| It's one of those mornings when you hit snooze too | | | | Procrastination is one of time management's biggest |
| many times and as a result wake up late. Since you're | | | | enemies. Procrastination is a destructive habit that |
| running late, on a whim you decide to skip breakfast, | | | | impulses you to put off important tasks over and over |
| grab a quick shower, hastily dress, and run out your | | | | again. You are procrastinating when you do something |
| door hungry, irritable, and somewhat ready for another | | | | more enjoyable or comfortable than what you should |
| day of work. On your drive to work, you realize that | | | | be carrying out. Some people are so strongly affected |
| you left your cell phone at home along with your daily | | | | by procrastination that it negatively impacts their |
| vitamin. In this frustration, you decide to reflect on last | | | | careers and personal lives. |
| night when you sat in rush-hour traffic on your way | | | | Here are tips that will help you overcome |
| home, finished your weekly proposals, cooked dinner, | | | | procrastination and allow you to successfully manage |
| went to the gym, bought groceries, and took your | | | | your life: |
| daughter to her daily gymnastics class. All of these | | | | • Develop good organizational and personal |
| after-work activities stressed you out and produced | | | | effectiveness habits such as establishing the right |
| an unwanted headache that kept you up for most of | | | | priorities |
| the night. You sigh and think, "If I only had more time." | | | | • Make the most of the opportunities available |
| Does this sound familiar? If it does, don't worry | | | | • Recognize that important things are likely to be |
| because you're not alone. In the last 25 years, our | | | | the actions that help you achieve something of real |
| leisure time has been reduced by 37 percent, while our | | | | significance and that urgent matters need to be taken |
| work week has increased by a full day. Most of us | | | | care of efficiently so that you can stay on top of the |
| lead busy lives that cause unwanted stress, which can | | | | important tasks of the day |
| produce long-term health consequences such as heart | | | | • Even if you don't feel like doing something, you |
| disease, stroke, and gastrointestinal problems. | | | | can just start and once you've started you'll likely begin |
| Do you want to reduce stress and have more time | | | | to feel more motivated to continue doing it |
| for relaxation, family, and leisure activities? If so, time | | | | • Plan a reward or celebration for yourself for |
| management is your answer. Time management is a | | | | completing tasks, such as a walking break or candy |
| set of skills, tools, and systems that work together to | | | | treat |
| help you get more value out of your time while | | | | •Make a list of activities that you enjoy that can be |
| improving your quality of life. The following steps will | | | | completed in 5 to 30 minutes and find creative ways |
| help you manage your responsibilities and relieve you | | | | to fit these into your immediate and long-term schedule |
| of unhealthy tension so that you can enjoy your | | | | Beat Exhaustion |
| day-to-day routine and lead a healthier life. | | | | If you're tired, it's no use having priorities and a |
| Organize Your Space | | | | beautifully arranged schedule since you're likely to not |
| Before you do anything else, you're going to have to | | | | stay on task. You'll be more vulnerable to interruptions |
| organize your space. As a whole, Americans waste | | | | during the work day, which can consume 10 to 20 |
| more than 9 million hours each day looking for | | | | minutes in getting back on track, not to mention the |
| misplaced and lost items. If you organize your home | | | | time spent conversing with the interrupter. Exhaustion |
| and office, think of how much time you'll save looking | | | | happens to all of us and can have a negative impact |
| for things. You'll have fewer interruptions, experience | | | | on successful time management. |
| less frustration, and will be able to locate important | | | | Some steps to combat exhaustion and fuel your |
| articles, documents, and files in a timely manner so that | | | | energy: |
| you can continue finishing what needs to be | | | | • If you're a morning person, plan your most |
| completed. | | | | important work for early in the day; if you're a late-day |
| Plan and Schedule | | | | person, do the opposite |
| It's important to remember that calendars, appointment | | | | • As much as possible, make sure to sleep at least |
| books, and to-do lists will serve as reminders and help | | | | 8 hours a night so that you can perform your best |
| you identify deadlines. Spending 15 minutes every | | | | • After a few hours of sitting at your desk or after |
| morning to update these tools can save you up to 6 | | | | a long meeting, get up from your chair and stretch |
| hours a week and you'll be able to successfully make | | | | • Go outside for a 5 minute walk to get your limbs |
| use of your schedule. Additionally, by having a | | | | moving, breath some fresh air, and catch some |
| thoughtfully planned out schedule you'll be able to: | | | | sunshine |
| • Understand what is achievable with your time | | | | • Drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated |
| • Make the best use of the available time | | | | and eat balanced meals to keep yourself energized |
| • Leave enough time for tasks that you must do | | | | • Make time for quiet time by taking a few minutes |
| • Have time to handle the unexpected | | | | to close your eyes and relax |
| • Avoid over-working yourself | | | | As you can see, a little organization, prioritizing, and |
| Prioritize and Set Goals | | | | planning goes a long way. By implementing these tools, |
| It's essential that you prioritize your activities on a daily | | | | beating destructive habits like procrastination and |
| basis and set attainable goals. Focusing on the results | | | | exhaustion, you'll allow yourself to have more free |
| that are most important to you will help you achieve | | | | time. Time management will let you spend quality time |
| the greatest benefit possible with the limited amount of | | | | on your hobbies and enjoy stress-free days. Time |
| time available. | | | | management will give you more time in the mornings |
| If you are confused by what your priorities are or | | | | to eat breakfast, calmly shower and dress, and not |
| have many different priorities, look over your to-do list | | | | leave behind important items like your cell phone and |
| and choose the most important things and do these | | | | vitamins. More importantly, by incorporating these time |
| first. By realizing goals, you'll feel accomplished and be | | | | management steps into your daily living routine, you'll be |
| motivated to continue finishing lots of things on your | | | | a more successful individual and have more time to |
| to-do list. This will result in completing work and having | | | | finish your proposals, cook dinner, buy groceries, |
| more free time. | | | | workout, and take your daughter to her gymnastics |
| Beat Procrastination | | | | class. |