Making the Most of Your Most Valuable, Non-renewable Resource
Time is the ultimate non-renewable resource. At least for now, you can get more fuel for your company trucks. You can always hire more help. There is always more money to be made. Time, however, you cannot get back. You ultimately have 1440 minutes and you cannot work, trade or hustle for any of them back. Time is the true equalizer. Some people may have more knowledge, experience, connections or assets but we all have the exact same amount of time in a day. The most successful people learn how to prioritize every area of their life to make sure they have their time devoted to what matters most. Your success will ultimately be determined by how well you manage the minutes of your life.
Prioritize
The first key to time management is to get your priorities in line.
What is most important to you?
Why do you do the things you do?
What tasks are most urgent?
You must make sure that the most important matters are given the appropriate amount of time and, if possible, handled first. Make a list of your priorities. Regardless of what you say they are, look at where your time and resources are spent the most. Does your schedule and/or bank statement match what you wrote down on your priorities list? Define your priorities and schedule your resources to match their importance. You don’t have time to waste.
Schedule
To-do lists are just daunting reminders of all of the things that we need to get done. They are poor motivators for success and don’t account for the time needed to complete each task. Skilled procrastinators, like myself, will put off larger, less desirable tasks to cross off multiple smaller items to feel like they are getting a lot done. Scheduling checks this type of procrastination from the get-go. This leads us to our next tactic.
Kick procrastination
Procrastination overcomes the best of us and can render the most promising of days useless. Here are a few ways to prevent it from stealing your precious time. Studies show that your brain is most creative in the mornings, so if you have a task that is relatively demanding then get it done first. Imagine how freeing it will feel to get the most demanding task out of the way first! For many people, even if they can get the scheduling down, get the pressing matters done early, and remove distractions, they still succumb to laziness. It’s so easy. Instinctively, we will always veer toward the path of least resistance. Most of us need someone to yank us back up to get running! Accountability is the most defining secret to success in creating new habits. In fact, one study by the Association for Talent Development shows that people who have someone holding them to their goal are 95% more successful! Our inner slobs are too persuasive to our wanna-be rockstars. Find someone that you know will push you to be better when you are feeling the least amount of ambition.
Make Emails more efficient.
Number one, schedule 15-20 min every day when you check emails and then LEAVE THEM ALONE! Checking emails can be a time warp and trying to clean out your inbox can be an easy reward for putting off something more important- similarly to how we discussed earlier. Also, be clear, concise, and straight to the point when you are writing emails. Keep them short and sweet. No one wants to read a 2-page email about the busted coffee machine in the break room. One trick for quick and clear communication is that if the entirety of the email can fit into the subject line then do it! How much time would it save you and others if the subject line read something similar to “No need to open. Morning meeting moved to so-and-so’s office at 10 am”
Give yourself a break
Burnout is a very real problem that is taking down many professionals. Trudging through the day, just getting by, can waste a great deal of professional time; as well as negatively affect your personal life. Getting enough sleep, taking breaks, and establishing some sort of work-life balance can rejuvenate you. Making sure that you are mentally and physically rested will ensure that you have enough motivation and energy to make the most of your day.
You cannot get today back, and we are not promised tomorrow. Make today count! If you are in a dead-end job that you are unhappy with, then seize the day! Use your free time to take some online certifications that can help you get into the job you want! Go start the company you’ve always wanted to own! Make today the day that you start pushing to get your business on the map! As always, if you need any help along the way, with bookkeeping, accounting, or business solutions, then we would love to be a part of your rise to success! Contact us today to get started!
