There are probably hundreds, if not thousands of books on time management. Technically, you cannot really “manage” time, but you can control how you spend your time. Here is a technique that seems to trump most of the time management tips, but you must first be able to identify how and when to use it.
Focus on Important, but not Urgent Items
If you focus on this one technique, then your productivity will increase substantially. The problem is that it is easy to let important, but not urgent items slip away. Usually these important items have this in common:
- They take more time to complete than many of your other tasks
- They require more time, energy, and focus
- If you do not do them today, tomorrow, or even next week, then your current situation will probably not be impacted
Examples include:
- Projects that are not due in the near future
- Actions that have a cumulative effect, for example, marketing tasks for your business or personal actions such as exercising and eating better
- Developing and maintaining relationships with people
Take a look at all of the tasks that you are constantly putting off and this is where you should begin to implement changes. A common enemy that fights against the important are low value, urgent activities. Think of important, not urgent items as drinking a protein shake vs. drinking a can of soda.
If you like what you just read, then don’t hesitate to forward/share with your friends and/or click like!
Make sure to subscribe to our weekly emails to receive practical business, financial and tax strategies! Sign Up Now!