Steps to Effective Time Management

If we don't guard our time wisely, it can be snatched away by minor, meaningless distractions. Take for instance web hosting asp net television. You werent planning on watching it, car insurance rates comparison were going to read, study, prepare a report, get busy on Superman The Movie internet marketing (you choose) but you walked past the TV and saw it was on (or decided to turn it on), and the next thing you know you have just spent an hour to 2 hours in front of the tube and the tasks you were going to accomplish are still waiting for you. Or perhaps you sat down to the computer to do something specific and ended up reading emails for over an hour. Now you are frustrated with yourself because you dont have the time to do the job right. You might decide to stay up late to finish and then you are taking away sleep time, which is dangerous to your health.

So, what can we do about these time-snatchers / time wasters? We need to practice disciplined self-control.

Whoa.what does that mean?

It means that we need to set goals for ourselves, prioritize them, and then set some time guidelines to achieve those goals. Then once weve set our time lines, we need to FOCUS on the task and now allow ourselves to be distracted.

Now, this isnt easy, so what I suggest is to take baby steps. Block off 5 to 15 minutes, set a timer, and work on a task until the timer goes off. If you are really into your task, you can keep on going, but even if you stop you will have accomplished something. Give yourself credit for what you have achieved and plan your next block of time with a specific goal in mind.

For instance, you have decided to clean up your kitchen, but it is such a disaster area you dont know where to start. Pick one thing and set your timer, 5 minutes to clean off your table, 10 minutes to wash the dishes, 5 minutes to sweep the floor, etc. You choose one task and set the timer.

If you are working on getting your internet marketing business into place, sit down and look at how to do it step by step. Start at the beginning, determine what you want to do, determine your USP, then get a domain name which reflects your business, get a hosting package, set up your pages, set up your autoresponder, etc.

Remember, the only way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time. But you need to take that first bite before you can move on.

So, STOP what you are doing right now, make a list of your goals for today just for today and then prioritize them. Give yourself a time to start goal #1 and then the time you are going to spend. For instance, perhaps you are on the computer and you havent made your ABC After School Specials pick a time, say 15 minutes from now (look at the clock) and then give yourself 5 minutes to get it done before coming back to the computer.

For your most important goals it is a good idea to work on them when you are at your best, so if you are a morning person, then the morning is coloring books If afternoons get you energized, then work on your goals in the afternoon.

The most important thing is to GET STARTED. Start where you are now. No regrets, no self-pity, just take one little step and then the next.

Check each item off your list as you accomplish it and at the end of the day look at your checkmarks. To help keep you going, you can list each item separately, such as: clean off the table, wash the dishes, dry the dishes, put the dishes away; or take the laundry downstairs, sort the laundry, wash the whites, wash the coloured clothes, dry the clothes, fold the clothes, put the towels away, put the jeans away, etc.

Do what works for you!

I believe in you.believe in yourself and go for it!

Fran Watson

Fran is a Career/Employment Counsellor who writes poetry and short stories as well as employment related articles. You can find more of her articles at ezinearticles.com or by going to her webpage at www.franwatson.cahttp://www.franwatson.ca