3 Ways To Do More With Less Time

We live in a world where more is expected of us every day.

First there were fax machines, now email and cell phones. Our number of communications daily from various sources is extreme.

How can we get to all of it in a timely fashion and still get 8 hours of sleep?

Here are three time reducing strategies that are easy to implement:

1. Schedule. Like it or not in today's world if you want to achieve greater levels of success you must learn to use a schedule. You can use a Palm Pilot, a journal or a Daytimer. I use the Franklin-Covey Planning software for windows. It pops up when I turn on my computer and it is compatible with my Palm Pilot so that I can sync at night when I leave my office.

Now, having a schedule isn't half as important as using a schedule. It doesn't work if you don't use it? everyday.

I keep track of appointments, make a To Do list and then as I work on projects I enter them in so that I can make a journal of my day. Later, this will help me remember how much time I spent on tasks for billing purposes. I schedule in exercise time and I schedule in personal development time for reading and writing.

Once you get started, you'll find it easier and easier to use. The amount of time saved by spending the time to keep your schedule can be enormous. It helps to eliminate the clutter we create on our desks and in our minds when trying to remember all the things we need to do.

It can also help to eliminate unnecessary tasks. Many times we say 'yes' when something is not really in alignment with our goals. The act of making time for it and getting on the schedule will cause you to evaluate its importance. This can be a tremendous time saver.

2. Systems. Systems are a key component in time management. I have a system for everything! Systems do not have to be complicated but they help to keep you on track and save time. For instance, I use a 'system' for my after-work time. When I leave the office my evening everyday is pre-planned. I drive home, I change, I make dinner, I watch one hour of TV, I work two hours, and I go to bed? A system.

I follow the same system every single day. It removes wasted time trying to decide what I'm going to do with my time. Setting up systems for checking email or taking calls can be a real time saver. If you have tasks that you do regularly, think about ways to systemize them. Sometimes setting up forms or check lists, creating schedules or flow charts, delegating, just about anything can be turned into a time saving system.

3. Lists. Keep lists. You can keep the lists in your schedule but you need to get into the habit of making a list for tasks and systems. Checklists save time because you don't have to think about what comes next. The amount of time I save by using a calculator instead of figuring in my head is enormous?. Using lists is very much the same.

By removing the "think" time you streamline processes and save brain energy for more important things. I have a grocery list prepared in Excel, I print it off before I head to the store and buy only what I need. No time wasted wandering the aisles.

I have a checklist for updating my weblog and writing my newsletter. I have templates for the newsletter and I have time scheduled to do both.

Many times a little time spent upfront can be a huge savings later. When I find myself doing a task that I've done before and feel like its taking too long, I sit down systemize and make a checklist and suddenly I've found 15 or 20 minutes.

© Yolanda A. Facio for Strategy-3.com All Rights Reserved

Tired of watching others succeed? Discover how to achieve a more prosperous life. Yolanda A. Facio is the author of an incredible new ebook that guarantees you a more successful and productive life. Click Here Now => http://www.newrulesforsuccess.com

More success tips can be found at http://www.strategy-3.com

---

Time Management Basics

"At my back I always hear time's winged chariot hurrying... Read More

How Much Is Poor Time Management Costing You?

* If you were paying you to prioritise emails over... Read More

Career Redesign Tools For Work-Life Balance

Partnering with the University of Pennsylvania Law School and the... Read More

How Are You Viewing Your Time?

In working with and coaching people across the country, one... Read More

Busy, Busy, Busy

?busy, busy, busy, busy, busy?busy, busy, bus? OK, slap me... Read More

Measure Your Time Against Active Inactivity

We don't realize many things we do until we draw... Read More

Seven Ways to Say, No!

A common remedy for improving your time management is to... Read More

Time Management Mastery

From Potential to PerformanceOne of the great things about life... Read More

Time Management: How to Stay Motivated and Get More Done

If you can motivate yourself at will to get any... Read More

Decrease Your Sleep, Increase Your Energy! And Have More Time In Your Day!

Many of the world's most driven and successful people sleep... Read More

Balancing Your Work, Family and Social Life

Balancing Your Work, Family and Social Life... Read More

How Would You Like to Capture Some Time?

Women's health issues often are focused on goals to reach:... Read More

Oh, My Goodness! Where Has the Time Gone?

It's 6:00 a.m. I'm awake. I'm pumped! I'm ready to... Read More

Writing a Thank You Letter for Meeting

I have a habit of sending a thank you letter... Read More

Expand Your Time

In our time-crazed society, lots of time is what most... Read More

The Kaizen of Goal Setting

There is an old way of goal setting and a... Read More

Time Management - Honor Your Time and Energy

Your time and energy are the two most precious gifts... Read More

The Myth of What We Manage

Perhaps it is merely semantics, but an underlying problem I... Read More

Beyond Time Management ? Seven Ways to Leverage Your Time for Greater Results

Most of us have a to-do list ? some of... Read More

Save Yourself Hours of Time in One Easy Step

If you have spent any time at all working at... Read More

Time Management is Life Management

Many of the clients I work with in success coaching... Read More

Nurturing Your Soul

Number Yourself: Count yourself as an important individual. You are... Read More

Time Management - How To Get More Done In A Day?

Everyday, in life, we are bombarded with 101 tasks that... Read More

Procrastination. Id love to but...

When a good friend asked me to contribute a little... Read More

Time Management

Does it ever feel like there is never enough time... Read More

Delegate or Drown

Why waste your precious time working on tasks, which are... Read More

Time Management: How To Get More Done

If you can regularly ask yourself "Am I regularly and... Read More

Time Management: 11 Tips

Work more efficiently and be more productive using these time-management... Read More

Shifting Priorities Are The Norm

Years ago when I started in this business, it seemed... Read More

7 ways To Win The Time Crunch

Are you working a "day job" while building your home-based... Read More

Time Management Is Key

Having a home based business can be overwhelming. When you... Read More

Freelance Productivity: Do One Thing Extra Each Day

This may not sound like a big deal. But it's... Read More

Six Foundational Reasons for Managing Your Time

Most of us know how to manage our time. It... Read More