Save an hour a day

[vedavyasan]

SAVE AN HOUR A DAY
LEARN TO CONCENTRATE.
Mental focus is one of the best kept secrets of expert time managers. Rather than spreading your attention in too many directions, concentrate only on the task at hand. With practice, your mind will not wander and your productivity will soar.
LEARN TO SAY NO.
Remember Pareto’s Law: 80% of your results come from 20% of your daily activities. Have the courage to focus your time and energy only on those pursuits that count and say no to the unimportant ones.
JOIN THE 5 O’CLOCK CLUB.
One of the timeless time tactics used by high performers ranging from Gandhi to Ted Turner is getting up early. Commit to rising earlier for the next 21 days.
MASTER MULTI-TASKING.
Do two things at once to save time. Pay bills while watching T.V. Read while waiting in line. Listen to motivational tapes over breakfast.
USE YOUR LUNCH BREAK WISELY.
Tom Peters advises to use lunch times for networking and business development. Capitalize on this time by exercising or doing low-stress errands.
OWN YOUR PHONE.
Your phone is there for your convenience – don’t let it rule your schedule. Resist the urge to pick it up every time it rings. Use voicemail.
USE YOUR COMMUTE TIME.
If you commute 30 minutes a day each way, after 1 year, you will have spent 6 weeks of eight hour days commuting. Read, visualize or listen to audiotapes.
PLAN, PLAN, PLAN.
Spend one hour on Sunday night to plan your personal, professional, social and spiritual goals for the week. Then integrate them into your written schedule.
EMBRACE TECHNOLOGY.
Experiment with electronic planners, cell phones, lap tops and pagers. Learn to use what works best and master its technology.
MAINTAIN A BALANCE.
Abe Lincoln said: “If I had 8 hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend 6 hours sharpening an axe.” Nourish your mind, body and spirit to maximize performance.