Top 7 Steps to Take Control of Your Time

If you're ever going to take control of your life and make it grand, you'll need to start by taking control of your time. Without question, effective time management is fundamental to succeeding in any area of life. In fact, it is often the main difference between life's achievers and those who, although always busy, never get anywhere.

Not surprisingly, an entire industry has been created out of the need to better manage our time. But if you look a little deeper, you'll see that its not so much about time management as it is self management. Because in reality, you can't control time, but you can control yourself and what you do with each moment of time.

Most experts agree that success is the result of habit. Therefore, the first step in improving how you use your time starts with your habits (self control). And your habits start as consciously made decisions (i.e. what time you get up, what kind of books you read, etc.).

Once established, good habits become second nature. In many cases, success is not so much the result of doing the unusual, but rather the result of one's ability to "master the mundane." By consistently performing all of the little rudimentary tasks that are important, over time these activities transform into huge achievements. Here's some simple rules to follow for better time management:

1. Don't procrastinate. Do it now. When people put things off, it
   kills momentum, slows achievement of current goals and restricts
   future opportunity as time is clogged up. The way to tackle
   procrastination is to set deadlines by which goals should be
   achieved. The way to avoid last-minute deadlines brought on by
   procrastination is to set intermediary goals which must be
   achieved and then steadily track progress.
   
   
2. Track your activities. Memory is a poor guide when it comes to
   assessing how you spend your time. A better way is to record your
   activities throughout the day, listing everything you do. Most
   people will find that they have about three hours each day that
   can be used in a more constructive or efficient manner. Take
   stock of the time you spend chatting on the phone, flipping
   though magazines or aimlessly surfing the Web, and eliminate all
   that isn't necessary.
   
   
3. Concentrate on results. Many people spend their days in a frenzy
   of activity, but achieve very little because they are not
   concentrating on the right things. Don't confuse working
   efficiently with working effectively. Activities can be
   tension-relieving, but not goal-achieving. By concentrating on
   fewer "major" priorities regularly, you can achieve a lot more in
   less time.
   
   
4. Use travel time wisely. It's easy to overlook time spent
   traveling in your assessment of time management. Consider
   carefully whether this is time that you could use more
   productively. For example, if you opted to take the bus or train
   to work, would this provide an opportunity to make better use of
   your commute time? Or if you do drive, are you listening to
   educational or motivational tapes (rather than the Top 40) which
   could help improve your skills and make you a more productive and
   well-rounded person?
   
   
5. Develop action plans. An action plan is a brief list of tasks
   that you have to complete to achieve an objective. It differs
   from a "To Do" list in that it focuses on the achievement of a
   goal, (and the specific steps to get there) rather than just on
   the goals to be achieved in a period of time. Whenever you want
   to achieve something, drawing up an action plan allows you to
   concentrate on the stages of that achievement, and monitor your
   progress towards that realization.
   
   
6. Respond quickly. For example, take care of your mail as you
   receive it. Don't let those bills and letters pile up on you. If
   you're unable to respond to a letter immediately, file it in a
   special place that's visible, and note on the envelope the
   required action and date you intend to resolve it. When possible,
   act on requests the same day you receive them. Don't let your
   computer, your desk or your mind become clogged with useless
   things.
   
   
7. Be Decisive. Learn to say no to people. Your time is important,
   so don't let other people impose or use you to compensate for
   their poor planning. Eliminate distractions as much as possible.
   Close your door, turn off the ringer on your phone or simply ask
   not to be disturbed.

Archie R. Lawhorne is an experienced writer and marketing
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