Time: Using Every Grain of Sand to Its Fullest

I guess I accomplish quite a bit every week in several areas of my life.  People keep asking me how I can get so much done, and all I ever reply is, “I hate television.”  However, I did find an interesting article that business persons, and non-business persons can use to become more productive.  It is entitled, A Simple Way to Manage Your Time by Dr. Susan Reid.  She came up with a nice 5 step Time Management System that you can incorporate into your routine:

1. ‘At the very top of the page put tomorrow’s date. Then, draw four columns. Label the first column, “I Must Do”; The second, “I Next Do”; the third, “I Could Do”; and the fourth, “Not Mine to Do”. ‘ I already make a list the night before and prioritize it.  Then , during the day, I cross out what I have done and prove to myself that I actually accomplished something.
2. “Give this column your all and don’t allow any distraction or unrelated interest to supersede this list. Check or cross off items as they are completed.”  Her step two is ingrained into my procedures, as stated above.  As a business man, it is easy to get distracted.  There are so many things I can be doing other than what my core competencies are.  I just have to remain disciplined.
3. ‘Once you complete the “I Must Do” column, move steadily on to the “I Next Do” column. But first, ask yourself, “What on this list can be moved to another day?”‘  I would suppliment this sentence with, “Don’t put off to tomorrow, something that can be done today.”  I always try to live by the “one touch paper rule.”  In other words, if you touch a piece of paper, you have to complete that project.  This is a difficult rule to abide by since there are so many times when projects get interrupted.
4. Look over the list and decide what, if anything, you want to complete today. Want is the operative word.
5. “At the end of the day, take out a new piece of paper or open up a blank document page and fill-in the next day’s columns with your new to do list.” I usually do this, but it is important that you are honest with yourself.  If you cheat on this, you will only pay for your lack of discipline later.

If discipline is not your strong point, you might want to look at The Secret to Doing Things More, Fasterby Mike Michalowicz.  He claims the biggest drain of productivity is the Internet and e-mails.  He recommends you turn them off while you engage a project.

Your result will be more money and more time to do other things like grow your business.