90% of our daily activities are habits, so to successfully manage our time we need to manage our habits.
Being late can add to your stress Following on from my “Slowing Down” blog (http://bit.ly/1MDUBbA) which looks at how slowing down has positive health benefits and helps you achieve more, this blog looks at how to manage your time more successfully.
What makes you late? The answer could be obvious like not getting up early enough or trying to do too much before you get out the door. By paying more attention to your habits and making an effort to get to work on time by setting the alarm 15 minutes earlier. Being on time makes you feel less rushed, stressed and more prepared it will help you become more effective at being on time more often.
From a personal experience my husband has a pathological need to be late for everything, except work and when going on a boys’ day out! So I know when he really wants to do it he can be on time. This habit he has got into, causes the rest of us around him to feel stressed and rush round trying to help him get out of the house, whilst being shouted at, due to his annoyance at his own lateness.
This can often be due to a belief or value created during childhood and so whatever attempts consciously made to be on time, the unconscious mind does its upmost to sabotage any efforts.
This can be changed if you see the importance and need to change for the good of yourself and others around you… just give me a call to discuss.
- Stop being Late!
What makes you late? The answer could be obvious like not getting up early enough or trying to do too much before you get out the door. By paying more attention to your habits and making an effort to get to work on time by setting the alarm 15 minutes earlier. Being on time makes you feel less rushed, stressed and more prepared it will help you become more effective at being on time more often.
From a personal experience my husband has a pathological need to be late for everything, except work and when going on a boys’ day out! So I know when he really wants to do it he can be on time. This habit he has got into, causes the rest of us around him to feel stressed and rush round trying to help him get out of the house, whilst being shouted at, due to his annoyance at his own lateness.
This can often be due to a belief or value created during childhood and so whatever attempts consciously made to be on time, the unconscious mind does its upmost to sabotage any efforts.
This can be changed if you see the importance and need to change for the good of yourself and others around you… just give me a call to discuss.
To do a job well it sometimes demands your full attention. 2. Single Tasking.
Although as women we are excellent at multi-tasking, in order to do a job to the best of your ability you do need to give it your full undivided attention so in some cases it is easier to do one job at a time.
That being said in our ever busy lives that we all lead, it is possible to juggle certain things at the same time, and often a necessity in many cases.
Having said that if you have a goal to do something, break down the tasks needed to be done and concentrate on one at a time and resist starting too many others projects until the higher priority one is done.
3. Get enough Sleep.
If you are not getting enough sleep, it is going to be harder to perform to the best of your ability due to tiredness which in turn slows you down. It is important to get a high quantity and good quality sleep in order to set you up for the next day and help your mind and body recover from your busy schedule.
Whilst you sleep and you go through the main phases of sleep, it allows your mind to process everything that has happened, cataloguing the day’s events and releasing anything unnecessary.
Good quality sleep is important as the only time your brain is able to relax and flush away the toxins that have built up during the day. Hence sleep essential for emotional, mental and physical wellbeing.
Aim for 7-8 hours sleep and get to bed by 11pm to help your fall into sleep easier as aligned with your biological rhythms.
4. Limit Changes.
Change is a good thing, but be careful about how many changes you implement in to your daily routine as too many changes at once can lead to disruption in your schedule as they can throw you off sync. Try making one or two changes and letting them be habit before adding more.
This goes back to #2 where it’s important to focus on one thing at a time.
However in order to move forward we need to take responsibility for ourselves and a situation, learn from it and change if we need to, so never use this point as an excuse to stop making a change if needed. Just make sure the changes you are implementing are possible and realistic in the timescales you have given yourself.
Although as women we are excellent at multi-tasking, in order to do a job to the best of your ability you do need to give it your full undivided attention so in some cases it is easier to do one job at a time.
That being said in our ever busy lives that we all lead, it is possible to juggle certain things at the same time, and often a necessity in many cases.
Having said that if you have a goal to do something, break down the tasks needed to be done and concentrate on one at a time and resist starting too many others projects until the higher priority one is done.
3. Get enough Sleep.
If you are not getting enough sleep, it is going to be harder to perform to the best of your ability due to tiredness which in turn slows you down. It is important to get a high quantity and good quality sleep in order to set you up for the next day and help your mind and body recover from your busy schedule.
Whilst you sleep and you go through the main phases of sleep, it allows your mind to process everything that has happened, cataloguing the day’s events and releasing anything unnecessary.
Good quality sleep is important as the only time your brain is able to relax and flush away the toxins that have built up during the day. Hence sleep essential for emotional, mental and physical wellbeing.
Aim for 7-8 hours sleep and get to bed by 11pm to help your fall into sleep easier as aligned with your biological rhythms.
4. Limit Changes.
Change is a good thing, but be careful about how many changes you implement in to your daily routine as too many changes at once can lead to disruption in your schedule as they can throw you off sync. Try making one or two changes and letting them be habit before adding more.
This goes back to #2 where it’s important to focus on one thing at a time.
However in order to move forward we need to take responsibility for ourselves and a situation, learn from it and change if we need to, so never use this point as an excuse to stop making a change if needed. Just make sure the changes you are implementing are possible and realistic in the timescales you have given yourself.
Gadgets are a constant distraction! 5. Turn Mobiles Off or to Silent.
We are a lot more contactable than we used to be and it is harder to switch off when you receive an email late at night or a phone call when you are trying to concentrate on your work.
For some it is harder to turn the phone off completely in case you get the dreaded phone call from school that your little one is ill. However you can turn it to silent if you need to work on an important project that demands your full attention, and be more disciplined about turning it off after a certain time at night to stop you from worrying about work just before going to bed. As you know when the phone is on, it is too easy to look at other things on your phone while you are checking it, stopping you go to sleep at a reasonable time and also become exposed to the light that interferes with your sleep hormones!
You will find that you will get the task done much more efficiently without the distraction and you will also sleep better if you turn it off at night.
We are a lot more contactable than we used to be and it is harder to switch off when you receive an email late at night or a phone call when you are trying to concentrate on your work.
For some it is harder to turn the phone off completely in case you get the dreaded phone call from school that your little one is ill. However you can turn it to silent if you need to work on an important project that demands your full attention, and be more disciplined about turning it off after a certain time at night to stop you from worrying about work just before going to bed. As you know when the phone is on, it is too easy to look at other things on your phone while you are checking it, stopping you go to sleep at a reasonable time and also become exposed to the light that interferes with your sleep hormones!
You will find that you will get the task done much more efficiently without the distraction and you will also sleep better if you turn it off at night.
Saying NO can be life changing and allow you to get more done. 6. Learn to say NO and STOP feeling Guilty!
Saying “NO” is a crucial factor of time management and will help reduce stress levels by controlling your work load rather than adding to it. You need to start declining work which doesn’t need doing or is not your job to do. The same needs to be said if you know that you won’t be able to meet the deadline and make a point to start delegating work if you feel someone else should be doing it. Say “No” firmly and politely then move on. Never dwell on it or worry about it, as a pointless and unnecessary use of energy, which achieves nothing.
If you are someone that finds it hard to say “No”, I can relate as I was one of them. But the good news is we can help you change your beliefs and values together to allow this to be more natural and carried out with no guilt. This was life changing for me and allowed me to be more productive and achieve my goals as opposed to everyone elses!
7. Exercise.
Work and juggling family life can be stressful and in order to cope with the pressures that life throws at us from time to time, you need to have an outlet. Exercise is important to include in your time management habits as it helps increase you fitness and strength which in turn will increase your mental and physical ability.
We all feel better once we have worked out and focused on something just for us. This is because when you exercise your body produces chemicals called endorphins, these trigger a feel good feeling, a natural “high” which makes you feel more positive.
Additionally exercise gives us a chance to use up the adrenaline we produce in the day for stresses we deal with and stop it having a negative effect on our bodies, so keeps us healthier physically and mentally.
Saying “NO” is a crucial factor of time management and will help reduce stress levels by controlling your work load rather than adding to it. You need to start declining work which doesn’t need doing or is not your job to do. The same needs to be said if you know that you won’t be able to meet the deadline and make a point to start delegating work if you feel someone else should be doing it. Say “No” firmly and politely then move on. Never dwell on it or worry about it, as a pointless and unnecessary use of energy, which achieves nothing.
If you are someone that finds it hard to say “No”, I can relate as I was one of them. But the good news is we can help you change your beliefs and values together to allow this to be more natural and carried out with no guilt. This was life changing for me and allowed me to be more productive and achieve my goals as opposed to everyone elses!
7. Exercise.
Work and juggling family life can be stressful and in order to cope with the pressures that life throws at us from time to time, you need to have an outlet. Exercise is important to include in your time management habits as it helps increase you fitness and strength which in turn will increase your mental and physical ability.
We all feel better once we have worked out and focused on something just for us. This is because when you exercise your body produces chemicals called endorphins, these trigger a feel good feeling, a natural “high” which makes you feel more positive.
Additionally exercise gives us a chance to use up the adrenaline we produce in the day for stresses we deal with and stop it having a negative effect on our bodies, so keeps us healthier physically and mentally.
Learn some great techniques to help you re-charge at my de stress classes. 8. Timeout.
Having time to yourself to recharge your batteries is also important like sleep. I practice mindfulness (being aware of the present moment) and meditation as well as other great tools and techniques in my successful NLP and Hypnotherapy classes. Click here for more information and to register your interest in my upcoming classes. http://unbouncepages.com/relaxation-nlp-classes/ Find something you enjoy just for you!
9. Compartmentalise.
It is important not to become too focused on one area of your life but to enjoy work and personal life in equal amounts. By switching off from work it recharges your mind and makes you more motivated.
Having time to yourself to recharge your batteries is also important like sleep. I practice mindfulness (being aware of the present moment) and meditation as well as other great tools and techniques in my successful NLP and Hypnotherapy classes. Click here for more information and to register your interest in my upcoming classes. http://unbouncepages.com/relaxation-nlp-classes/ Find something you enjoy just for you!
9. Compartmentalise.
It is important not to become too focused on one area of your life but to enjoy work and personal life in equal amounts. By switching off from work it recharges your mind and makes you more motivated.
Focus on what you need to do rather than just saying you're busy! 10. Plan!
The best time management habit is to have a plan of what you want to achieve and a plan of how to do it. Learn to prioritise properly before you start each day, as opposed to charging in and doing something that isn’t going to help you achieve your daily goals.
Planning will help you focus on what you need to do and by ticking them off as you go adds to a sense of achievement. You may not always finish the plan but it will help you get more done with less effort.
For more help with anything that is holding you back from being the best that you can be, please get in touch for a chat as to how I can help and make 2016 the best year yet for you.
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