Do You Procrastinate Because You Fear Failure - Here Are Three Tips to Beat Procrastination

By Kell Shaun

Procrastination is an inner battle between a habit of ease and a discipline of action. Procrastination tends to reduce the quality of the work produced, and increase your stress. If time is money then procrastination can be an expensive habit.

You know that you have something to do yet somehow you manage to convince yourself to do it later. Does this sound familiar?

The first step in dealing with procrastination is to understand why you put off doing what you have to do.

Psychologists have come up with a number of reasons for why we procrastinate. One of the main reasons is a fear of failure.

When you think about it, nobody likes to fail. Therefore, it is a natural thing to put of doing those tasks that we fear.

However the hallmark of a successful person is being able to confront your fear of failure. Even the most confident people can procrastinate because they fear failure.

But what do you think will happen if you continue to put off this task that you fear?.....You guessed right...you are more likely to fail.

To overcome your fear of failure, there are three things you can do:

1. Confront your fear. When I say this, what I mean is to work out what you fear and what things will help you to get over it. For example, is your fear due to a lack of confidence, or are you anxious of being judged by others. What things do you need that will help you to get over your fear? Whatever it is that you fear, break it down into more manageable bite-sized chunks.

2. Draw up a pros and cons list for doing the task. The advantage of drawing up a pros and cons list is that it will take the emotion out of the task that you have been avoiding. By looking at the task objectively, you take out the emotional influence that is increasing your stress.

3. Plan your work and work your plan. Lets face it, if you fail to plan then you plan to fail. For example, I feared public speaking but had to lecture at university, so rather than leave it to chance; I wrote an action plan of the things that I could do to become a better speaker. This reduced my fear and gave me confidence.

These three strategies can help to get things done when you fear failure.

Kell works with elite athletes, business professionals, managers and office workers with goal setting, stress and time management. If you would like more strategies to beat procrastination click here

I'd like to invite you to get free instant access to a 7-Part eCourse on Time Management.

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10 Ways to Really Make the Best Use of the Time You Have.

By Tony Brooks



- How often do you say you don't have enough time either in your personal life, career or in business?
- How are you using your time now and how will you use it in the future?
- How often do you take time to breathe in life and take in what is actually happening here and now?
- How often do you look to make changes in the way you are doing things?
- How well do you manage the key things that need to be done to make best use of the time you have?
Here are 10 ways to make a real difference in how you spend your time. Try them out, try other things, but most importantly, think about how you are spending your most prized resource and make some changes!!!

1. Drop things! Log how you spend your time closely for a few days. See how you are using it and wasting it. Think about what you are getting back from the activities you are doing and which activities could possibly give you so much more!!

2. Organise. Do you plan and estimate the time it will take for tasks you have to do? Look at your ideal day, week, month and year and see how you are matching up against this ideal. Keep to allotted times for tasks and don't go over. If it is a task you don't enjoy, do it in short bursts and try and build this. Remember to plan in rest or play time. As you move forwards, review the estimates you have made and improve your planning in the future! Most importantly, don't react to things on the spur of the moment. Think about a new requirement that has hit you and decide what to do about it. If you need to change you plans, then change them!!

3. Goals. Stand back and look at the goals you really want to achieve in life for yourself and others. Are you living life in line with these goals and your grander purpose in life? It is vital to have goals in key areas of your life and to move towards them. A life or business coach can really help with this. We all need dreams, but we also need to have some organisation and structure to achieve them and we need to ACT!

4. Be realistic. When you are planning the use of your time, ensure you don't overload. There is something to be said for parallel tasking, but is a split in focus really going to give you the results you want? It is fine to have background tasks going while you have one main task to focus on, but don't split your time, focus and quality over two or more foreground tasks. This is where quality goes and stress comes in.

5. Delegate. Wherever you can and wherever it is fair delegate things out to others. They may not do things 100% how you would wish, but you can help that along. The alternative is for you to do things in a way that is nothing like 100% how you would wish and that is more stressful1!

6. Focus on important stuff. This is very often not always what seems to be the most urgent. Plan in time to sit back and reflect on what you are doing. What changes could you make that would really help you ongoing and in the future? Time spent in this area can add great benefit and make your use of time much more productive. A small amount of time in creating a new system or approach can save lots of time elsewhere! Always look for things that will make an impact!!

7. Enjoy the moment! Don't be thinking of the next task you have lined up or what you should have done differently. Your planning time is when you look back at things and plan forwards (oh and by the way you should totally enjoy your planning time too!!). Give each moment the fullest attention you can.

8. Use tools and training. Lists and diaries (especially some of the more sophisticated ones) are great tools for you to prioritise and organise your time. You can also use spreadsheets and project planning software, but start simple and if it works for you, then fine. Try not to have long term lists though, with tasks that stay on forever. Use daily lists that are realistic. One good way to control your use of time is to use a timer or stopwatch. Make sure you are keeping to allotted times. Set and beat targets for regular tasks.

9. Chill Out, Rest and Play. How much sleep do you really need? Don't kid yourself you can make do with 4 or 5 hours. Sleep is a vital use of time. Make sure you have time to wind down at night and get a good 7+ hours sleep as frequently as possible. It will catch up with you otherwise! Always make sure you have some rest and play time too and do something for somebody else regularly. It is very good for the soul!

10. Health and Fitness. Set aside time to exercise, eat properly, sleep and holiday. And switch off from all the other things and really enjoy this time. You deserve it!

After you have tracked how you are using your time at the moment, think about the 3 most important things you should be doing, either in your work or personal life (or both). Ditch 3 things that are not the best use of your time and try and delegate 3 other things out. Then plan to use the time you have gained to focus on those important areas!
How much time has this saved you for more important areas?
Where would you be now if you had not wasted time in the past?
Use the time you have to make a real impact on your Life, Career and Business!

Hi, my name is Tony Brooks. After over 20 years in IT, Project Management, Business Management, People Development and Academic Psychology, I establised a Personal and Business Coaching Company 12 months ago in the UK - Building Bridges Life Coaching Services Ltd.

I have a real fascination in relation to what really makes people tick and I love to help people to make much better use of the time they have in their Personal life, Careers and Businesses.

I offer a FREE NO OBLIGATION Coaching session, through my company, as an introduction to the Coaching Services I provide. I would love to hear from anyone who wants to take their Life, Career or Businesses to a higher level with much greater success.

Best Wishes Tony Brooks

07912143040

info@buildingbridgeslcs.co.uk

http://www.buildingbridgeslcs.co.uk

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tony_Brooks

Quick Secret on How to Save Time - Now!

By Ken Okel

I've learned that little tasks often take up a lot of time, especially when they are allowed to pile up. And in some cases, thinking about doing the project, like paying bills, takes about as much time as it does to do the work. And if you repeatedly put off the task, then you spend a lot of time thinking about something you need to do. As a professional speaker, I need to maximize my time as much as possible and not have to pay catch up with all those little things I need to do.

Now I've adopted a "think it, do it" strategy. If I think that I should fold some shirts, I do it immediately rather than waiting until later. The same can apply for things like answering email, paying bills, and unloading the dishwasher. This way, the project gets done and I don't have to worry about when I'll get around to it. So in a way, the immediate execution saves me time by taking it off my plate. It's a lot easier to tackle a small task quickly than let a bunch of big ones become major time losses.

Of course, these low priority items should not interfere with scheduled events or used as a way to avoid starting blue chip projects. But if you're sometimes overwhelmed by a variety of small tasks, you may want to try this method. My goal is to spend a little time worrying or stressed out about the little stuff.

Ken Okel is a communications expert who helps people and organizations move from survival to success. For his free newsletter and special report, 7 Communication Mistakes that are Costing You Money, go to his website at http://www.kenokel.com

You'll also be able to see a video of Ken's famous police dog attack story.

See Ken's tips invade YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/user/KenOkel

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ken_Okel

Time Management - Best Ways to Start Your Day

By Luke Blaise

When it comes to managing your time, one of the best things to do is to get your day off on the right foot. Devote sometime every morning to do something for yourself. Try to develop a morning routine that leaves your feeling refreshed and energize by the time you walk out the door.

Here are some great ideas to add to your morning routine:

1. Get up early: If there is one way to properly start your day it is to get up early. If you look at any of today's top achievers, inevitably they wake up early. By getting up early you have more time for yourself and there are less distractions and noise.

2. Review your to do list: This is one of the most important steps to getting your day off right. By reviewing what you need to do today, you can mentally plan in your mind what needs to get done so your subconscious mind can start bringing about your goals.

3. Eat breakfast: Some people don't eat breakfast, while others eat too much, or the wrong things. A small meal that includes protein is the best thing you can eat in the morning. Protein gives you a fuller feeling, while carbohydrates will just leave you feeling tired.

4. Exercise: Once you start getting in the habit of exercising in the mornings you will not stop. It feels great to get the blood pumping and stretch your body out.

5. Do something for yourself: Whether is it reading something you enjoy or just cleaning your house, but doing something for yourself you feel like your are more in control of your day.

Time management often comes down to a mental state; do we feel in control of our time or don't we. By doing something for your self every morning you are saying that you are most important, and your work comes second.

FREE Time Management book

Visit http://1timemanagement.com to get your free book that includes time logs and forms.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Luke_Blaise

Say "Goodbye" to Procrastination Using This 3-Step Process

By Lucy Beal

Lucy Beal
Level: Basic

Lucy Beal holds a master's degree (M.S.) in counseling from the University of Wisconsin and is a nationally certified counselor (NCC) who is now practicing ... ...


"What if you could say "goodbye" to procrastination forever?" Believe it or not, there IS one way you can do this!

You can literally say, "Goodbye!" to it! Now that might sound "too simple," but it really IS that simple--simple but very effective! What I'm suggesting is that you learn to "Externalize It!"

Try this 3-Step Process to Externalize, Eliminate, & Determine

Step 1: Externalize It!

Externalizing, in the therapeutic sense, means to make a mental projection, in image form, outside of oneself, and it is a method for counseling that is used in Narrative Therapy. It is a very useful therapeutic 'tool' for reducing self-blame and allows clients to create space for re-framing and restructuring self-identity. Therapists and counselors alike may tailor their use of externalization for a much broader spectrum---just as I am when I challenge your current view of "Procrastination."

We don't often call it by name directly, more often we indirectly speak of or think about it (i.e., "I should do this, but..." or "I can't seem to get to that project, maybe later...") only to wonder "why" we can't follow through and accomplish our goals. We know we "hate it" and "want it gone," but it seems that we surely haven't become great experts when it comes to saying goodbye to it for good.

So, if you view "Procrastination" (I capitalize now because it has become an "It" with a name!) as an entity outside yourself...someone else or something else...it can greatly help you to get past the feelings of "I am a 'bad' procrastinator" or something of the like. When you externalize, you essentially relieve yourself of the burden because the "Procrastinator" or "Procrastination" is outside yourself...It is NOT YOU! So, that means that the next time you find yourself struggling with your time management and feel Procrastination is directing your actions, you can stop blaming yourself and sabotaging your belief in yourself to change your behaviors. You are not "The Procrastinator" and "The Procrastinator" is not your identity! Period.

Perhaps look at it like this: "I am learning now that Procrastination can no longer be in my life and my choices will not be made to benefit Procrastination anymore! I am me and It has to leave now!" Make a mental picture of Procrastination (create a specific vision in your mind's eye) and watch Procrastination literally walk through a doorway and out of your life."

Externalizing "Procrastination" allows you to release It and the inner grip that It once had on you. Procrastination does not have to be your resident arch nemesis any longer. If you try viewing It as separate from yourself, can begin to have the upper hand, free of the frustration It brought with it. But the work doesn't stop here.

Step 2: Eliminate Resistance

Once you decide to release It, you need to begin to eliminate it's companion, which is resistance. Much of your procrastinating behavior is grounded in 'mental resistance,' so it makes sense to find a way to create space for a new mindset. You can even repeat Step 1 now and externalize "Resistance" ("It" now has a name, too). Let it go out the same doorway as Procrastination!

The bottom line is: You've been battling two fierce opponents and it seems that the more any of us 'resist' the more we procrastinate, and the stronger "Resistance and Procrastination" become, taking over our very existence it would seem. So how do you fight off Resistance?

Start using affirmations to help you eliminate Resistance. Use your words and create action to accomplish this. For instance, you could say, "I am no longer allowing Resistance and Procrastination to rent space in my head and use up my mental energy," or, "I am watching Resistance and Procrastination leave me now," or you might take a slightly different approach and say, "I am free to choose Procrastination and Resistance as friends (or perhaps teachers) so that I can learn more about why they held me back and I fought with them and myself to get things done!"

Also, to eliminate Resistance you need to become very aware of Its presence. It's sneaky if you're not paying attention. Resistance will make your body feel terrible. Any response you have to a negative feeling is your body's attempt to send you the "red flag" that It is in motion. What you may or may not realize is that you get to control your "resistance gauge" and if you don't want Resistance, you can let your thoughts overcome it. Again, use your words and say, "I am feeling anxious right now, and that tells me that Resistance is trying to come back into my life or my home. There isn't room for you, Resistance. I am at peace here without you." The more you say it, and believe it, and feel it, the more you can lower that heartbeat and your anxiety will start to dissipate.

Taken a step further, resistance is a by-product of fear. Fear is not as easy to externalize, so we need to expand the search for answers by looking at the underlying fear that initiated your resistance that resulted in allowing Procrastination and Resistance to rent space in your mind.

Step 3: Determine Your Fear

Begin to ask yourself what you felt the last time Resistance led to procrastinating behavior. Did you feel anxious, afraid, confused, frustrated, angry? Think about this and really try to dig deep into the process of your procrastinating behavior. Step 3 is an important piece of this puzzle, so start by considering these three questions:

1. Am I fearful of rejection by others if I follow through with this goal or task?

2. Am I fearful of not knowing all the answers going in, so it's better to lack the initiative than it is to attempt and fail?

3. Am I fearful of letting go of Procrastination because it has protected me and if I freely give up something that has become valuable to me, won't I feel lost without it?

This should jump-start personal introspection if you really want to look to the source of your fear. Remember: "Your fear is what led to your Resistance that enabled Procrastination." It's never an easy process to look inside and become acutely aware of negative emotions and behaviors. But if you start this process by letting go of your identity as "The Procrastinator" or "A Procrastinator," you've made the first giant step in learning to "Externalize, Eliminate and Determine" your way to success!

If you struggle with procrastinating behaviors and are interested making different choices and creating a more productive lifestyle, life coaching can help. Lucy Beal, M.S., NCC is owner of Pathways Total Life Coaching in central California. She holds a master's degree in Counseling from the University of Wisconsin and is a nationally certified counselor (NCC), although she has chosen to establish her own private practice as a life coaching professional near her home in California.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lucy_Beal

How to Keep Taking Action With an Effective to Do List

By Gerard Goh


What comes to mind when you think of a to do list? There is a huge difference between an effective to do list and an 'ordinary' to do list. Imagine the traditional to do list where you list all the things you need to do. This will only cause more stress as you keep adding more and more things on your to do list.

So how do you deal with the problem? Create an effective to do list. You will be able to keep taking action non-stop if you know how to deal with it. This is the best time management tool you should use to manage your time. It is also the most effective tool you can use. But you must make it effective, a traditional to do list is not enough.

Have 2 to do list
Have one to do list for the week, and one for daily tasks. By having 2 to do list, you get an overview of the things you are suppose to do for the week.

Set monthly goals. As you set monthly goals, you can create a weekly to do list really quickly. This is because you know exactly what to complete.

How to use the 2 lists effectively
How does this work. I'll give you an example so you can picture it easily. So imagine that you want to deliver a speech by the end of the month. So that would be your goal.

The next thing you need to do is to create a weekly to do list. In your weekly to do list, you can write things down like practice body language for speech, improve tonality of speech, and read a book on 'how to deliver a great speech'.

By doing this, your weekly to do list is in line with your goal in mind. Now the last thing is your daily to do list. But this time you will need to write down action steps to achieve the tasks of your weekly plan.

So to deliver that speech, what action steps do you need to take? Follow your weekly plan (practice body language for speech, improve tonality of speech, and read a book on 'how to deliver a great speech'), but break it down into smaller steps and set a time frame for each of it.

Tracking Action
The next thing you need to do is to track what you are doing. Keep track of whether you are in line with your goal. Make sure you focus and keep your concentration on the task until it's finished, then tick it off as you complete each task.

This will give you a peace of mind, and allow you to complete tasks with ease. You will never experience unfinished work anymore by having an effective to do list.

Gerard Goh runs a time management website at http://www.time-management-improvement.com which contains extremely useful free resources which can help you increase your personal work productivity. You can also learn various time management techniques which can help you get more things done in less time.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gerard_Goh

The Importance of Time Management

By Kevin Sinclair

They say there are different strokes for different folks, and they're dead right. Each of us is different - we think differently, act differently, differ in likes and dislikes, and so on and so forth. Whatever we do, whatever mistakes we make, whatever realities we come across, we have to keep learning. Learning from our actions, emotions and behavior is a positive step, which can help us lead better lives in the future.

There are many armchair teachers who always keep advising people not to look back and ponder. Well, they're wrong - time is the only teacher and you're its favorite student, so you have to learn, come what may. About those armchair teachers - forget about them: After all they don't say, "Those who can, do; those who can't, teach", for nothing!

Mismanagement of time can really set you back by a truckload of hours. By the time you get back to the task, it's too late - So, time management is essential. The trick is to keep probing yourself with nagging questions. Once you have set up your time management goals and strategies, you need to ask yourself: (i) Are my goals realistic? (ii) Am I capable of achieving these goals?, and (iii) How can I go about achieving my goals successfully and tasting success at the end of it all?

Posing questions on time management can help you refine strategies or even re-strategize. Even asking for help and support from friends, relations, colleagues and the community can help you manage your time well. When time is managed well, you can experience success and a sense of fulfillment.

Understand, most of us aren't self-made - we need some kind of help and support at some points in our life. But, you can ask for help only when you question yourself first and find that you don't have the answers.

When a man questions himself, he sort of attains realization because seeking answers that lie within oneself is a therapeutic exercise! Let's take an example: Let's assume you are scheduled to marry in December, and it is now June. What questions must you ask yourself for such a momentous, happy occasion that's coming at you in a short span of time? You must ask yourself: (i) Is the timing right? (ii) Am I ready for marriage? (iii) Can I handle the marriage formalities alone or will I need help? (iv) What are the pre-nuptial formalities I must attend to in time? Also ask yourself questions related to the event that can help you plan for contingencies and save both time and money in the bargain. It's easy to commit to an event, but it's hard to see it through if you don't time your actions (leading to the event) right.

Many people do not bother probing themselves - the result is that both time and money are wasted, and sometimes relationships are ruined due to lack of foresight. Do you know why people don't ask questions? - It is because of their ego. They feel asking questions and seeking help will belittle them. Well, ego is bad! It is true that everyone has his own pride - however, such pride should not be converted into ego. Frankness, transparency, controlling one's ego, and honesty can really help in time management.

When it comes to time management, you have to keep things simple. Tie them up in knots and they'll tie you up in "nots". The term "simple" in time management denotes a practical, effective approach. It means that after one has set his goals, he has to chart a roadmap to achieve them - a road that is simple and straight, and not long-winded, curvy or one that ends in a dead end.

Both the goals and the plan must be simple and straightforward. Sure, along the way doubts may creep in, but these can be resolved if the plan is practical and has taken contingencies into account. People involved in the plan may also make mistakes, but a prudent plan always provides for errors. Of course, if nature intervenes and spoils the party, there is nothing you can do.

Every plan has its shares of flaws, but a practical plan always assumes it has in-built flaws and provides time for fixing them. To manage time effectively, you have to set goals, ask yourself questions, play your part to the hilt and enjoy the results. If the results are good, that's great going. If they are not as intended, then you must not lose heart.

To conclude, life is too short to waste any time. Wasting time is akin to wasting money, so you must learn to respect time by learning the basics of time management. People who kill time needlessly are killed by time. Time is the big boss - it controls everything. So get down to time management and make a great plan. Good luck.

Kevin Sinclair is the publisher and editor of Be Successful News, a site that provides information and articles on how to succeed in your own home or small business.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Sinclair

Time Management - Three Simple Techniques to Becoming More Efficient and Organized

By Shafir Ahmad

Shafir Ahmad
Level: Platinum

Shafir Ahmad, author of "The Experts Guide to Managing Your Time" helps ordinary people achieve their dreams of owning their own internet business. ...


The better you use your time, the more you will accomplish.

Here are three simple techniques that will get you more efficient and more organized.

1. Use a calendar, diary, or software organizer. Don't try to hold everything in your head, or have a mountain of post-it notes or scraps of paper littering your desk. Try to organize yourself using either a plain old fashioned diary, or a software product that allows you to schedule events and targets. Whether it is goal setting software, graphic organizers or plain old pen and paper, maintaining an organized way of seeing what is required and by when, will help you to work towards your targets.

2. Learn to prioritize. You may have a list of tasks that need to be completed, but a list on its own can simply become an enemy. Do you simply work through the list from top to bottom, or complete those tasks for people who shout loudest? It is important to identify those tasks that really do have to be completed urgently, those that are reasonably important, and those that could wait if necessary. Either use color coding, or divide the list up into groups, or use an 'A', 'B', 'C' coding to identify the level of urgency. Then make sure you stick to the list and work through the most important tasks first.

3. For the majority of people who use a computer system for work, a very simple task is that of organizing computer files. Often a great deal of time can be wasted simply looking for files. By keeping all files in one basic directory, creating suitably named and categorized sub folders, and naming files appropriately, you will be amazed at not only the difference that it will make to your productivity, but also to your sense of confidence and organization overall.

These are just a few of the most popular techniques that work for most people. Ultimately, you must be honest with yourself, and genuinely apply these methods consistently.

Remember, one minute wasted is one minute lost forever.

And now, I'd like to invite you to get your free instant access to a 7-Part eCourse on Secrets To Better Time Management at http://www.PlanYourTimeNow.com where you can discover more ways to use time effectively.

Shafir Ahmad of http://www.ShafirAhmad.com is the author of "The Experts Guide to Managing Your Time".

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shafir_Ahmad

Seven Time-Saving Tips

By Tommy Yan

Tommy Yan
Level: Platinum

Tommy Yan is the publisher of Tommy's Tease success e-zine. He is also a direct response marketing specialist. He started “Ads That Make Money” to ...


I was filling up my car when I noticed a lady in a mini-SUV walk in to see the cashier, walk out to the display sign to double-check the price, and then drive off without filling up her vehicle. What she didn't realize when she pulled in was the credit price per gallon of gasoline was four cents higher than the cash price. Something told me she only read the cash price.

But come on: it was only four cents per gallon difference. The nearest same-brand gas station is three miles away and charges eight cents more per gallon. And you couldn't find a better price for name-brand gasoline in the vicinity that day.

Evidently she must have plenty of time to spare. Because at the end of the day: what did she really gain? Not much. A better question to ask is, "What did she lose?"

Many of us are busy with projects and daily to-do lists. We'd normally pay a bit more if we could save time. We're often guilty of spending too much time focusing on minor things. And then we ask, "Where has the time gone?"

Let's start reclaiming some of that lost time with seven tips I find helpful:

1) Watch out for your TV. It's probably the most dangerous time-consumer in your life because you've come to love your TV. Fortunes are spent on programs, shows and movies that have one common end goal: to withdraw money from your wallet. You don't have to live without TV-but you do get more things accomplished if you go on a TV diet.

2) Scheduling Internet and e-mail. The Information Superhighway is claiming more major time from our daily lives. I've been guilty of spending too much time reading e-mail messages, replying to them and forwarding information that may or may not be relevant. Then I procrastinate on the important stuff because I've been too busy surfing Cyberspace.

If you want to get more important stuff done-set a scheduled time for e-mail and web surfing (9 to 9:45am and 8:30 to 9:30pm) and STICK TO IT. You may be tempted to return to your old patterns once you've regained more time, but resist it as often as possible. That's how your time got tied-up in the first place.

3) The postman cometh. You can live without most mail because the majority of it is junk. Toss it in your trash without opening it up. But save your bills, newsletters and love letters.

4) Curbing phone calls. I get a little concerned watching normal human beings turn into inconsiderate monsters every time their cell phone rings. Aside from their loud, let-me-show-the-world-how-cool-I-am ringtone, they want you to listen in on their half of the conversation. Don't join them. Don't let your phone calls dictate how you spend your time. Show people how together you are by reducing your talk time and making good use of your voicemail.

5) Hiring out. For example, it's only common sense that if your professional fees are $100 an hour: why would you spend two hours cleaning your house when you could hire someone at $12 to $15 an hour? Even if you have the entire day off, those two hours could be spent drumming up new business, building your brand or completing another project.

6) Friendly no. Learn to graciously say no to your friends. Select only the events you want to attend. Or else you'd end up wasting time at places you don't want to go, hearing things you don't want to hear, with people you may not even like.

7) Planning in advance. If possible, plan your appointments and errands for a single day or morning trip. Avoid bouncing back and forth all over town. And especially avoid the rush hour congestion.

Bonus: Healthy eating habits. What does this have to do with saving time? Especially since I just downed a pair of McDonald's Double Cheeseburgers, which saved me more time than stopping in at a restaurant. If you can, stay away from junk food. Just because you'll end up spending time you don't have dealing with adverse health issues later in life.

In the movie Wall Street, one of the ways Gordon Gecko leveraged his time was by checking his blood pressure in his office. You don't have to take it to that extreme but you must admit, he was a master at time management. Time did not escape him without his permission. We can learn a few things about managing our time from Gordon Gecko.

Tommy Yan helps business owners and entrepreneurs make more money through direct response marketing. He publishes Tommy's Tease weekly e-zine to inspire people to succeed in business and personal growth. Get your free subscription today at http://www.TommyYan.com.

Get a FREE 5-week Secrets to Web Mastery e-course. If your websites aren't making sales or capturing leads, you can't afford to let it idle in Cyberspace. Read more.

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How To Plan And Prioritise Your Time

By Sharon Newey

Sharon Newey
Sharon Newey is a management Consultant and trainer who specialises in developing New Sales Managers. She has also written a free 7 part e course ...


Time management and organization are like evergreen trees- they never lose their importance and are frequently discussed topics in business. Everyone tends to understand that the key ingredient to living a life that is less stressful, more enjoyable and one that allows you to find the time to fit everything into a jam-packed schedule is proper planning and prioritising of your time. What most people don't seem to know is how to make that happen!

How can you prioritize your work and tasks so that you have enough time for it all, and still keep your sanity?

Get a Calendar/Planner/Diary.

Regardless of what you call it, you need to have some sort of calendar that you use to plan out your time. Preferably one that you can carry around with you, and physically write in- but some people might find the digital versions to be just as effective.

The night before each day, take 15 minutes to plan the following day.

Using To-Do Lists Effectively.

Making a list of 50 things that need to be done is not the best use of your time; nor will it actually help you manage your time better.

When creating your list of things to do, you need to consider how long the task should take you, and physically block that amount of time on your calendar. For example, if you need to check email, write a report, and attend a sales meeting tomorrow, your to-do list might look like this:

8:30am - 9am: Read and Respond to Email

9am-11am: Write report

11am-11:15am: Coffee break

11:15-12:30pm: Sales Meeting
It won't do you any good if you make a list with five times the tasks that you can actually accomplish within a specific time period, so be realistic when planning your schedule.

Prioritise Tasks

Most business owners and/or managers are overwhelmed with a large number of activities that need to be done on a regular basis. The best way to effectively plan your time and keep things under control is to prioritise the tasks according to their level of importance.

When working through the creation of your to-do list; you would want to schedule your urgent, or most important tasks for earlier in the day, to make sure they get completed. As the day goes on, unexpected interuptions may cause some of your tasks to go undone; so it's always a good idea to do the most pressing activities before doing those that are not quite as important.

Delegate, Do, or Schedule

You've no doubt heard the saying "Don't put off til tomorrow what can be done today". While this is true for avoiding procrastination, there is nothing wrong with scheduling less-urgent tasks for a later day or time- as long as you are actually scheduling them to be done and not just avoiding them!

When things come up during the day that you can do in under two minutes, just do them right away. This could be answering an email, filing information, or putting a client's folder in the file cabinet (versus setting it on the desk to do later!)

If there are tasks that you are faced with completing that someone else on your team could do just as well- quickly delegate those items to the proper people with a scheduled deadline for completion. This only works effectively if you don't have to spend as much time explaining the project as you would just completing it yourself, so make sure the activity is really something that can be delegated before passing it off. The keys to successful delegation are that the person is capable of completing the work; they know when it's due and will keep to that deadline; and it is a task that delegation results in giving you time to work on a more urgent matter.

Sharon Newey is a management Consultant and trainer who specialises in developing New Sales Managers. Helping them develop the skills they need to succeed quickly in the new business economy. She provides free articles and Tips on her website http://www.managingsalespeople.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sharon_Newey

3 Time Management Strategies That Dramatically Help You Achieve More

Elizabeth Bambara

There are numerous benefits to utilizing effective time management strategies. Dramatically increasing the odds of achieving the results you want and expect for your business.

Puts you in control instead of having to react to circumstances. Achieving more in less time, with less effort. Time is not used up on meaningless projects or chores. Providing you with the time freedom you are looking for.

After implementing just these 3 simple time management strategies, you should be able to reap the rewards, accomplishing more than you every thought or dreamed possible.

1 - Set up a schedule of what you need to complete. What realistically can be done. Make a list of your priorities. What is most important to get completed today, this week, this month. Be realistic. Use a daily or weekly planner to keep yourself organized. Paper or electronic. Or both. Whatever is more convenient for you. As you make appointments, make sure you write them down.

The idea behind making a list is not to make you a slave to your list, but to keep you on track. Completing what needs to be done. Not wasting time on the unimportant details that don't necessarily need to be completed.

Since your family is your first priority, schedule your commitments with them first. Include some fun time as well. Then figure out how much time you have to work.

At the end of each day and week, take a few minutes to make a list of your priorities and goals for the next day, week, or month. When the next day rolls around, begin working on your list of priorities first. Some days you may accomplish more, some day less. But at least you will have the satisfaction of knowing you accomplished what truly mattered most.

2 - Group blocks of tasks together. If possible, try to group similar tasks such as appointments with customers, phone calls, prospecting, writing, shipping, and research together. Otherwise, if you have to make a phone call when you in the middle of a writing project, you will have to stop what your doing. Take at least a couple of minutes to prepare for the call. Then make the phone call. Take the appropriate action as a result of the call. Take more time trying to figure out what you were doing on your writing project before you made the call.

3 - Limit the number of times you check your email. It is so easy to get into a habit of checking your email several times a day. But you will save a lot of valuable time if you only check your email at the beginning of your workday, and at the end. Some business, such as an auctions, will have to check more frequently. Just make sure you schedule the time in you day, and stay with in the time allowed.

After implementing just these 3 simple time management strategies, you should be able to reap the rewards, accomplishing more than you every thought possible. They may take a little bit of effort to implement, at least in the beginning. But over time, you will find the effort was well worth your effort.

Visit http://www.moms-work-from-home-tips.com for additional tips and ideas or to request a copy of the Free ebook Why People Fail to Succeed.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elizabeth_Bambara





Elizabeth Bambara has been working from home since 2001. Living her dream of working from home. She is passionate about helping others achieve ...

Stop Procrastination - Time Management Is More About Behavior Management Than Time

By Shafir Ahmad
The importance of time management seems quite clear to us.

More often than not, we can have the best intentions of following the organizing tips we have come across. We spend time organizing computer files in preparation of our work, even purchasing and learning how to use time tracking software and other digital graphic organizers and tools.

Yet these actually end up taking over even more of our precious and limited time. It almost feels that simply looking for time management tips will somehow magically transform us into efficient workers. We are failing to accept the irony that such preparation or planning is in fact little more than vaguely disguised procrastination.

The first important step is accepting the fact that what we are doing is wasting time and delaying the inevitable task ahead. We also need to be honest with ourselves and accept that the only consequence of our procrastination is that we will have less and less time to complete the task itself. This results in an increased level of stress and anxiety, a decrease in the level of quality we can expect from the end product, and an overall feeling of disappointment with ourself.

Although planning and preparation for the tasks ahead are very important and beneficial, they must be reasonable in terms of time spent on the actual planning. Clearly spending half an hour preparing for a task that might take about half an hour is unwise time management!

It is important to set your goals, and to do it yourself since only you really know what your ultimate goals are. The short term targets might be to complete a particular task. But to help overcome the otherwise inevitable procrastination it is extremely helpful to have in mind a clear idea of what the end purpose might be. Perhaps a promotion, new job opportunity, a particular grade, and so on.

You will find that once you start admitting to yourself why you always seem to run out of time on projects despite having had plenty of time initially, you will start to improve your overall efficiency dramatically.

Ultimately, time management is more about behavior management than time.

And now, I'd like to invite you to get free instant access to a 7-Part eCourse on Secrets To Better Time Management at http://www.PlanYourTimeNow.com where you can discover more ways to use time effectively.

Shafir Ahmad of http://www.ShafirAhmad.com is the author of "The Experts Guide to Managing Your Time".

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shafir_Ahmad

Time Management - Essential For Success

By Scotie Keithlow




Control is having the power to manage ourselves. When we have control of our lives, then we have the ability to manage anything that comes our way. No one can control every aspect of life, but we can maintain some control over what happens to us. It is important to keep in mind that all things in life have an effect on us somehow, and when we are trying to learn time management, we need to consider that.

The process of time management is complicated, but once mastered, makes life much easier. In order to develop an effective time management plan, you need to consider all areas of your life, and evaluate where your time is spent.

In thinking about how you can better manage your time, you need to consider all factors: time with family, friends, work, yourself, etc. You must prepare yourself for the little crises that are inevitable in life. This is the start of how to learn to control and manage your time. There is no end to managing time, but if we are able to do it, life will be easier and less stressful.

When considering how we can control our time management, you must consider such aspects of life as entertainment, relaxing, meals, dressing, and other things that form your life. Think about where you spend more time than you need, and figure out where you could use that time to make your life better. Eliminating wasted time in one realm of our lives and putting it somewhere else can help to build and solidify relationships, aid in stress relief, even help you do your job better.

One place where you can concentrate on controlling your time is at the workplace. Not using your time wisely, or spending too much time on a project that can be delegated to other co-workers can make your job stressful, routine, even boring. Taking control of your time will allow you to take on more meaningful projects, and be more valued as an employee. Control and management of your time is the best way to get the most out of your work, and your life

To find more information about business and effective time management visit http://comprehensive-business.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Scotie_Keithlow

Mastering Your Time

By Alberta Okoro
Having enough time in the day to get all of our tasks, assignments and chores done can be a great challenge. We are bombarded with instant messages, wireless phone calls, tons of emails and a steady stream of information from the internet. Oftentimes, because our society has conditioned itself to have instantaneous responses and results, we feel like we have to get everything done all at once or we are failures.

What do you do when you can't keep up the pace with all the constant demands on your time and attention? The answer is: you have to learn to make good use of your time. Strategize your day! This does not include watching television. If you lack energy, reevaluate your diet and exercise habits.

The following are suggestions to aid you in mastering your time:

I. Make a daily reminder list of things you need to do. Some people think that if you write things down, it's a sign that you're getting old. Not so! By writing things down, you are able to free your mind of "thought clutter" and strategize your day. There are several ways to make a reminder list depending on what works best for you:

a. planner/piece of paper/sticky notes
b. electronic devices (too many to name)
c. Outlook-task/calendar/flags
d. dry erase board

II. If you're having difficulties managing your time, estimate the time you think it will take for you to complete each task, assignment or chore; write down the latest acceptable deadline to get each task done. Take notes on how long it actually took you to complete each assignment and what caused the difference. Continue to do this until you're able to develop the skill of estimating time in your head. Practice makes perfect!

III. Take advantage of small blocks of time rather than waiting for large amounts of time. If you have 5 minutes here, 20 minutes there, you can complete several items on your task list. Anxiety results from looking at the whole picture, constantly replaying in our head all the things you have to get done. Break your assignments down into small attainable parts and strategize your day. Also, handling small tasks are great when you need a change in pace.

IV. Take a couple of minutes each morning to strategize your tasks according to priority. Take a few minutes each night to plan your tasks for the next day.

If you start by following these simple suggestions, you'll be well on your way to mastering your time.

Alberta is a member of The National Association of Professional Organizers and owner of Emplayce-The Organizing Source http://www.emplayce.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alberta_Okoro

MAXIMIZE YOUR TIME

Okechukwu Chigbu

Time is one important thing that is necessary in our life.
Proper usage of our time will determine what we will be in future
if you use it well you will achieve a lot and failure to do so will result in having regret in the end.
As it usually said " Lose an hour in the morning and you will spend the whole day looking for it ".As you wake up in the morning make sure you plan your day and work towards achieving the time period you allocate for any task, and you will not regret you did.
I will give you more tips in the next article.


Okechukwu Chigbu writes on motivation, stress management and money making tips.
go to
http://stressreducingtips.blogspot.com
http://okeychigbu.blogspot.com
http://infomoneymakers.blogspot.com