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Time Management Tips for Students pt 2 – 10 Essential Tips to do Well at School

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

This is a continuation of the previous article and the remaining 5 time management tips for students.  These tips seem to be very obvious, or straight forward in what they discuss, yet most of the time, it’s the basics and mastering the basics that really make the difference in terms of getting the results you want delivered.  For example, getting organized can be in many different forms.  People waste an enormous amount of time searching for the same thing over and over again.  Read on for the rest of these 5 tips.  Remember, while they are helpful for students, they are also helpful for those in other stages in their lives as well as other professions.


6. Get organized.
You should file all your notes properly after each lesson. Do not wait until revision time to search through pile after pile of papers for that set of revision notes / worksheets that you wanted to revise then. It will be bad time management on your part if you have to spend hours after hours in searching for stuff rather than in studying.

7. Avoid procrastination.
Staring at your work and wondering why you have to spend your precious Saturday afternoon doing it will not get you anywhere. Do not spend your time idling or daydreaming instead of being focus and complete the task immediately. Complete the task in order of the priority you have set for each assignment. You will find yourself completing every thing before long if you focus your attention on your task instead of procrastinating. In this way, you will not leave things till the eleventh hour.

8. Get rid of distractions.
If there are distractions in your working area, such as television, bed, music, computer games, etc, it will be very difficult to stay focus. You need to find a quiet and conducive environment to study or seek the co-operation of your family members to either lower the volume of the television or to turn it off. You can also shut the door to the room where you are working in to eliminate any noises that might distract you.

9. Allow time to review goals and schedule occasionally.
Sometimes it is possible that a goal set earlier is unachievable at the moment due to your lack of related skills or that it is too easily achieved, revise the goals. Check the priorities of the task set in the schedule, eg. 1 or 2 of your weak subjects could have improved tremendously after weeks of revision, so now you should redirect your focus on a weaker subject.

10. Focus on completing one task at a time.
This is the last time management tip but it does not mean that it is not important. If you are not focus, chances are you will hop from one task or assignment to another. Do not believe it when people tell you that you should multi-task and try to do a few things at one time. You might end up getting nothing done at the end of a whole day.

It is actually not a difficult process to get everything done in one day or within the time constraints given if you are able to apply the time management tips given above. Be realistic. Do not expect to see change happening overnight and not every tip will work for you immediately. Try each one out for at least a week to see which is the most suitable time management tip that you can apply to your life effectively. Getting into the habit of applying them is very important though and if you stick to these tips, you will definitely see success.



“Stella Mak is a qualified school teacher with over 18 years of teaching experience and a mother of a pair of twins, so she is very experience in handling children. Did you find the above information useful? You can learn a lot more about parenting children as well as receive FREE ecourse and special report on parenting at http://www.childrenproblemshelpdesk.com“


More articles on time management tips for students:

Time Management: A Distance Learning Student’s Friend – My Penn …

Terry is an adult learner earning an online associate’s degree from Penn Foster College. Read more about Terry’s experience in his blog, My Penn Foster College Experience!

Publish Date: 07/12/2009


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Time Management Tips for Students pt 1 – 10 Essential Tips to do Well at School

Sunday, March 28th, 2010

Time management is not just for busy parents, business owners and entrepreneurs, it is also for students as well.  These days, students are busier than ever and require some good time management skills to keep up to date on what they need to do to get their lives and their schoolwork to work together in harmony.  Time management tips for students are in demand for students at all levels, from grade school to grad school.  Read on for more in this article about how to share with your student some tips that will help manage their time.  Part 2 of this article will be posted soon, this is the first 5 of the 10 tips in this article.


Students today are faced with numerous tasks and challenges that they have to complete each day. It is sometimes possible that the child might succumb to defeat if he or she does not have time management skills. In order to get more quality time, it is essential for students to learn some time management tips so that they can effectively plan their time and finish every task. If you have children in the school-going age, this message today will definitely help to maximize their capabilities. This article looks at how you can help yourself or your child to benefit from the following 10 time management tips in order to perform better in school.

1. Reduce the amount of time spent on telephone.
Sometimes unexpected calls can lead to long conversations and since you know that time is precious, you should refrain from answering calls when you are doing your work. You should manage your time properly and answer personal calls only when you are having your breaks.

2. Identify which activities are time-stealers in each day and avoid them.
Think about the activities that you carry out each day. Do you spend a lot of time watching television, surfing internet, chat online or on the phone, play computer games, etc? These activities will take up a lot of time if you add them up and you should make it a point to cut done on them, especially when it is near the examination periods.

3. Goal setting with deadlines.
In order to manage your time well, it is necessary for you to set small, achievable goals with deadlines. This is so that you can follow through and achieve the goals within the time frame allotted. However, you must be realistic and know what you are capable of achieving. If you set your goals too high, you will only end up demoralizing yourself and nothing will get done.

4. Write a to-do list each night and look through it every morning.
You have to prioritize your tasks. You need to clear up the most important task first before going on to the less urgent ones. This will help you to keep on task and prevent you from accumulating everything to the eleventh hour and stressing yourself out.

5. Start a routine and stick to the schedule.
In this time management tip, we look at how you can draw up a daily schedule. Plan out what subjects must be revised each day and how much time you should allocate to each subject. For example, you need to spend more time on your weaker subjects but at the same time not forgetting the stronger ones. Draw up a daily schedule on what needs to be done each day after school or for the whole day on weekends.

Let the rest of the family members know about your schedule so that they will not interrupt you when you are revising your work and they will also help to keep you on task. It is important to set short breaks (approximately 10 minutes) between each 45 minutes to 1 hour’s study period.


“Stella Mak is a qualified school teacher with over 18 years of teaching experience and a mother of a pair of twins, so she is very experience in handling children. Did you find the above information useful? You can learn a lot more about parenting children as well as receive FREE ecourse and special report on parenting at http://www.childrenproblemshelpdesk.com“


More articles on time management tips for students:

Time Management Tips for College & University Students

Time Management Tips for College & University Students by Jane Lee Whether you were an efficient worker or practicing procrastinator in high.

Publish Date: 01/09/2010 1:00


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Working At Home And Time Management

Friday, March 19th, 2010

This article discusses how time management should be approached when you are at home. It gives a number of tips that should be used when the business entrepreneur is working from home. It does require an additional inner strength to keep on track and not get distracted. Read on for more in this subject.

Time management and organization is so important in life and when it comes to working at home it is doubly important. As a matter of fact Time management, organization, schedules are all prominent in any successful organization.

Time is the one thing that we do not have enough of it is the one thing in life that is constant. Time will wait for no one so we have to utilize it the best way we can.

It makes no sense to try and cram everything in to a short space of time because it will become counter productive. can you imagine a plumber trying to make a deadline of finishing 3 days work in one day. His work would become sloppy he would make mistakes then he would have to go over the job again.

So really the answer to the question of not having enough time is organisation, writing schedules and keeping a diary. This is vital for a home based entrepreneur!

Organisation means keeping all your documents, invoices, accounts and everything you use in your business in their proper place. This will save time because you will know where everything is It will also lead to a less stressful home/working environment.

Keeping a diary, filo-fax or some kind of personal organizer is a vital business tool for obvious reasons.

Another system that is invaluable is writing rotas or schedules. Now it is no point writing a great schedule and not sticking to it is there? When one writes a schedule they must take into account all the aspects of their work and there family life. remember when working at home a happy work environment will lead to more productivity which equals more profits.

When writing a schedule It is important to encompass everything that could mean taking the children to school, shopping feeding the dog. as well as all your business commitments. Always make time for the family, especially when working at home. Make sure you have an arrangement with your spouse about your working hours, and that the children realise as well. Of course If you have younger children you have to give a bit more of your time or get child minders.

Having an office or a part of the house where you can work undisturbed would be fantastic. because you can then have all your tools i.e computer, telephone, files and stationary in one place. Hence saving an immense amount of time.

Planning is another useful skill to have in the quest to save time and be more productive you should take a couple of hours in the beginning of the week to plan for the coming 2 weeks. Again take everything into account then write your schedule.

Having planned your schedule for 2 weeks give yourself some leeway like an extra half an hour in between chores. As you never no what can pop up.

So in summary to help in having a smooth profitable home business you must be organized. Plan your weeks ahead then write your schedule remembering to be flexible. Let your family know what your schedule is and you will find that time is not a problem at all.

Copyright © Terry Stewart

Terry Stewart Is a successful home based business person who has been a chef for many years. He has transferred some skills to his present business eg. organisation and I for detail. This article is the copyright of Terry Stewart.

Terry Stewart publishes a daily newsletter packed with the best resources and ideas for the net entrepreneur. To subscribe mailto:telnelbiz@getresponse.com

http://www.telnelbiz.com

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$75000 Time Management Secret

Sunday, March 15th, 2009

The ideas in this article are really great. I have heard of making a list, but prioritizing it and sticking to it… I think that is the answer. I see myself getting ending up doing what I want to do first and staying on that longer than I should. This is a great way to approach it. The key is however, in knowing which are the priority tasks to do….

Are you drowning in email? Is your mind filled with anxiety over an increasing number of tasks?

Each day that you put off accomplishing the tasks and assignments that are yours, creates more pressure for the next day, and the day after that.

Time management is a hot topic on the internet. The Overture search term suggestion tool indicated as of May 2003 that over 34,000 individuals were searching the keyword phrase time management. Experts predict that Overture is only capturing about 2% of the total searchs. This means there is a potential of approximately 1.5 million people daily searching for help with time management. Mind you this is only the tip of the iceberg. These are the individuals possibly seeking help! Many might feel they don’t EVEN have enough time to seek assistance!

I’m going to share with you a time management strategy that is the GRANDFATHER of time management strategies. This original technique sold for $25,000 nearly 70 years ago to top management. It was highly prized.

It will work for you, if you put as much energy into using it, as you would if you just paid $25,000 for it, or closer to $75,000 if you account for inflation.

Bethlehem Steel was willing to pay the amount in order to increase the productivity of their company. They consulted with Mr. Ivy Lee.

Lee’s advise?

“All you need to do, advised Mr. Lee, is take a pad of paper, this evening, and list the most urgent projects which confront you. Then, study the list and number them, assigning number one to the most important job, number two to the next most vital, and so on down the list.

Beginning tomorrow, tackle number one and stay on it until it is finished before you move on to number two. Work on down the list. When the day is through, prepare a new list, again assigning top priority to the most important task still undone and so on down the list. Do this everyday.” (University of Success, Og Mandino, pg. 219)

Of course it is up to you to make your list every single day. Why not try this $75,000 technique for one week. I’d love to hear about your success. (Donald@spiritualjava.com)

********************************************
Dr. Donald Schnell co- founded with Marilyn Diamond
of Fit For Life, the Spiritual Java Diet Coaching Program,
that is transforming thousands. The New Spiritual Diet,
Incredible Value, One on One coaching Amazing Results.
http://www.SpiritualJava.com or email:
Donald@SpiritualJava.com
Donald Schnell is the author of The Initiation. Free Motivational
Newsletter, The Buzz http://www.spiritualjava.com

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Where Does the Time Go

Tuesday, January 13th, 2009

Ever find yourself wishing you had just a few more hours in the day to get it all done? Between work and family responsibilities alone, it can be challenging to juggle time for everything. Surely we were created for more than a life on a continuous treadmill where we never seem to catch up.

Futurists predicted that, in the 21st century, work would be done in virtual organizations and paperless offices. Some even said that the work week would drop to 35, or even 30 hours, and that too much leisure time could become a problem. Most of us are not quite there yet, are we? Actually, over the past quarter-century, the time Americans spend at work has continued to rise. Our world seems to be speeding ahead faster than our comfort level and creating effects like stress, exhaustion and other health problems, to name a few. In business, the constant pressure to reduce costs and to do more with less often leaves employees in an unending cycle of overwork and overwhelm which ultimately affects the productivity and efficiency of the organization.

What is the solution? Time management can help. Or rather, more effective use of time can help. When you think about it, we don’t really manage time, but rather manage ourselves and how we choose to spend each 24 hour day we are given. By having tools and support available, we can better manage ourselves and the choices we make.
Tips for Managing Use of Time…

1. TAKE A LOOK AT WHERE YOU SPENDING YOUR TIME. It may sound odd to suggest taking time in an already busy schedule to assess how you are using time. Try tracking your time for the next week and see just how you spend it. Becoming more aware of how you use time can help you identify opportunities for changes that may alleviate time pressures. Ask yourself: Is there a change I can make to spend time more wisely?

2. DISTINGUISH BETWEEN IMPORTANT AND URGENT. If you have 25 tasks for a given day, how many of them do you truly need to accomplish? An excellent tool for helping prioritize activities is Covey’s Time Management Matrix (Stephen R. Covey in his book “First Things First”). It is a simple and straightforward approach to determining importance vs. urgency when planning your activities. Most of the time, focusing on things that are important, rather than urgent, results in greater effectiveness. Ask yourself: Do I prioritize effectively?

3. PLAN YOUR WORK; WORK YOUR PLAN. There is a cost in time and energy associated with working in a reactionary mode without a plan. While there will always be a need for flexibility, having a plan will help you maintain focus and measure progress. It can also support you in handling interruptions that may take you off task. Ask yourself: Do I have a clear plan? Am I working my plan?

4. ZAP TIME WASTERS. Time wasted can never be regained. A few examples… browsing the internet, email, chatting with co-workers, looking for things, and talking on the phone. Some ideas for zapping these time bandits are: schedule a time to return phone calls and email, get organized so that time is not wasted looking for tools and papers, use an Internet reminder service to keep track of important dates or events. Ask yourself: What will I do to eliminate time wasters?
“The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.” ~ Michael Althsuler

Coach Morgan is a Business & Personal Coach. She helps business leaders and their teams become more productive and profitable while maintaining focus and balance. She has led work groups in the United Kingdom and Australia. Coach Morgan is an adjunct professor at the University of Miami and a graduate of CoachU. She is the author of “A Year of Smooth Sailing – 12 Strategies for Charting Your Course to a Great Life” and “Smooth Sailing Success.”

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Use Your Time Wisely

Sunday, January 11th, 2009

When I was small, I have never considered the importance of time.
I would just laze around, watch TV, lie in bed, and play video
games. As I grew older, I thought about the things that I have
achieved. To my surprise, I haven’t accomplished a lot.

I resolved to myself that I will do things that will contribute
to the benefit of mankind. I studied very hard and learned a
lot of lessons from my experience. I lack self-confidence
before, so I want to help other people overcome this predicament.

I became obsessed with self-improvement, so I started a
newsletter. I’m also working on an ebook about persuasion as
I’m writing this. I want to help anyone in need because it
feels so good to solve other people’s problems.

I urge you now to make the most use of your time. It may be
joining a fundraising organization. You may also learn new
skills or crafts. Create a goal and go for it!

Don’t be a couch potato. Don’t just sit around and be contented
with the monotonous patterns of your daily activities.

Do something nice and give all your best to the fulfillment
of a worthwhile endeavor. It will give you a very deep sense
of happiness and satisfaction.

Some people complain that they don’t have enough time to take
action on their goals. They have to go to their 9 to 5 job,
then when they go home they feel so tired all they can think
about is watch TV, relax, and sleep.

I’m not saying that leisure is a no-no. In fact, everyone should
take time out once in a while to recharge and revitalize their
energy. The key is to have a balanced life. Set aside a
fraction of your time to carry out your dreams and ambitions.
Reserve some time to establish healthy relationships.

Ok, I hear you. You’re saying that you really just can’t budget
your time?

Don’t panic. Here are some time management tips.

1) If possible, do more than one thing at the same time.

Exercise while watching your favorite TV show. Listen to
educational tapes while waiting for the bus.

Be forewarned! Never do this if it puts you at risk or in
danger; for example, don’t text while driving.

2) Don’t do something later if it can be done concurrently with
an activity at present.

If you’re going to the market to buy some eggs, think of the
other things that you have to purchase so that you don’t have
to return again.

If you have an appointment with the dentist today and you also
have to go to the bank (which is near the dentist’s clinic) at
any day, schedule the two activities on the same day.

3) Be organized in everything that you do.

Put labels on bottles. Put similar files on one folder. Make a
list of things you have to do for the day.

You can also use your mind to organize things you have to
remember. Studies have shown that you could only retain
information that fit between 5 to 9 categories at a time.
This is the 7+-2 rule of Neurolinguistic Programming.

If you have many things to do, try to group related things
together. You can combine activities such as reading books,
listening to educational tapes, and watching training videos into
a category such as “Education.” Then you can group swimming,
playing basketball, and paying fees for the gym in a category
called “Fitness.” Get the picture?

Time is one of our most valuable resources. Once lost, it can
never be reclaimed. We must use time wisely for our development
and advancement; so that when we are old, we can look back and
recollect the pleasant memories and deeds that we have achieved.
Time well spent is worth much more than gold.

Michael Lee is the author of “How To Be A Red Hot Persuasion
Wizard,” an ebook designed to easily seduce others to like
you, fully improve your relationships, multiply your profits,
win negotiations, and attain absolute freedom and power.
Get a sample chapter at http://www.20daypersuasion.com

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Tips To Get Motivated and Overcome Procrastination

Thursday, January 1st, 2009

This article gives a different view of time management. They take it from the point of view of motivation and procrastination. Think about it. We want more time to do all the things we feel are important, but how do we feel about the things we need to do to receive the goals we want to receive? If we don’t want to do them then we automatically take more time doing them? This is a very interesting take on the whole time management issue. Read on for more!

Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time

Procrastination is a complicated behavior that affects all people to some degree. Some experience only small problems with procrastination while with others, it is a major source of anxiety and stress. Lack of motivation and procrastination is related to time management. Procrastinators often fail to complete tasks even though they know what the task is and the time they have to do it.

Why do people procrastinate? Often a difficult task is avoided in favor of the less difficult. Tasks that take longer amounts of time are less desirable than those that can be completed quickly. People sometimes procrastinate due to fear of failure. No one wants to be embarrassed by a lack of knowledge or skills when beginning a new task. Overcoming the fear of failure and developing good work habits will do wonders for those who tend to procrastinate.

The first step in overcoming procrastination is to recognize what psychological issues cause you to procrastinate in the first place. Self-defeating issues such as anxiety, fear, poor time management skills, indecisiveness, difficulty concentrating, and perfectionism can be major contributors to a lack of motivation. It’s important to clarify your goals and then work to achieve them.

If you do not know how to manage your time efficiently, there are classes and literature available to help you learn. In order to change, you first have to accept and forgive yourself for your shortcomings. Do not expect to change overnight, expect to backslide on occasion and forgive yourself when this happens. Give yourself adequate credit for tasks you do accomplish in a timely manner.

If you have a friend or coworker who seems to be highly organized and efficient, ask for suggestions as to how you can do the same. Reward yourself for small steps taken towards your goals and be realistic in your expectations. As with any type of behavioral change, overcoming procrastination will not happen instantly. Change your work or study habits to minimize distractions and promote wise management of your time.

Be disciplined in your approach by setting a realistic goal and sticking to it. Setting priorities is critical in learning to manage your time in the most efficient manner. Do not dwell on setbacks or mistakes. Focus instead on success and soon enough you will stop dwelling on failure and instead come to expect the best from yourself.

Motivation is the key to achieving success at work and at home. Motivation comes from within. Coming to grips with personal issues is the first step in realizing why you procrastinate and then taking steps to change. If you focus on self-discipline and proper time management, you will be able to change those habits that led you to be a procrastinator in the first place.

You can get motivated and stay motivated by implementing a few changes and observing a few personal rules. Observing and copying those who seem to always be a step ahead is also an excellent tool in overcoming procrastination.

Realizing that procrastination is a self-imposed condition is an important step in changing those bad habits into a lifelong formula for success. Make your plan, follow it carefully, and forgive yourself for imperfections. You will soon transform yourself from a chronic procrastinator into a highly motivated, disciplined individual.

Arina Nikitina is the author of the goal setting tutorial “How to Set and Achieve a Goal”. Get 27 proven techniques, 9 worksheets, and step-by-step success plan here: http://www.how-to-set-and-achieve-a-goal.com/.

arina@goal-setting-guide.com

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Schedule Time for Interruptions

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008

I like this article because it brings in the reality of our day. At least from the point of view of being unconscious… What do I mean by that? Well if we believe the reality of our day will be full of interruptions, then that is exactly what our day will be like. For me, I don’t like interruptions and don’t see them as being a part of my day, so I don’t have them. Any call that comes to me is for something that will help my business, help make my life easier (calls from non profits who want my old stuff, see, now I don’t have to go out and arrange for it!), or bring more abundance into my life. Those aren’t interruptions to me. Getting back to the scope of this article, if you are on a schedule and you get a call that puts you off of your schedule, you need to schedule more synchronization into your thoughts so instead of calls taking you out of your schedule, they make it easier to get done what you need to get done for the day!

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One of the most challenging situations people face when planning their day is how to stick to their schedule when they are constantly being interrupted. Just when your activities are organized, someone else’s emergency seems to get in the way. A client has a crisis, co-workers are in a jam, your boss is breathing down your neck, a friend calls, or any of the dozens of other interruptions you face on any given day.

The training tip for the month of March is extremely simple and equally powerful ~ Schedule Time for Interruption. That’s right, just as you would schedule a meeting with a customer or event with your boss, scheduling a specific time in your day for interruptions is a technique that our students nation wide continually tell us is one of the most powerful time management tips they have ever used.

How does this work? There are two components. First, as you are planning your day or week, allot a certain amount of time for the sole purpose of dealing with ‘other people’s emergencies.’ What normally happens when someone calls or comes running into your office with something that they need your immediate help with? You drop whatever you are in the middle of and rush to their attention. Not only is their issue something that may not be of any importance to you, but I recently heard that it takes most people around 20 minutes to return to the level of focus they had before being interrupted. Wonder where those ‘lost hours’ go each day? Rebounding from all your interruptions!

But we do not want to tell our clients, managers, and co-workers that we aren’t there for them… So now you can have the best of both. You have a specific time predetermined in your day that you are available for ‘scheduled interruptions.’ Instead to denying the requests of others, you can simply plan a time that you will be able to help them.

The second component is to stick to your schedule and communicate to others when you are available for them and when you are not. If this seems unrealistic or impractical, that is because you have never tried it! In the long run, your boss with be impressed that you are getting more done, you will have more quality time to prevent most of your clients’ crises, and your coworkers will learn that you are not at their beck and call.

A frequent question people ask is, “how much interruption time do I need to schedule and when should I schedule it?” That, of course, is going to vary from person to person, but as a general rule, I say as much as you need and when it is convenient for you. If you are the manager of a large group of people, you are going to have more people knocking on your door for help with their challenges than if you are just getting started with a company. Try out the amount you think will be adequate and you will quickly realize if it’s the right amount for your needs. Most people find that right before or after lunch makes sense, as that is an easy breaking time in the middle of the day.

Be Free!

Eric is president of Freedom Speakers & Trainers, www.deliverfreedom.com & an instructor & personal coach on memory, goals, attitude, time management & communication. He is a national know memory trainer that has worked with thousands of companies to enhance their memory. He is co-author of Winning The Name Game, an at home study course that teaches individuals how to remember the names of everyone they meet. www.winningthenamegame.com

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Milk Another Hour or Two Out of Your Day – Time Management

Wednesday, October 10th, 2007

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Managing the Time You Haven’t Got

Tuesday, October 9th, 2007

This time management article talks about managing your time from the point of view of looking at ‘time’ differently. Look at things such as multi-tasking, taking less time to do the same things, because maybe they don’t require the time you originally thought. There are other ideas described such as buying more time as well

Do the words “time management” rub you the wrong way? For many busy professionals, the real problem seems to be that there isn’t any time left to manage. You can sometimes get better at managing your time by prioritizing all your tasks and scheduling carefully. But when you’re already using all the time you have efficiently and there’s still not enough, there are four strategies you can try.

Make more time. The fastest way to make time can be to buy it. You may think you don’t have enough money to pay for help, but think about what your time is worth. If your salary is equivalent to earning $25 an hour, and you pay someone else $12 an hour to run errands for you, that’s a bargain. And what value would you set on being able to spend an extra hour having fun with your partner or kids?

You can buy time by paying to have your house cleaned, your car taken for servicing, or your laundry done. Pay a professional to prepare your taxes; have your groceries delivered; make routine purchases by phone or Internet.

Another way to make time is to double up on activities. Get a hands-free mike for your cell phone so you can return calls, place orders, or give instructions to staff while driving or walking. When traveling by public transit, bring along backlogged mail or documents to review. Use your waiting time at the prescription counter or dentist to balance your checkbook or plan your day. Having something to do will also make your wait more pleasant.

Make less time do. If this were a perfect world, we could do everything perfectly. Many of us try to do this anyway, and it eats up an enormous amount of time. A good example is writing business or personal letters. If it takes you two hours to write the perfect letter, you’ve lost an hour you could have used to write to someone else.

Try setting a time limit on routine tasks like this, and stick to it. You may find that you can write a very satisfactory letter in half the time. Embrace the idea of allowing what you do to be “good enough” instead of insisting it must be flawless.

Give some things away. Is every responsibility something you need to look after personally, or could someone else handle it? If you have employees, look hard at what you’re hanging on to. Is there anything else you could delegate, maybe by providing some training first? If there is no one you can delegate to on the job, be sure you ask your boss for help before assuming that it’s impossible.

Examine your personal life and volunteer responsibilities in the same way. Ask your family to take on more household chores, or find someone else to help with the community event you’re organizing. Asking for help isn’t cheating; it’s what all successful people do.

Do some things later. Does all of it really have to be done now? Maybe there’s just too much on your plate for anyone to realistically handle. Choose only a few places to focus your energies right now, and put some of those other projects on hold. You don’t have to give anything up, just defer it to a later time.

If you find yourself often getting distracted by new ideas, start an idea file. When an exciting new thought occurs to you, put it in the file instead of acting on it right away. Look at your file from time to time for inspiration. Whenever you complete a project you’ve been working on, you can choose something new from the file.

The most important thing to learn about creating more time in your life is how to say no. Just because you are asked to take something on doesn’t mean you have to accept it. Ultimately, your time belongs only to you; make sure you are the one who chooses how to use it.

C.J. Hayden is the author of Get Hired Now! and Get Clients Now! Since 1992, she has helped thousands of professionals make a better living doing what they love. C.J. is a Master Certified Coach who leads workshops internationally ¯ in person, on the phone, and on the web. Find out more about C.J. and get a free copy of “How to Find a Job in 28 Days or Less” at http://www.gethirednow.com.

[tags]time management, professionals[/tags]

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