Time-Starved #2

Remember how you spend your time is all about choices. You decide how you are going to spend your time, and as much as you can, make choices that are aligned to support your priorities.

To continue from my blog yesterday, a few more time management strategies are:

• Do your most important task first. I met with a productivity coach a few months ago, and she said she tells her clients that most days we have 90 minutes of concentrated work time. So start out your day doing what you have determined is your most important task and then if your schedule unravels because of a "fire" you will have accomplished your priority.
• Don't multitask or switch from task to task. It takes your brain four times longer to recognize and process each thing you're working on when you switch back and forth among tasks. This of course, means your work will take so much longer to do if you are hopping from task to task instead of grouping like tasks and staying focused.
• Create short cuts for routines. Anything that you find you repeat regularly, that you can automate in some way, will save you time.
• Carve out 10 minutes of planning time at the end of the day. This is one of the most important time management strategies because it allows you to regroup, access where you are and identify your top priority task for the next morning.

I don't recommend attempting to adopt all of these strategies at once, but try out a few that speak to you and see how they can help you create realistic daily schedules that lead you on the path to having the 2010 you desire. Good luck and let me know what you think...