“Time is what we want most, but what we use worst.” ~William Penn
So true! Effective time management is critical in our crazy, booked-up lives. We are aware of the big-timewasters. We notice when we spend an hour messing around on social media or watching TV. But the big things aren’t the only ways we waste time.
Beware of the micro timewasters, for they sneak up on you without you even noticing. The little timewasters aren’t always noticeable, but they add up over the course of a day, a week, or a decade.
Don’t let these little things steal your precious time. Imagine how much you could accomplish with that time! Think of all the ways you could spend that time doing more of the things that matter to you.
Take back your time from the micro timewasters with these strategies:
- Have multiple phone chargers handy. How many times do you need to go into the other room to fetch your charger? It seems like such a little thing, but it’s not just the time it takes to get the charger, it’s the disruption to your thoughts and workflow that steals your time. And once you leave the room to find your charger, who knows what else will grab your attention along the way. You know it happens! Have multiple chargers and keep them handy where you spend the most time.
- Checking email. It just takes a few seconds to quickly check your email, right? Wrong! That quick look breaks your concentration, and there’s no telling how far down the rabbit hole you’ll go. You might open three emails, respond to one of them, and then remember that you have another email to answer. Or, what if the email is a link to a video of a cat chasing a dog? You have to stop and watch, right? Yep, there’s no telling when you’ll get back on track.
- Beverages and snacks. How many times do you get up from your desk to get a drink? Or run to the vending machine (or kitchen if you work from home) to get a quick snack? However many times it is, it’s too many! If you have to leave your workspace for a drink or snack, you can’t be sure who you’ll run into along the way or what other thing will grab your attention. Keep drinks and healthy snacks handy at your desk. Take a sip and a quick bite and get back to work.
- Meals. We spend a lot of precious time thinking about meals, planning meals, and buying food. Stopping on the way to work for breakfast, running out for lunch, or stopping on the way home to pick up groceries are big micro timewasters. Make a list and go to the grocery store once a week at most. Pack your lunch the night before and plan meals that can be prepared quickly and easily. Learn to plan ahead!
- Looking for “lost” things. Looking for your keys, purse, wallet, shoes, umbrella; these are all major micro timewasters! Get organized and keep the essentials in a particular place. Always put your car keys on the key rack by the back door, keep your purse in the same place in the closet, or your wallet on your dresser. The old adage is true; a place for everything and everything in its place.
For effective time management, start by eliminating the big timewasters, but don’t forget to look at the micro timewasters as well. You’ll quickly realize that these little things have a significant impact on your life.
Minor disruptions have more of an impact than just the amount of time they take. You also have to consider the loss of focus and momentum. It takes time to get back on track mentally after your concentration has been broken, even by something as small as looking for your pen.
“Guard your time fiercely. Be generous with it, but be intentional about it.” ~David Duchmin
Ready to take back your time and be more productive? Organization is my superpower! Contact Virtual ME Solutions today to learn how I can help you grow your business.
