Changing the Paradigm on Time Management

Changing the Paradigm on Time Management

Would it be fair to say that people we consider successful use their time wisely and are high achievers? However, most people struggle with the issue of time management. May I be so bold as to suggest something?

Aren’t we all given the same amount of time? 24 hours – correct? So, in reality, it is not so much how we manage the 24 hours, but what we put into the 24 hours. This is a breakthrough paradigm shift because when we realize that the choices we make use up the time we have, we give ourselves the opportunity to make different choices. Here are ten critical elements in effectively maximizing the 24 hours we all have:

  1. Consider that the time you have can be controlled.
  2. Allow for the most important things to be regularly scheduled. Food, exercise, time with family, friends, reading, quiet times (times to reflect and meditate).
  3. Determine when you are at your best performing period ( Primary Peak Performance Period) and when is your secondary Peak Performance Period.
  4. Create a list of the most important results that need to be accomplished to achieve your BHAG. Then identify the activity or activities that will produce that result. Number them according to their importance.
  5. Place your most difficult, most important, highest revenue generating activity into this time period. Schedule the next highest priority item for the secondary peak performance period.
  6. If you haven’t finished your highest priority item and you are experiencing fatigue or lack of creativity, play the 15 minute game and switch to another less demanding task.
  7. One such task we recommend is to tackle email with little chunks of time. 15 minutes on email for most people should be enough to find the most important ones and eliminate the ones you will never read anyway.
  8. Avoid the email vacuum. Spend no more that 15 minutes on email during peak performing periods. Use a timer if necessary.
  9. Set milestones/benchmarks to evaluate progress. This doesn’t need to be an elaborate system. The basic idea is to continue to encourage yourself onward to completion.
  10. Celebrate accomplishing the most important priorities.