Italiano

At one time or another, we all feel the pressure of a time crunch. A project is due, an activity must be completed, there’s a meeting to attend, and the day is just beginning. It’s tempting to simply decide to move forward — ready, fire, aim.

But by spending a few minutes planning what needs to be done, the activities will not only go more smoothly, but more effectively. Spend some time at the end of your day to determine what will need to be done the following day. Visualize the activity and results you’re looking for.

In a recent blog post, Lee Phillips discusses the value of planning. His focus is on planning and being prepared for future events. By thinking in this way, you can accomplish more in a limited amount of time — and can feel comfortable that the work won’t need to be revamped because it wasn’t done correctly the first time.

While it’s important to take action, it’s also important to take the right action. Make a list or chart to track your progress, and stay focused on the end result. Planning is always a good use of time.

Italiano

Getting distracted from the task at hand is easy enough.  All it takes is a slight derailment, and your attention is on another issue.  This wastes time and energy.  It takes discipline to stick to an activity until it’s complete.   Turning this into a habit, by getting into a routine, is one of the easiest ways to maintain control over your time.

Begin by prioritizing — get the most critical things done first.  Don’t just work on those things that interest you, or that you enjoy most.  Work on those issues that are necessary to move your business to the next level.  And set specific times aside each day for working on the same activities.

Break your day into blocks of time.  It’s easier to concentrate on one topic for an hour or two; then take a short break and move around, stretch, or walk for a few minutes.  Schedule time for yourself  to renew and get rid of stress.

Learn to delegate tasks to others.  It’s not necessary to be a “one man band”.  Handing off to an associate will free you up to take care of whatever is on your list of priorities.  It’s simply a question of making choices, and the decisions you make can have a profound impact upon the direction your business takes.