Title: Getting Things Done: Time Management Tips
Author:
Section/SPIG: Health Administration
Issue Date:
This set of suggestions for increasing your productivity and reducing clutter were taken from several issues of Taylor's Time Tips, an electronic newsletter and used with permission of the author. Harold L. Taylor is the author of 'Making Time Work for You.' Subscribe to Taylor's Time Tips at <http://www.TaylorOnTime.com>.
TRANSLATING GOALS INTO ACTION - To be successful, we must translate future goals into present action. Goals cannot be accomplished in the future, for the future never comes. Where we are in one year, two years or three years is determined by what we are doing today. So once we have written down our goals and assigned target dates, we must schedule time each week, or if possible each day, to work on those goal-related activities.
FOCUS IS THE KEY - According to research, one unit of focused time is equal to four units of broken focus. You can accomplish the same amount of work in 10 minutes of focused time as you can in 40 minutes if you're not focused. (Article source: <http://www.aafp.org/fpm/20030500/82forg.html>)
THE TIMED AGENDA - To prevent meetings from dragging out, issue a timed agenda. After consulting with the other people who are responsible for presentations, allocate a specific amount of time to each agenda item. Be sure to allow about 20 percent more time than you think it will take. With a deadline to work towards, each item will have less likelihood of being dragged out.
WHERE THE TIME GOES - According to Michael Fortino of Priority Management, Americans spend
- Five years of their life standing in line.
- Two years trying to return phone calls.
- Eight months opening up direct mail.
- Six years eating.
- One year searching for misplaced objects.
- Four years on major household chores.
Where does your time go?