Not The Usual Time Management Tips

By Author: Sam Sander
Total Articles: 60
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There are literally thousands of articles available on effective time management, and they all more or less say the same thing. Get organised, plan your day, prioritise your tasks and just do it.

And these are all great technical techniques that you should be using to manage your time. But here are some other things to consider:

1. Motivate yourself. Many people tend to procrastinate just because of lack of motivation. Set yourself a reward for getting a particular task done on time, particularly if it is a activity you are dreading. Interestingly, most people feel bad when they procrastinate. That's your subconscious telling you that you're focusing on the wrong things. Your subconscious also rewards you for completing a task by the little buzz you get when it's done. So in a way, completing a task is it's own reward.

2. Remind yourself WHY you are doing this task in the first place and why it is so important to achieve. If you can't find a reason, then maybe you should evaluate WHY you are doing the activity at all.

3. Enlist the help of a mentor or support group to follow up on your progress. ...
... There's nothing like a little external pressure to keep you on your toes.

4. Manage interruptions. You may not be able to avoid them altogether, but you can manage interruptions by for example only checking your email a couple of times per day, or by having a closed door policy during your highly productive times so you can focus on the task at hand.

5. Know your energy cycle. Make the best use of your high energy cycles by using this time to do important tasks that need your full focus. And try to avoid all interruptions during this time as well. During your low energy periods, try to do more mundane tasks that don't require a lot of brain power. Catch up on reading or emails, return phone calls. You can still make use of this time.

6. Energise. You can also try to boost your energy levels through an appropriate diet and exercise program. A short burst of high energy activity to get the blood flowing can raise your energy levels, as can regular snacking on healthy foods such as fruit and vegetables to keep your metabolism going.

7. Sweet tasks. Tasks you enjoy doing, but that aren't necessarily important, are good filler tasks. They are fun, so keep your motivation up, and can also be a reward for getting other tasks done first.

And finally, just Bite the Bullet, Just Do It!, and Don't put off to tomorrow what you can do today! There are numerous clichés you can use to illustrate the point. There are also some great motivational and inspirational posters available so find one that motivates you and hang it on your wall where you can see it every day.

It's all about attitude. Embrace the power of positive thinking, and know that you are the only person who can make this happen!
You can learn more about how to manage your time to achieve all your goals by reading this FREE ebook - "The Time Management Secrets that will Set You Free". You'll also find lots of free tips and tools on a range of self-improvement topics from goal setting to emotional intelligence.