What Would Save You Time?
We all get overwhelmed from time to time, and sometimes it seems as if 24 hours a day is just not enough to get everything accomplished that we would like. Let's consider this a brainstorming session. Start creating a list of everyday tasks that, if you didn't have to do them, would allow you to have more time in your day. For example, most of us have to do laundry on a regular basis. That takes time. What about making dinner? Commuting? The list goes on. These types of tasks are usually necessary and unavoidable. It would be fantastic if we could hire a housekeeper, a personal chef or a chauffeur to handle these things for us. More often than not however, we end up doing ourselves the things that need to be taken care of each day.
Now try thinking of other things that take up your time. Maybe you are a small business owner who just doesn't have time to handle the bookkeeping portion of your business, or to deal with the email traffic coming into your Inbox. What about organizing your files (both hard copy and electronic) so that it becomes easier to find what you are looking for? In most cases, organizing your time better is all it takes to resolve these types of time management issues. Try reading your email only two or three times a day at specific times, instead of each time a new message arrives (although the curiosity factor might be quite strong!). Schedule your housekeeping items all at once on the same day, if possible. For example, do all of your laundry on Saturday mornings. Try planning your meals ahead of time, so you know exactly how long it will take you to prepare and cook each meal.
For the office tasks, spending some time with a professional organizer or partnering with a virtual assistant can save you hours of time. Plus, it would allow you to hand over tasks you do not enjoy doing to someone who makes a living doing those very things. Food for thought!
The main point I'm trying to make is that with a little thought and planning, you can create extra time in your life to do the things you love to do. Good luck, and happy planning!
Cynthia Morse is a Virtual Assistant, and the owner of Virtually At Your Service, www.virtuallyatyourservice.biz. She offers administrative support to small business owners and other busy professionals from her home office, allowing them time to focus on what they love and do best, whether it is running their businesses or taking care of personal matters.
MORE RESOURCES:
Northfield Storm Water Prevention Seminar May 22 Wilmette Life These seminars will give residents the opportunity to ask experts on storm water engineering, landscaping, gardening and more about ways to minimize storm water damage to their property as well as provide “how-to” tips to home owners. |
Army pledge support to DepEd's Brigada Eskwela Philippine Information Agency The troopers will extend services like masonry, carpentry, painting, plumbing, electrical, landscaping/gardening, and ordinary labor (cleaning). The 8th Infantry believes that education is one of the solutions to our security problem and will help ... |
Myers Park home to nation's largest Earth-Kind research program Celina Record The Earth-Kind Environmental Stewardship Program is an American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS)-recognized educational program focused on protecting the environment and conserving natural resources through research-based landscaping, gardening ... |
 Oman Daily Observer | Largest sewage treatment plant Oman Daily Observer The quality of treated water produced at Al Ansab STP is so good that it can be used for various purposes such as irrigation, beautification, landscaping, gardening, cleaning, toilet flushing and other industrial requirements. |
 North Shore Times | Better Homes and Gardens' presenter Jason Hodges to create Australian Garden ... North Shore Times Mr Hodges started his landscaping gardening maintenance business, Greenart Gardens 20 years ago with a ute from his parents' Willoughby home. “I find the north shore to be one of the most appreciative communities in Australia for general space and ... |
Home and Garden Show Bayshore Broadcasting News Centre The 29th annual Port Elgin Rotary Home and Garden Show has about 80 vendors at the Plex and takes place from 10 AM to 4 PM today (SAT) and tomorrow (SUN). Both shows feature landscaping, gardening and home renovation businesses. |
Top Ten Motivators
Setting goals is the easy part -- but sticking with them over the long run can be a major challenge! Some people think that motivation requires will-power and dedication. Actually, staying motivated is all about setting up an environment that is conducive to you accomplishing your goals.
Writing a Thank You Letter for Meeting
I have a habit of sending a thank you letter for meeting after any meeting I attend. People often tell me it is not serious and out of contest but I believe a thank you letter for meeting is necessary for any decent business man.
Time Management Lessons from a 3 Year Old
Zak is my three-year old godson. He is the apple of my eye along with his sisters Carley and Brenna.
Desktop Management Boosts Productivity
Many of us spend long hours at our desk. To assist make the most of every day we need to focus on creating an environment condusive to work.
Take Back Your Time
"You will never find time for anything. You must make it.
Time Management - The Ultimate Oxymoron
Get a grip. Is it possible to manage time? Can you make the clock run faster? Can you make it run slower.
Increasing Your ROI
All requests are not equal; all customers or clients are not equal; all to-do-list tasks are not equal; all work responsibilities are not equal. You can do fifty things today and get little, if any, return on your investment for having done them.
Put a Couple of Elephants on Your Plate
How do you eat two elephants? The same way you would eat one; one bite at a time. Monstrous tasks often appear to be complex and overwhelming.
Are You Watching Too Much TV?
Many folks tell me that they just don't have time to be organized. As old saying goes-one will always find time to do what they want to do.
When Is Time Management Not Enough?
A working manager needs more than time management.That old saying, "Dance with the one that brought you to the ball," came to mind as I received a reality jolt recently.
How to Minimize Trips to the Grocery Store
Still awaiting the birth of my baby (I am overdue), it is increasingly a challenge to go grocery shopping. Thank goodness I have wonderful friends and neighbors who offer to go for me.
A Fatal Mistake that Can Cost You Your Business ? And More
Whether you're a new business owner or if you have been running your business for several years, one of the biggest challenges you face at one point in time or another is overwhelm and imbalance.How many nights have you dragged your weary body to bed only to lie awake for hours with nagging thoughts of what you haven't done or don't have answers to?How many of your children's' ball games and school functions were missed because you had business commitments?How many evenings did your partner spend alone because you were burning the midnight oil by speaking on the telephone or hovering over your keyboard, workbench or reference materials?Was this because you loved what you were doing so much that nothing else mattered, or was it because you felt you had to do everything alone?One of the biggest mistakes small and home-based business owners make is assuming they have to become the chief, cook and bottle washer and perform all of their related tasks flawlessly and concurrently.
How Much Is Poor Time Management Costing You?
* If you were paying you to prioritise emails over coaching your team, would you feel you were getting a good return on your investment?* If you were paying you to waste time on trivia rather than planning your next quarters sales plan - would you think you were getting good value for money?* If you were paying you to sit in numerous unproductive meetings would you feel that was a worthwhile contribution?I suspect that the answer to those questions is no and yet, in effect, that's exactly what you are doing. By choosing to adopt poor time management habits and poorly prioritise what's important you are in effect creating a poor return on investment for your self your organisation or you own business.
Time Management - Honor Your Time and Energy
Your time and energy are the two most precious gifts that you have. Evaluate each month where you are placing your time and energy.
Hows YOUR Productivity?
Microsoft wanted to know how individuals around the world were faring with their productivity. Microsoft seems the logical group to be asking this question since productivity generally follows technology.
Taking Time Out to Play - Summertime and the Living is Easy
As the song goes, this is the time to relax, rest, rejuvenate and reward yourself for all the hard work you've been doing. As they say, all work and no play makes Jack & Jill a very dull boy & girl.
More Precious Than Gold
In this world there is something more precious than gold. Diamonds? No.
Procrastination. Id love to but...
When a good friend asked me to contribute a little something for her newsletter it seemed like a great idea. When I cleared the decks and sat down to write it seemed a great time to color-code my closet or whip up a crab casserole.
Pacing Yourself Through Change
OK..
Time is Money - Dont Waste It
"If you control your time, you control your life" - Alan Lakein (1973)Time is Money. Time is a precious commodity and everyone gets an equal share, but we use it differently.
