October 27, 2009

Is that you howling mournfully behind the piles on your desk? Are your to-do's getting steadily deeper every day? Here are five easy, practical time management skills that will give you back your life, quickly eliminate the past due to-do's, and start a stress reduction habit.

Take just a few minutes right now and list your most urgent projects. Write them down. Number the projects in order of importance. In other words, make a plan of attack and put it right where you can see it. Repeat this exercise quickly at the end of every day so there is no doubt what needs top priority tomorrow.

Get out your weekly calendar and book an appointment with yourself. Schedule time every day when you will focus on getting through your list of priorities in order of importance. Some days may not work, but that is no reason to get discouraged and stop. The farther out you go the more control you will have over your schedule. Pick times when you are most productive. My best thinking and writing time is the first couple of hours in the morning. What is best for you? Now, guard that time and ask that others leave you alone then too. No calls, no emails, no "drop-ins", just you and your top priority project getting done.

As you dive into your work push hard. In the time you have booked with yourself get all you can do done on the most important (most overdue?) top priority project. That way, even if all you get done today is that one thing it will have been the one that has been causing you the greatest worry.  Keep it on the list until it is done then start on the next No.1 project.

When you do the hardest things first in your day, it gives your entire life a boost. You will feel more confident, have more energy and you can't help but be more creative and positive. In short you will be your old self! You also will find it is lots easier to tackle the next challenge on your list because you have proven to yourself and others that you can handle the tough stuff.  

Book your own time to get these projects done every day and jealously guard it just as you would if it were time booked with an important client or business partner. Be cautious of the unexpected things such as looking at jokes on your email or that last minute lunch invite that pops up in the middle of the day to distract you from your plan. It doesn't mean you can't do them, but make sure the things on the top of your list are done before you let those other things steal both your time and your success.