Control Your Day

I am certainly guilty of having numerous projects on the go simultaneously. However, even if you have many irons in the fire, it is still important to actually only do one thing at a time. What do I mean? Well, quite simply, if you think about it, we can only actually do one thing at a time. In my case, I have numerous blogs and websites but I can only be writing on one of them at any time.

Hence, my point is that even if it is an hour, take the time in that hour to really concentrate on just that one thing. I think that by doing your various activities in this way, you will end up with a much greater output in the longer term.

Let’s be honest. If you have tried actually spending five minutes doing one thing, and then another, and then something else again, you may well reach a point where you accomplish very little. I really do know this problem.

I learned most of the above through common sense, experience, and the confirmations I received from people like Bob Proctor and the various personal development courses, like those of Jim Rohn.

You could say it comes down to focus and increased productivity.

I know I have been writing quite a bit about the issue of distractions at work, or in our daily life for that matter, simply because it is such a big issue and we need to tackle it, rather than to ignore the issue as a minor problem.

In addition to controlling the email, and the general disturbances, as well as working with the Control Your Day Course, I am going to make some other suggestions…

Most offices have phone systems that can be muted if need be. Again, in a similar manner to email, you have the choice to decide of you wish to be distracted. By turning your phone to mute, and diverting the call to message bank, you can decide to take the call when it suits you. After all, others are not running your work and life, you are in charge. You do have choice and control.

Obviously, you may need to alter the suggestions above depending on your work position, If you work in emergency in a hospital, the above may not be a good idea, but I think you understand the point I am making.

I am a computer type person, near the internet all the time. However, I need to be disciplined, and not just hop on an surf whenever I feel like it. It was a big vice of mine some time ago, but I think I have it more under control now.

I think you can see where all these distractions can really become a problem.

So, to sum up, consider turning off, or closing your email account when not actively reading emails, and only log in a few ties a day as needed. Also, turn the phone to message bank or silent, and return messages when you have time.

Finally, try to explain that even though you may have an open door policy, limit it to an hour or two at a given time, so you can still concentrate when you need to.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn6VBcgovIs

Email is one of those daily necessities in the modern, connected, instant world. However, we do have the right to decide that enough is enough and that we are going to cease allowing it to interfere or break into our time and day every time someone else decides to send us a message. After all, how important are some of these messages?

I should know. I worked in a team Leader position in a TV station with a major emphasis on news. Everything actually had to happen yesterday, so I do know what it can be like. We even had Blackberries to keep us alerted twenty four hours a day!

However, the best thing I can recommend is to turn the sound down on your pc at work, or even to close the email program you are using, Open it only when you want to read emails. It will fetch them or download them and you can go them then, at your time slot, rather than your senders. After all, is email not great because you know the reader will see it eventually, and deal with it? I like email for that very reason, and I am not disturbing someone with an intrusion phone call.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjn0zwhGu1w

We are all guilty of occasionally not using time in a wise manner. However, for some people, procrastination and the sheer art of putting things off to another time have reached new stages of unacceptability. Seriously, it can be so severe that people simply do not get anything done at all. Let me tell you, as a self employed person, I need to make sure I have my self in gear, as I am my own boss.

So, how can we see or recognise issues of procrastination?

Take a close and hard look at yourself. Do you see that you sit down to start something and almost immediately get up to get something, see someone, or make an ‘important’ phone call? You need to be honest with yourself here as this is you we are talking about. Ignoring the problem won’t either fix it or make it go away.

I recommend taking the time to keep notes and see how yu go through the day. When ever you are not doing what you know you need to do, write it down, and then get on with it.

Perhaps, I should back track a little bit here.

You need to keep a diary. List all your required appointments and tasks for the day, and use the kind of diary with times in it. Be realistic when you plan things and do not over plan as you will obviously become frustrated at your lack of success completing everything. List the hardest jobs first as they require the most energy.

This way, you get them out of the way first, and then can work on the easier or maybe more enjoyable tasks after wards as a kind of a reward.

I know it takes quite an effort to put this into practice, but the results are definitely worth it in the longer term.

Controlling procrastination is vital as well to maximise the hours available in your day for productive output.

As part of any time management process, we need to be able to delegate effectively. This really is not a rude word, but rather a skill that I think many people do not practice nearly as well or effectively as they should. When I was a team leader in a major television network in Australia, I was guilty of this very issue. I was aware that the team surrounding me was very capable, but I was still in this thought process that I must take work home, and just get on with it. It was ludicrous, and I needed to make sure I did something about it.

I was advised in my own review to practice more delegation. It took me a while, but I got the hang of it in time and would like to expand on that here.

Delegation Techniques

It is important to ask yourself what you can do and what others can do. If a task can be more efficiently handled by someone else, then it should be handled by them. As a manager, it is normal to take on responsibility, but you are only going to be able to advance your position when others are groomed to take your place.

It is amazing how many people actually have a fear of allowing others to work for them, as they are scared they will give too much knowledge away. Seriously, you need to be prepared to let others know more, as it shows both security in yourself and trust in others. It will help you to advance.

In addition, to learn about delegation, management techniques and time control, see here.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UJyVzm6cSM