"It's just been one of those days?I can't seem to get anything done! I've got way too many things on my "To-Do List". Oh the list started out innocently enough as a single handwritten column on one sheet of lined paper; but now it's grown to a three-column table in a spreadsheet software program! I get no satisfaction from checking off each item as I finish it. For each task I complete, at least two more are added. I began my work day at 6:30 AM with grandiose plans of completing a special project before Noon. Now it's 16 hours later (10:30 PM) and I still have not finished the project. My anxiety and frustration are mounting. Tomorrow's list has already been written and it does not include the things left undone from today's list! I don't know if I'm going to make it through the week with all of the demands upon my time and energy. I need help?quickly!
A Juggling Act
I wrote the above entry in my journal several days ago. What a day that was! How about you?been there lately?
Life can be such a juggling act. Like professional jugglers, we try to keep 5 or 6 balls moving through the air at the same time. But unlike professional jugglers, we rarely succeed.
Everyone is so busy these days. Work is performed at a frantic pace and people are in such a hurry. There is an air of impatience and intolerance-a lot of frenetic darting to and fro that is almost out of control. It's very difficult to keep your priorities in line when life is so fast paced. But the negative consequences of so much activity-stress, damaged or broken relationships, poor health---can wreak more havoc than what we think we will gain.
The Urgent
I tried for years to use a paper-based time management system with columns similar to this: "Must Do?Need to Do...Like to Do". I'm sure you've used something like this (maybe even now). The problem I encountered was that I never seemed to get around to doing much in the "Like to Do" column, which was very discouraging. The "Must Do and Need to Do" items consumed all of my time.
So I switched to a simpler paper-based system with the following columns, "Urgent" and "Important". Now, I was sure to spend my time wisely. Unfortunately, I found out that the urgent things monopolized my time and pushed the important things to the back-burner.
Here are three examples of "The Urgent":
The Important
"The Urgent" often masquerades as "The Important". However, not everything we do is important. To identify what's important to you requires that you answer three questions:
The Bottom Line
Identifying "The Important" requires focus-a concentration of energy, effort, and thought. "The Important" is where you should spend most of your time. Now, before you send me screaming emails, I don't mean that you shouldn't address "The Urgent". Instead, consider the following:
Focus on "The Important"!
Priority is the key to managing "The Urgent" and focusing on "The Important". Before you leap to complete a task, take a few moments to think about its true priority. Does it need to be done right at this moment, or is there something else on your list that should come first?
While others may demand that everything on your To-Do List must be done immediately, you and only you can really determine what should be done first, second, third, etc. (It's not possible to do everything at once; priority must be given to each item).
Today, I've taken a dose of my own medicine and committed to focusing on "The Important". So far, I've accomplished at least one thing that will have a significant and positive impact on others-finishing this article.
Althea DeBrule, entrepreneur and seasoned human resources executive, has focused for more than 30 years on helping people achieve their career goals. Creator of The Extreme-Career-Makeover? and a founding partner of RADSGroup Organizational Consultants, she is recognized for her bottom line and practical application of career development and management strategies in a way that penetrates hearts and compels action. She speaks and teaches with inspired talent, humor and contagious zeal at management conferences and leadership retreats nationwide, and has been featured in CFO Magazine, Strategy@Work, Human Resource Executive Magazine. Althea is the author of Bosses & Orchards, a compelling and candid book about how to make your work relationship with your boss succeed.
To discover how you can take your career to a new level, visit http://www.extreme-career-makeover.com/
expert residential cleaners Park Ridge ..This past Friday I was asked to speak with a... Read More
What are the most important things you should accomplish today?... Read More
Goal Planning-Achieving balance in a person's life requires assessment of... Read More
I would like to touch upon a subject that it... Read More
Does it seem like there is never enough time in... Read More
Work life balance is the new Holy Grail; that search... Read More
How do you manage your time? Or is the more... Read More
I am an ordinary man - A middle class high... Read More
Balancing a family's varying schedules can be near impossible. Soccer,... Read More
If you can regularly ask yourself "Am I regularly and... Read More
TIME MANAGEMENTWith the creation of the universe, God gave humankind... Read More
Despite the best of intentions, most of us don't use... Read More
People always seem to be in such a hurry, everywhere... Read More
Whenever I've worked on 'de-cluttering' my living or working space,... Read More
You can lose, damage or waste some things in life,... Read More
One of the issues most often raised by my clients... Read More
A simple kitchen gadget is transforming my life. I don't... Read More
If you have spent any time at all working at... Read More
Are you drowning in a sea of unread papers? Do... Read More
As a small business owner, does the following paragraph sound... Read More
Friends, colleagues, and clients are all telling me that one... Read More
According to a Miller Heiman 2003 Sales Effectiveness Study, over... Read More
Many of the clients I work with in success coaching... Read More
It's easy to waste time on things that seem urgent... Read More
Procrastination, the habit of putting tasks off to the last... Read More
green cleaning service Park Ridge ..If you have ever missed an appointment, forgotten to pick... Read More
When a good friend asked me to contribute a little... Read More
It's amazing how many sayings there are in our culture... Read More
How can you get an extra hour out of each... Read More
Are you too busy to put yourself first? If a... Read More
Let's say that you have a software project that's under... Read More
Of all the Attraction Principles, the most popular class I... Read More
Clarity brings accomplishmentOne of the most important things you can... Read More
If I had a dollar or even better a pound... Read More
As a home-based, self-employed woman, mundane tasks can be as... Read More
It's easy to waste time on things that seem urgent... Read More
Time is wealth;Time is health; Time is power; Time is... Read More
Here's a smart system for doubling or tripling your daily... Read More
In this world there is something more precious than gold.... Read More
"Time management" is a myth. Time ticks by, whether you... Read More
How do you manage your time? Or is the more... Read More
A simple kitchen gadget is transforming my life. I don't... Read More
When trying to achieve a quality education, everybody knows that... Read More
The Internet is increasingly becoming a major time killer for... Read More
Everyday life can present us with opportunities to make us... Read More
The most powerful resource that we have is time. Everything... Read More
If you work from home, you know the kind of... Read More
Work brings together people of different characters and behavior, and... Read More
How often have you tried to manage your time in... Read More
Once you have completed your day you can boost your... Read More
Time Management |