Skip to content

Time Management for Work - Life Balance

First of all, let’s talk about your two important aspects of your life.

The work aspect - Now, work is an important part of our life, and there is no point arguing about it. Traditional time management books talk about taking your life to the next level, but a lot of them ignore the fact that most us spend about eight hours of our time in the workplace. Eight hours is a lot of time. And that’s exactly why it is so important to talk about work and time management together.

Now, you do spend eight hours a day at work, but work is not everything that you have. You have your family and your relationships. And Let’s face it, no matter no big the paycheck is, if your relationships are falling apart, it robs you from feeling good or happy.

So let’s talk about balancing work and your personal life to live the life of your dreams. Let’s get started.

One of the skills that you can apply right now is to start scheduling your day. I am not just talking about making a to-do list of everything you’re going to do at work. I’m talking about making a to-do list and scheduling fun stuff with your family.

Now, it’s going to be a little hard to get started, but I would recommend that you start by looking at your family’s schedules. Sit down and have a talk and come up with a time that works for everybody. Don’t just take your schedule and try to force it on others.

One of the things that happens when people find out they need a better work/life management is they start forcing their schedule on others, and that is a sure way to annoy them. If you want better relationships with your kids, you have to make sure that you can find a time that works for them and you have to find a way to make sure you can reward them for it. Make it worth their time.

Another thing you can start right now is taking really short breaks at about 90 minute intervals for about five minutes or ten minutes to take a breath and reduce your stress level. When we focus at work our stress level rises up. It’s something very natural. It’s just like working out. Your muscles stress up. All you need to do is take a few minutes to relax. Try it for a week, you will be pleasantly surprised by what this little tip can do for you.

If you are looking for a better work/life balance, your time management skills can either be your best friend or your worst enemy. And that is exactly why you need a time management system that is used by the world’s most successful people. Visit http://www.managemytimenow.com to pick up your own copy of the time management manual that can change your life. Read the book and apply the simple but powerful time management to achieve your goals and live a more fulfilling life.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Maya_Mah
Tagged
2008 05 09 admin Time Management Comments (0) Permalink

Finding the Time to Read

Psychologist Eda LeShan said that middle-age occurs when you realize that you won’t live long enough to read all the books you want to read. According to LeShan’s definition, some of us were born middle-aged.

Finding the time to read isn’t just a problem of our busy, modern world. Back in the 14th Century, Italian poet Francesco Petrarca faced the same dilemma and solved his conflict this way: “Whether I am being shaved, or having my hair cut, whether I am riding on horseback or taking my meals, I either read myself or get someone to read to me.”

Doubling up on activities is, of course, one way of squeezing in more reading time. Here are several other tips gleaned from voracious readers.

1. Carry a book with you at all times. Paperbacks are wonderfully portable and make it easy to tuck a favorite into your purse or briefcase and use those unexpected free moments while your waiting to read a chapter or two. Some readers finish a number of books every year in those odd moments waiting for the dentist or lunch companion.

2. Eliminate something else that takes your time. What habitual time-users fill your days? Mind-numbing reality shows? Adjusting your schedule ever so slightly could open up reading space. Take a look.

3. Listen to audiobooks. Authors and actors now narrate both fiction and nonfiction titles-and the list of titles keeps growing. I’ve finished several books just running errands around town. I find them indispensable for longer road trips. Audiobooks are also great when housework is being done.

4. Travel by public transportation. If it’s possible to take a bus or train, rather than drive yourself, you can get lots of reading done in transit. My idea of a perfect vacation is a 3-day train trip with a stack of books.

5. Wear your iPod. Just don’t turn it on. If your reading time takes place in a noisy lunchroom or airplane, don a headset or earbuds. It will block outside noises and deter others from chatting with you when you’d rather be reading.

6. Don’t finish books that you don’t enjoy. Sounds obvious to me, but many folks think there’s something wrong with stopping midway through a book. Nonsense. Get on to another that brings more pleasure.

7. Learn to skim. Time expert Alan Lakein suggests, “When you pick up a book, start by reading the headlines on the book jacket. Then glance through the book quickly, looking for something of interest to you…Your job in reading a book is to find the key ideas and understand their application to your situation.” That only works for nonfiction, of course.

8. Have a regular reading time daily. Even reading for 15 minutes every day will yield big results over time. Tune into your own special body clock and discover the times when you feel less energetic, less creative. Take advantage of these lower energy times to schedule your reading. For many people, bedtime is still their favorite time to enjoy a good book.

9. Make reading a high priority. Books should feed your imagination as well as provide information. Be eclectic in your reading and clear about why it matters to you. Even in this high tech world, booklovers continue to delight at the smell and feel of a book in their hands telling a story that transports. Devoted readers smile in agreement at Anna Quindlen’s observation: “I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people whose idea of decorating is to add more bookshelves.”

Barbara J. Winter is a Las Vegas-based self-employment advocate and writer. She is the author of Making a Living Without a Job. She conducts seminars throughout the US and Canada on creative self-employment. Her newest events are a one-day seminar called What Would an Entrepreneur Do? and a three-day event, Compelling Storytelling. She also publishes Winning Ways newsletter, now in its twenty-second year of helping people turn passions into profits.

http://www.barbarawinter.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Barbara_Winter
Tagged
2008 05 08 admin Time Management Comments (0) Permalink

Avoiding Procrastination - Simple Steps To Plan Out Your Life More Effectively

“You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” -Martin Luther King Jr.

Procrastination is one of the most common pitfalls many find themselves stumbling into. There are many factors in our lives that can contribute to putting things off until the last minute, despite the best of intentions. Even the most well organized person can fall into the trappings of letting things pile up-not by choice, but by being pulled in way too many directions.

Obviously the thought of completing a mundane or unpleasant task makes us want to hit the pause button and turn to more exciting and promising ventures. Which of these do you most relate to?

Out of sight, out of mind: You find yourself putting major projects aside until you can fully devote your attention to it, and instead it gets lost in the shuffle.

“I’ll get around to it”: You keep telling yourself you are going to carve out a chunk of time, but that time never arrives and when it does, you simply don’t feel like doing it.

Adrenaline junkie: You love an adventure, and thrive on self-created chaos, and even if you get tired of it, can’t seem to find a way out of always being in a whirlwind.

Overload mode: It is hard to know exactly where to begin and there are simply way too many steps involved to carry out the project so you have trouble even getting started.

Disruptions: Every time you set out to something, you are interrupted, distracted or something more pressing comes up.

As life becomes more demanding and our schedules more complex, it takes a lot to overcome the cycle of being frantic and not keeping up. Being a procrastinator can lead to unnecessary stress. See which of these ideas work best for you:

Map it out: Use a large dry erase board to chart out short and long-term goals and projects. Color code them and put dates of completion in clear sight. Calendars, planners and lists work well too. Find a way to use visual means to see what you have to do in nearby site.

Don’t let it pile up: Avoid the temptation to put everything into piles. Most of it stays buried and you may miss important deadlines. Too much clutter can add fuel to the procrastination fire.

Don’t delay: If you get something done right away do so-try and handle things only once or the least possible amounts of time. If you have to keep pulling something out, you waste time retracing your steps.

Divide and Conquer: Break things into smaller chunks and tackle step by step. It is often very difficult to start something, but once you do, you can take it more systematically, building momentum as you go.

Delegate: If there are things you are not good at or simply do not have time to accomplish, don’t be afraid to enlist the support of someone who has the resources to help you along.

Whether you are a procrastinator or just a super-busy person, try and work out a system that suits you best. Don’t wait for tomorrow to try! It’s never too late to stop being a procrastinator.

Kristen Lee Costa, LICSW is the founder of Helping Helpers, dedicated to providing life-changing resources for professional and personal development. Visit http://www.helpinghelpers.com for access to innovative tools for therapists, teachers, nurses and those in helping professions. Kristen provides a clinical blog, called “Kristen’s clog” with everyday stress management guidance.

For the past decade, Ms. Costa has worked with numerous individuals, families and non-profit organizations to create positive change.

A graduate of Boston University, Ms. Costa has raised over eight million dollars in grant funding within her community. Ms. Costa is an experienced speaker, writer and therapist with a passion for advocacy and education.

Kristen speaks to professional and general audiences in a variety of settings. She is convincing, with her direct, warm, down-to-earth style and creative flare that allows audiences to enjoy learning. Titles include “Finding Balance in An Unbalanced World”, “Is There a GPS for My Stress?”, “Not a Bird, Not a Plane…SUPER-Vision”, and “Say What You Mean and Mean What You Say: Grant Strategies That Work”. Interactive, fine-tailored presentations are offered for each audience served.

In addition to professional grant writing, Kristen’s range of expertise includes composition of a variety of clinical resources for patients, speech and seminar writing, newspaper articles, and currently a book manuscript titled “Flung-Over: Overcoming The Intoxication Of Too Much To Think©” to be published. Kristen has appeared on local radio and provided community presentations to raise awareness surrounding emotional wellness.

A lifelong New Englander, Kristen has many never-ending winters and fly-by summers under her belt. She currently lives in Massachusetts with her husband and children, who inspire and enrich her. Kristen’s life mission is to encourage others to be HELPERS, and to equip them with innovative resources to help themselves and others better.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kristen_Lee_Costa
Tagged
2008 05 03 admin Time Management Comments (0) Permalink

Do You Feel The Need To “Do It All”?

Sometimes as working mothers we can feel a little overwhelmed. We have families to care for, a house to take care of, a business to run, as well as finding the time to take care of ourselves. One of the most common questions I’m asked is, “How do you do it all?”

Most of the time it’s because I follow a system and use good time management skills. As business moms we need to develop a system for both business and family - one that can eventually run on autopilot so we can focus on the task at hand.

For example, I was able to cut down on work time by implementing just a few simple strategies:

•Group related tasks - Every week I write 5 articles for 3 different companies. Instead of writing 15 completely different articles, I now write only 5 articles and do relatively simple modifications for each company.

•Focus first on the tasks that build your business and ultimately, your bottom line - Since I am in sales, I do my presentations early in the morning, right after I drop my daughter at school. My first 2 hours are for connecting with others face to face. My next 2 hours are for connecting with people on-line whether through social networking or advertising. My next 2 hours are for everything that makes the first 4 hours possible.

•Make time for me - This is very important. Schedule time for rejuvenation, for exercise, for whatever makes you feel good.

•Make time for self improvement - What are others in your field doing? Do they have ideas or strategies that you could incorporate. Don’t forget your spiritual side. Are you connecting with God or nature in some way? We can learn a lot from spending time in nature (but that is another topic).

I know. We see the phrase “make time” and think, “Where? There are only 24 hours in a day? Where do I find the extra time?” But I promise you, the time is there if you just implement, and stick to, a system.

One key is to set priorities. You have to realize that some things either don’t NEED to be done or can be delegated to others. Let go of those things. You have more important things to do. Make a list of your top 5-10 things that absolutely must be done today. Put them in order of importance. Begin, and do not waver from your assigned tasks.

Another thing I have done is to include my daughter in my business. One of my businesses is a candle business. My daughter loves candles and tells everyone she knows about them. She works with me at craft fairs and farmers markets, she helps me put together information packets, she passes out fliers. It makes her feel important and grown up to work with mommy. When possible, include your family in your business.

Don’t allow yourself to be weighed down by stress and overload. Set up a system that works for you. Focus on what is important, set goals, and try to include your family in your work whenever possible. You’d be surprised how much your kids like to “work”.

Traveling this journey with you…

Sharon K Davis is a network marketer specializing in training and sales. For a free report that will show you step-by-step how to grow your business visit http://www.MLMMarketingExperts.com/intro You can also view her business web site at http://www.LexiaCandleScents.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sharon_K_Davis
Tagged
2008 05 02 admin Time Management Comments (0) Permalink

Overcome Procrastination That’s Stealing Your Life’s Potential From Right Under Your Nose!

Overcoming procrastination is one of the most important things you can do to get things done and increase your life’s prosperity, income and potential. Most people think they don’t need to fix it, or that they don’t have it… But it’s extremely important to get over procrastination as soon as possible. This article features several quick tips you can use to overcome your procrastination more easily.

Step 1: Accepting that you are procrastinating and learning how to handle it.

You’ll never stop procrastinating until you realize you are doing it. So take a quick look at yourself and see what you are doing with your life. What areas are you putting things off in and how is that affecting your lifestyle?

If there are any negative consequences from you not being able to fulfill certain tasks, how much is this loss worth to you? If you overcome procrastination would you be able to skyrocket your success, make more money or have more loving relationships?

Step 2: Getting the help you need.

Now you know that there’s a problem with your procrastination. It’s just a bad habit and can be changed really, really easily. There are many products that can help you out. Hypnosis to overcome procrastination, tips and tricks, cheap ebooks and even free articles that will help you break free of procrastination and fight it with all you’ve got.

Step 3: Fighting procrastination with all you’ve got!

After you’ve established a way for yourself to overcome procrastination it’s time to take action and fight procrastination at all costs!

* Set up that meeting even if you don’t want to.

* Go to the gym even if you don’t feel like it!

* Start that business that you’ve wanted to start.

* Take a vacation if you have been putting that off.

There are just so many beautiful things you are missing out on in life, if you don’t pursue your dreams. So, start taking the action you need to overcome procrastination! You’ll thank yourself and you’ll feel a lot more happy when you start to achieve what you have always wanted to do with your life.

You know you need to take that exam, call that person, go out and meet that special someone… What’s stopping you? Overcome the procrastination now and fulfill your life to the fullest!

Overcoming Procrastination can be hard. Get these secret tips for overcoming procrastination and unleash the power of your own consciousness now! Break free of bad habits and learn secrets to Fighting Procrastination now!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christopher_M_Stigson
Tagged
2008 04 30 admin Time Management Comments (1) Permalink