain control of your schedule and experience life. When you follow your personalized time management strategy, every day can be productive, rewarding, and fun!
Connect with Lisa at www.SystemSavvyConsulting.com as well as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+!
Thanks so much Lisa for sharing your insights with us! These time management tips are great for us Mompreneurs!
To contact Lisa directly, you may find her at www.SystemSavvyConsulting.com
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