Better time management will mean greater success
Some time ago I posted about organisation (you can read that post here) and how I had spent some time getting a few things in order to make it easier to complete tasks.
This week I reviewed the product of Ann Martinez who had a piece in her product about time management. I contstantly get asked by fellow Masterclass students how I manage to complete as much as I do, so I’m going to let you in on the secret.
There isn’t a secret! It is simply about time management. I mean, let’s face it, how much do we want to succeed at this? How much effort are we prepared to put into it to make it work? All I do is make a daily allocation of time, like having any other job, and stick to it as much as possible.
I used to go to bed at 10pm every night and sit up reading a book or doing a crossword for one and a half to two hours. Now I spend those hours from 10pm working towards my internet dream. I don’t often stay up beyond 11.45pm as I seriously recognise the need for sleep.
Of course there is other time allocated – I always check my emails every morning first thing. The computer warms up while I put the kettle on, then I flick through the emails with a my first cup of tea. I delete every one that looks totally boring, I don’t even open them to see what they are! I organise the emails into files so if I need to find anything I know where it is, and that saves time later (all Masterclass students have their own little file!).
If I have a bit more time in the morning I will visit the forum to see what is going on. It doesn’t take long, a few seconds really, just to look. If I need to leave comments or post anything I usually try to do that at this time too.
Of course the great part for me is I work in shops and can read or get on the Internet if I have no customers and no other jobs to do, but basically even if I did there would be key tasks that are much quicker to manage because I have put a system in place to cope with them.
A great idea is to make a list of things you need to do. Start by prioritising the list and try to set yourself a target to complete every day. Don’t overstretch yourself. Say today you will achieve the top 3, or the top 5 items, depending what they are. When they have gone re-work the list. The key is to not allow something to stay at the bottom of your list because it has a low priority. At least once a week those bottom items need to be tackled or they will get left behind. Give it a try, you might find it works for you.
How much do you want to succeed? An allocated time regularly will see you through. Treat it like any other job you have to do.
Enjoy the journey.
More From mandyallen
Hi Mandy, Great post but I still think that “Mandy`s world” has a 30 hour day, I keep trying to be more organised but it never seems to happen.I still keep getting sidetracked by any email that looks remotely interesting so that takes up a couple of hours a day.
Regards
Colin
Hi Colin, my day is seriously the same length – stop getting distracted! Be disciplined! That’s why I delete anything that I don’t have to deal with. It’s so much easier than being distracted. There’ll be time for those later and by then things will have moved on and been updated, so delete is the only practical option, in my opinion.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Hi Mandy ,
I have to say i tend to have periods where i use time management and there are times when i just do tasks willy nilly , but the amount i get done with time management far outweighs the times i don`t!
TTFN….Ed.
Exactly, Ed. Now you know that you know which to use!
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Hi Mandy
Great post on time management, I do try and practice good time management but it doesn’t always work out and sometimes life just throws you a challenge that means all the best plans get thrown out the window.
Have a great Life
Simon
Thanks for visiting, Simon. But just think how much more disorganised it would all be without ANY time management. As I said, I try to stick to it in the main, it really does make so much difference.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
I did wonder about your ‘secret’ Mandy, (I thought you must be a workaholic), but this just shows how effective time management is. As the old saying goes “If you want something done, ask a busy person”; people with plenty of time don’t tend to do anything with it.
) I also delete most of the emails I receive without looking at them. Keep up the good work.
I use a list myself, and love deleting the jobs I have done. (I always make sure there are some easy/short jobs on my list
John
Lists are brilliant, John. Great idea to include those certainties too!
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy Allen
Hi Mandy
As usual a great post, I’m working on time management myself at the moment. Its proving a bit difficult what with other commitments,but with determination I should see some progress.
Best Wishes
Ann
Thanks, Ann. As I said, we don’t always need a lot of time, just a regular allocation. Little and often is my motto. I’m happy to give up the telly or a read in bed to work towards this dream. There’ll be plenty of time for all that later.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Hi Mandy, I enjoyed your article very much and it’s a subject of great interest to me. I’m always trying to be more efficient and focused in my work.
Lately, I’ve been more keenly aware of how my work proceeds in synchronicity with the abilities of my computer itself and especially as it relates to “easy file create, save, store, access and open strategies and capabilities”. Yikes, that was a mouthful. LOL
Hi Steve, thanks for visiting…long sentences like that take loads of time to write you know…!
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Hi Mandy,
These days with about 65 hours worth of work, I needed to hear a few good words on time management!
Many Thanks,
Svenja
Hi Svenja, there seriously are times when there is simply too much to do in the hours you have but take it all in turn and it will work out.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Hi Mandy,
I think one word springs to mind here- commitment!
You obviously believe in your dream and in return are able to put so much time and effort into it.
It’s great to see such enthusiasm and commitment. A great post about time management too. I learnt early on that it is so important to be organised especially in this kind of work.
Well done and keep up the fantastic work!
Steve Wilkins.
Thanks for the confirmation, Steve. You are so much more advanced than me and it is good to have this postive feedback.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
http://steve-wilkins.com/
Hi Mandy
Some very helpful, time management tips here, I can recommend the ‘to do’ list, this is also useful at the end of the day when you get that ‘what did I actually achieve today?’ feeling, just run down the ticked items on your list and you’ll be surprised how much you have done.
Another tip is to unsubscribe from marketers mailing lists (just keep 2 or 3 of your favourites) this really cuts down on the junk emails.
Good luck
Stuart
Yes, I would agree with all of those points, Stuart. Thanks for visiting.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Touchee
Only had to read the headline and first 2 paras to realise that
you’d written it just for me. You must have sensed I was back.
I promise to both of us that I shall work on it.
Maybe then I can get back to regular meals and regular sleep pattern.
Thanks for posting such a timely item.
(and I mean that most sincerely, folks. I really do.)
Blessings, Mandy.
KenW
Hi Ken, I know we could all be better at this part, me included! Hope it helped!
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Hi Mandy,
Really enjoyed your post on Time Management. There are never enough hours in the day to do everything you want, so it is a really good idea to have a To Do list of what you want to achieve daily.
I tend to tackle the biggest job on my list first so that I can get it out of the way otherwise it wouldn’t get done as I’d keep on putting it off.
It works for me anyway.
As to succeeding online. Some people will succeed, others won’t and the ones that will, are always the ones that will go that extra mile, put in the extra hours that are needed and that help others to achieve their goals.
Keep up the good work.
Warm Regards
Dawn Kay
Hi Dawn, that’s a really good point, thanks for that. I guess I always try to pop a couple of things on I know I definitely will achieve, and it gives the satisfaction of crossing something off that list! Nice of you to drop by.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy