We had a great conversation with Ruth Klein, author and time management expert last Wednesday, on our Converstations with Experts teleseries. Here are some important highlights:
Ruth gave some smart tips about the 5 biggest time robbers:
1. Checking email first thing in the morning. If you want to stay on track, do not check for at least the first hour. Do your more important and creative work before getting distracted by email.
2. Work from a priority list to help keep you focused on what matters most. (See below for the “Rule of Two.”)
3. Keep your phone on answering mode. Only make calls during set business development times. Use email instead of calling people when you only want to ask a question to get information.
4. If you are stuck, walk away. Taking a walk, and breathing deeply, will get the blood flowing to your brain. Do not work against your natural energy flow. If you are at your creative peak during the morning, do not use that time for meetings. Use it to create.
5. Do not get lost web surfing. File newsletters for reading during set reading times.
Tell yourself, “I have the time to do what I need to do.” Reframe your to-do list by using the words “Embrace” versus “Tackle.”
The brain is a big nutrient hog, so make sure you have some protein at breakfast, for sustaining energy. Eat lunch away from your desk.
Use 20 minutes of exercise, stretching, breathing to start your day and get the brain energized.
The Rule of Two:
At the end of the day, ask yourself, “If there were only two things I could do tomorrow, what would they be?” Then you can focus on completing those two things.
Just like there are fixed costs of doing business, you should establish fixed time slots. You need call time, where you connect with clients, both current ones and prospects. Identify your time patterns, and establish time slots.
Use a month-at-a-glance calendar so you can see your time patterns better.
Understand how your personality affects your time management. Extroverts tend to struggle staying focused to do reading and writing, while introverts are challenged by networking, phone contacts, and face-to-face interactions.
If you missed this call, then get the audio recording. Ruth earns her name, the De-Stress Diva, and really delivered excellent information. http://snipurl.com/CE_Audio
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