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How to Manage Your Time More Effectively

There are many things that waste our time at work, from ringing telephones, drop-in visitors, to an inability to say no. Shelley Ball provides us with a number of steps that we can take to tackle time-wasters and as a result, be more effective in what we do.

by Shelley Ball

People give different responses when asking what is lacking in life these days. Some may say money, others may note that they don't have a position they enjoy, while others complain that they don't have a meaningful personal relationship. However, if you ask people if they are always short on time, you probably will receive a resounding and unanimous "Yes!"

Experts say that we feel the time crunch so severely that we are even giving up sleep in a desperate bid to find more time to get everything done. Even that doesn't seem to help us catch up on time, so now we're still not getting it all done and we're exhausted, to boot.

Yet, time management experts argue that there really is enough time to accomplish everything we would like to do and get a good night's rest. The key: taking a hard look at your life and determining what you really want to do. Then - and this may be the toughest part - letting the other stuff go. That may sound simplistic, but by taking this attitude, we truly can find a way to get our work done and still have lives with family and friends.

There are many time-wasters in our lives at work, from ringing telephones to drop-in visitors to an inability to say no. It seems that every day more are added to the list, including additional headaches caused by the same technology supposed to help us be more efficient (think of the useless e-mails you've received in the last week). We are in an age of unlimited possibility and we want to do everything. What kind of life is do you have when you run around like a chicken with its head cut off?

Tackle your time-wasters
Fortunately, there are a number of steps you can take to tackle your time-wasters. Here are some of them:

• Make clear choices: Take a hard look at what you want to accomplish that day and then write it down. Post this note where you can see it all the time and use it to guide you in your decisions. If someone approaches you with an idea, you can quickly consult your list and see if it fits. If not, politely and cheerfully tell the person "no". Be honest, be matter of fact, but be firm.

• Stop interruptions: One of the biggest time-wasters starts with, "Hi. Have you got a minute?" No, you really don't. So when someone drops in on you at work, ask them immediately what the visit is about. If the visit can not be handled in a short period of time, set up another time to talk, refer him to someone else or simply be honest and tell the visitor - or friend - that you're in the middle of something. You can chat with friends over lunch and colleagues will understand when you're on a deadline or in the middle of an important project.

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