| That title sounds paradoxical, but it really is a paradigm | | | | Finishing a significant task before early will give you the |
| that will benefit anyone who is willing to pay close | | | | momentum of success for the rest of the day. |
| attention and take action to make it happen. The idea | | | | 6. Don't be a socialite in the office: Socialize all you |
| expressed in the title is not a pie-in-the-sky idea, and is | | | | want in the break room or lunch room, at the |
| not akin to a get rich quick scheme. | | | | appointed times, but when the time is not right, get |
| I have noticed an extreme difference in my daily | | | | back into the business mode and back into the office |
| productivity between times when I have organized | | | | and get busy following your schedule. When you are |
| simply by keeping a list to guide me through my day. | | | | not conducting business, you will find life is more |
| When compared with the times I have not, I found that | | | | enjoyable if you are sociable and relaxed, then when it |
| keeping a list greatly increased my productivity. There | | | | is time to work you will be fresher and more effective. |
| have been times when a simple list has empowered | | | | Don't be snobbish, just be professional and businesslike. |
| me to do unbelievable amounts of work in a given day, | | | | 7. You can save a lot of time if you just learn how and |
| and finish early. Often I have been able to do more | | | | when to say "No": It is seldom required for you to do |
| before breakfast with a simple list than I would often | | | | everything that everyone asks of you. Don't be timid: |
| do in a whole day, without my beloved list. | | | | Say no to unnecessary interruptions such as the |
| Here are my top ten ways to spend less time working | | | | inevitable social visits by co-workers. Refuse to |
| and accomplish more: | | | | chit-chat on the phone. Ask people to email you, so |
| 1. Be sure you understand and are able to verbalize to | | | | you can take control of the time and choose when to |
| yourself why you want produce more results while | | | | reply. If in person meetings or phone conversations |
| working less. This may seem simple, but it is highly | | | | cannot be eliminated, respectfully let the other person |
| important, as a way to motivate you to meaningful | | | | know that your you are busy and your time is |
| action. To do something successfully, it must be done | | | | limited...just let them know that you have a call to make |
| on purpose and with a purpose. Knowing your purpose | | | | in 5 minutes, then give them six, using the last minute to |
| gives you an important reason to make any task or | | | | end the conversation. Question people ahead of time |
| project important enough and a high enough priority to | | | | about the purpose of the meeting or call, and then you |
| motivate you to get with the program, and get the job | | | | can take charge and set the parameters for it. Be |
| done. | | | | sure and clarify the problem or reason for the contact |
| Maybe you want to spend less time working so you | | | | beforehand and then ask questions to clearly and |
| can spend more time with your family, or to finish your | | | | directly bring out the answer to the problem. If you are |
| week early and have a long weekend. Maybe your | | | | unable to help, courteously state the fact, and refer |
| reason is to practice a sport more often, so you can | | | | them to someone who can help and politely end the |
| compete with greater excellence. So long as your | | | | call or meeting. Your time is very valuable. Time is |
| purpose is one that gives you a reason to get more | | | | money...time is also life. Your and your family's well |
| serious & take serious action and get things done, you | | | | being and lifestyle depends on you getting your job |
| will purposely do what is necessary to reclaim time for | | | | done effectively. Your next sale or promotion may |
| your personal pursuits. | | | | depend upon your ability to conduct business efficiently. |
| 2. Use a Day Timer or other Organizer: This may also | | | | 8. Control E-mail: This may challenge you, but it is vitally |
| sound simplistic, but it is really important. The organizer | | | | important. Don't let E-mail control you....you must take |
| can free your mind, as it becomes your memory bank. | | | | control of it. If you get important business email during |
| When you diligently use it every day, for everything, | | | | the day, you may want to set up a special webmail |
| you will record your thoughts, assignments, tasks, | | | | account just for business and then direct all your |
| appointments, shopping lists, and other important | | | | business E-mail to that address, so you're not |
| information. in their proper places and you will be free | | | | distracted by spam and personal email. Spam arrest is |
| to forget it until it's time to refer to that information. For | | | | also a good program to get spam under control. |
| example your shopping list and the unusual item that | | | | Check E-mail as seldom as possible. For openers, try |
| you may be concerned about forgetting is of no | | | | reducing to twice a day; just before lunch and just |
| concern now, because you will rely on your shopping | | | | before quitting time. Be vicious with the delete key, |
| list when you get to the store, and not worry about it | | | | then read business mail at work and read personal |
| until the proper time. The organizer may be paper or | | | | email after work. This tip alone can cut hours off of |
| electronic. I have tried both ways and both have their | | | | many a worker's time on the job. If you are in control |
| advantages, but I prefer the old fashioned paper | | | | of your own schedule, or a good negotiator with a |
| variety because it is usable everywhere, anytime.I also | | | | reasonable boss, applying this tip means getting out of |
| appreciate the pop-up reminders of the electronic kind. | | | | the office earlier; in many cases, much earlier. |
| 3. Keep a short To Do List: The To Do list can be very | | | | 9. Stop multi-tasking: With precious few exceptions, |
| intimidating, mostly because so many folks put too | | | | "Multi-tasking" means doing a half baked job of many |
| much on it. An effective daily list should be possible | | | | things at the same time. I think It is the road to a |
| and usually have only one or two mission essential | | | | nervous breakdown and low self esteem. When you |
| tasks for any given day. This is your assignment to | | | | wake up and realize that as hard as you work, you |
| yourself. Be kind and don't be like congress and make | | | | don't get anything done excellently, it has to be |
| unfunded or impossible requirements. You work hard | | | | demoralizing. You'll profit greatly if you use the |
| and, if you are effective, you should have some time | | | | organizing tips above and take control of your work |
| for yourself. Work and play are cyclical; You need | | | | situation, then do one task at a time, until it is done well, |
| breaks, personal time and fun time to be more | | | | then move on to the next one. A car accident in which |
| productive. Too much hard work will wear you out, | | | | someone dies would be a horrifying way to learn that |
| your effort will become counter-productive and you | | | | you can't concentrate fully on two tasks at the same |
| may even go crazy. I keep a separate "Long term" to | | | | time, like driving and talking on the phone. Multi-tasking |
| do list that keeps me on track for weeks and months. | | | | could be mostly responsible for the rampant mediocrity |
| These items don't become vitally important until I | | | | in today's workplace. |
| schedule them on the daily list. | | | | 10. Outsource mundane tasks: There are people who |
| 4. Be punctual and arrive at work on time and get | | | | make a business of helping you with mundane tasks, |
| busy right away: Compartmentalize your activities. | | | | or tasks that you don't do well. One such business is |
| There is a time to work, and a time for recreation and | | | | Outsourcingsuccess dot com. Give it a try with some |
| down time. At work,get to work in an organized, | | | | personal tasks first to get an idea of how it works for |
| effective and energetic manner. When it is time to | | | | you. Without hiring a full time assistant or secretary, |
| play, or take a break, separate your mind from work | | | | you can get good help and pay by the hour. That will |
| and be rejuvenated and refreshed through relaxing | | | | free you up to tend to your more important tasks and |
| endeavors. It is wise to do your coffee drinking and | | | | the ones that you are strong in. Students at a local |
| socializing before and after work. At work you need | | | | college or university who major in areas that would |
| to be about your business so you can get business | | | | help you may be a good source of help, and you could |
| done, whether your office is next to the boss's or in | | | | help them earn a little income, too. If you prefer to go |
| your home. Adopting this personal policy alone will | | | | international, do a search on Your Man in India, and |
| significantly shorten the time it takes you to accomplish | | | | Brickwork, or the search on the term Virtual |
| the requirements of your work day. Once you have | | | | Assistants. Outsourcing Success has already made |
| met the requirements of the day, don't dilly-dally; | | | | the connections and is ready to bridge the gap and |
| straighten up, set tomorrow's schedule and go use the | | | | help you get the help you need. |
| time you saved for your personal purposes. This will | | | | These tips are for real business people to get real |
| also be an investment in tomorrow's productivity. | | | | work done effectively. The effectiveness of these tips |
| 5. It is important and effective to Accomplish a major | | | | is limited only by the extent of your willingness to use |
| task before lunch: however don't rush it, but do it right. | | | | them diligently. |