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A LOT OF BOOKS HAVE BEEN written about
how to manage your time by eliminating wasted motion and saving
seconds where you can. But that’s how you make a factory
more efficient, not a human being.
People have one main source of inefficiency:
We’re prone to get sidetracked or distracted from the important
things that need to be done and somewhat lost in the numerous
unimportant things we also want to do. So the secret of becoming
more efficient is first, know what’s important, and
second, avoid getting off track. These can both be accomplished
with a single technique.
Of all the words written about time management,
the most valuable technique can be stated in one sentence: MAKE
A LIST AND PUT IT IN ORDER.
There are always things to do. Since none
of us can hold much in our minds while busy doing other things,
we need to write things down or we forget — or have the
uneasy feeling that we might be forgetting. So you need to make
a list.
Write down only the important things
you need to do. This should be a small list, no more than
six items. Don’t clutter up your list with trivial or obvious
things. This isn’t a schedule book, it’s a To Do List,
and its purpose is to keep you focused.
You’ve made your list. Now, put the
tasks in the order of their importance. Putting the list in order
makes your decisions smooth and effective. You’ll know what
to do first (the most important), and you’ll always know
what to do next. You also know you’re making the best use
of your time because at any given moment you’re doing the
most important thing you need to do.
There’s no need to rush around or
feel stressed to be efficient. Feeling tense or pressured makes
you less efficient in the long run by causing unnecessary
conflicts with people, mistakes, illness, and burnout. You are
in more control of your life when you are calm.
Make a list and put it in order. This puts
your mind in order and puts your day in order. It’s a good
investment of your time because you’ll get more done that
really matters.
Make a list and put it in order. |
