| Ignite Your Fire - 8 Week Challenge How is your eight week challenge going? What is working...what isn't? Make readjustments today! If you haven't started...Here is how you join in the challenge:
Step 1: Decide what you are going to change, reshape, get rid of, or add to your life (This must be a specific, measurable goal. For example, increase sales by 20% vs. increase sales or increase GPA from 2.9 to 3.5 vs. increase GPA.)
Step 2: Pick a coach who wants to support you. This can be a friend, family member or co-worker. Or if you would like, I would be honored to be your coach and partner - just email me at mp@margaretpundmann.com.
Step 3: Pick a celebration of any type to reward yourself at the end.
Step 4: Chunk it down. Break your goal into 8 pieces - for the 8 weeks of the challenge. Each Sunday/Monday you will put together a plan for that week. If you can't make the plan yourself - get a 'SME' - subject matter expert - who can advise you and help you develop a plan.
Step 5: Go for it! Believe in yourself!
Step 6: Share your journey with friends, family and your coach! | |
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| | This Week's Topic: 11 Time Management Tips
Dear Friend, "Time = life; therefore, waste your time and waste of your life, or master your time and master your life."
~Alan Lakein Time is a finite resource. Each day we have a limited number of hours and once they pass they are gone - regardless of how we used them. How we use our time and how we allocate our energy is a choice. Some days we get it right and other days we find that the day has passed, but we didn't accomplish all that we set out to do. This week I want to focus on eleven tips to help "get it right!"
When we properly manage our time we actually achieve more while we have more free time. In so doing we have better control of our lives, meet deadlines and lead a more balanced, less stressful life. Use these 11 tips to help you master your time and therefore master your life.
- The Pareto Principle - the 80/20 Rule
The 80/20 rule states that 80% of the effects come from just 20% of the causes. As it relates to time management, 80% of your measurable results and progress come from just 20% of the items on your daily to do list. Spend time where you get results! The problem is that we are all so busy fighting fires that we never get around to the most important few activities that lead to the greatest results.
- Take Time to Plan and Organize
Set aside time each week and each month to get organized. Each year reevaluate your systems and see if they still support the most effective and efficient results. For example, are your files set up properly at work, do you have a place for your car keys at home ... critically reexamine your life and see what needs to be updated.
- Set and Review Goals
Goals help us find direction and maintain focus. Set specific goals. Use the SMART method, developed by world renowned management consultant, Peter Drucker to 'stress' test your goals.
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Realistic
Tough
- Consider Your Biological Prime Time
Is it morning, afternoon evening when you are at your peak? As you schedule activities do the most important, most challenging tasks when you are at your best.
- Create a To-Do List
Schedule daily tasks on your calendar so that you plan both the activity and the timing appropriately given your daily schedule. Allow time for interruptions in your schedule.
- Prioritize
As you schedule your daily tasks consider what is the most important and when are you at your best.
- Think Effectiveness and Efficiency
Effectiveness = identifying the right thing to do
Efficiency = doing it right
- Practice Intelligent Neglect
Learn what can wait. Identify those tasks that will not have long term consequences if you don't complete them.
- Use the Swiss Cheese Method
The Swiss cheese method, developed by famous time management specialist Alan Lakein, is based upon the premise that you can begin important tasks even if you have only five minutes. When you are avoiding something, try to break the task into smaller pieces, set a time to complete each piece, and work on putting together all the pieces to complete the task.
- Review Your Progress - Use the "5 minute Rule"
At the beginning of each day take 5 minutes to ease into your day. Take time to plan your day and create a priortized to-do list. At the end of each day recap and review your day this will help you to make necessary adjustments to your schedule immediately.
- Be Flexible
Plan for interruptions and distractions. Time management experts often suggest planning for just 50 percent or less of our time. With only 50 percent of your time planned, we have time to handle interruptions and the unplanned "emergency." When you expect to be interrupted, schedule routine tasks. Save (or make) larger blocks of time for your priorities. Remember life is about juggling so everying won't always work out perfectly, but as my favorite saying goes..."proper preparation prevents poor performance!" Make It Happen This week pick one of the 11 Time Management Tips and weave it into your life! | | | Blessings to you,
Margaret. P.S. Encourage your friends, family, and colleagues by sharing this newsletter with them and invite them to subscribe! Direct them to www.MargaretPundmann.com where they can sign up. Margaret Pundmann is a life and business coach, speaker, and author of numerous articles on living your most powerful life. Stay tuned, Margaret's first book for emerging women will be available for pre-order in the coming weeks. | Please feel free to forward the "Powerful Living, Powerful You" newsletter to friends and colleagues, but please forward in its entirety. The "Powerful Living, Powerful You" newsletter is written and distributed by Emerge Enterprise. Copyright © 2008 Margaret Pundmann. All rights reserved. www.MargaretPundmann.com. | |
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