Multiplying My Time

Time always seems to be at a premium. Have you ever wished you could just stop the clock or add more hours to the day?

Over the years, I have had to learn to multiply my time as a leader.

Here are several miscellaneous thoughts that I have used to make better use of my time:

1.  On the job:

• force myself to make decisions
• say “No” to activities I don’t have time to do
• use a system to write down ideas and things to remind me of future commitments
• listen to podcasts while driving or running errands

2.  Beware of Time Wasters:

• Too much sleep.  Get a little less and take a power nap in the day, if you can do that.
• Thumbing through magazines
• Social media (Facebook and Twitter) if I don’t have a plan, purpose or time limit
• Email: if I open it up first thing in the morning before I have my game-face on, I am toast.

3.  Travel

• Listen to podcasts and books while traveling
• Plan errands
• I seldom like to travel alone.  Travel time is great relational time and more fun.

4.  Thinking

• Include think time in schedule rather than wait for free time to magically appear.
• Work when others in the house are asleep.

5.  Pace self

• Plan and set up your own structure and stick to it
• Use deadlines (remember: work expands to fit the available time)
• Work hard and reward yourself with breaks-delay gratification
• Schedule tough jobs when you have high energy

6.  Appointments and meetings

• Some people like to schedule things back to back.  I have found that I need some downtime and think time before I head into the next appointment.  That helps me be better prepared and emotionally engaged for the next meeting.
• 5 minutes of planning can save an hour
• Determine the objectives

7.  Read a piece of mail or email once, and deal with it.  I stopped checking email and started doing it.

8.  Reading

• Look over a book first by reading the flap, the author information and the table of contents.  Determine what you want to get out of the book
• Read as rapidly as possible looking for main ideas and take notes as you go.  This will be a good review at the end.  Kindle really helps this!

What ways have you found to multiply your time?

Related posts you might find helpful:

1. Workflow for “stuff”
2. 9 Lifestyle Energy Drainers
3. 7 Tips on Developing a Life Mission
4. 4 Words to Set Better Goals