Access: In some cases, a person may be painfully aware of his/her poor time management. Other people may be wasting time right and left without any knowledge that they could manage their time differently. While evaluating time management is not an exact science, reflecting on some of these questions can help you examine your time management skills:
Do you feel and appear frazzled? If you consistently feel that you are playing catch-up, you could use some time management work. If you are always rushing from one responsibility to the next, you likely need some help in slowing down and managing your time. In addition, ask your family and co-workers if they think you are especially frazzled; they may recognize it long before you do.
How does your schedule/day-timer look? It's not bad to have a full day, but if you have three meetings planned for the same time or if you can't see a spot on your calendar because of everything written on it, you likely want to restructure your time management.
How do you handle long-term projects? If you seem to be consistently surprised by deadlines that you had forgotten about, the problem may not be your memory but rather your time management over the previous weeks and months.
Are your meetings and conferences productive? If you leave a meeting without a plan of action, you will likely have to meet again in the near future. If your conferences spend far more time on gossip than on the issue at hand, you are wasting valuable time.
Do you tend to over promise? Promising beyond what you can deliver is one of the main causes of stress and busyness. You may be promising that you can do something in which you have no experience or that you can complete a task sooner than is truly reasonable. Regardless, you end up in a lose/lose time management situation: you're most likely not going to succeed but you're going to overwhelm yourself trying.
Improve: You're not doomed to perpetually feeling behind. You may be simply a few time management adjustments away from reduced stress and improved productivity.
Take some time to analyze yourself and then set up a schedule that fits you. Do you work better in the morning, afternoon, or evening? Do you work better from home or the office? Try to discover when and how you work best.
Then, use a calendar, a palm pilot, a simple list, or some other kind of organizational tool that helps you keep track of your responsibilities. Jot down deadlines and meetings, as well as miscellaneous items (e.g. "Have the oil changed in the car") that will be avoided indefinitely (or simply forgotten) unless you assign them to a specific time. Make these responsibility lists doable; don't overload yourself, but rather, give yourself more time than you think you need, so that you will have time left over later.
As you are organizing your responsibilities, keep your priorities in mind. In your workplace, think as a team what jobs have the highest payoff and/or the most imminent deadline. Focus yourself on these responsibilities. You will not get everything done at once, so decide what needs to be done first.
Once you begin your work, consider ways to maximize your effectiveness. For example, take a break from time to time so that you can return to work re-energized. Even though this is time away from work, your increased productivity over time will outweigh the brief absence of productivity. In addition, look for opportunities to fit in small jobs where you can. Take something to read with you to the mechanic's shop or dentist's office. Filling in all these small gaps will eliminate your wasted time.
Rather than trying to do a little bit of everything, focus on a few responsibilities and tasks and do them extremely well. Eliminate some responsibilities if you have to, so that you can do a better job on the things you continue doing.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
Time Management for Working Mothers
Make the most of your time at work, at play and at being a mom.
I've been doing a lot of research on time management. Most of the information I've found has the same series of steps to follow...
Establish Your Goals
Break Goals Into Smaller tasks and Set Deadlines
Establish Your Priorities
Make Time to Plan
Delegate if Possible
Have a Flexible Schedule
Use a Scheduling System
Reward Yourself
Some of the applications involved work, going to school or other such tasks. But nowhere did I see this applied to the working mother... the woman whose time is spent in a fragile balancing act that can get knocked out of whack in one second. So, let's see how we can apply these steps to the women who need time management the most!
Establish Your Goals
This is important for the working mother.
Are you at your job to make supplemental money or is this a career and there is a position that is a goal for you? How much time do you want to spend at work vs. at home? How involved do you want to be in your children's activities? You may want to set aside weekends for your son's baseball games, in which case you need to make sure your work doesn't require weekend work. Write down all of the goals that you have as a business woman and as a mother. Make separate columns if you would like.
Break Goals Into Smaller Tasks and Set Deadlines
Typically goals can be broken up into smaller tasks, with smaller goals. For instance, let's say that one of your goals is to be a leader in one of your child's activities. You can break that goal into smaller tasks; researching different leadership roles and what's involved, determing time commitments, figuring out what interests you the most. Then you can start attacking each of these smaller tasks and set deadlines for when you want to accomplish them. If you just had the major goal - your deadline could be a year from now, but you wouldn't think to work on it for the next 11 months.
Establish Your Priorities
Prioritize your list of goals. Your priorities are your own ideas of what is more important to you and what you would like to see achieved first. You don't necessarily need to prioritize them one after the other. Maybe set up a scale of 1-3 and set all of your top goals at 1 and all your bottom goals at 3.
Make Time to Plan
Set aside time each week or month where you can plan out your schedule. Revise activities that are conflicting or don't seem to work out for you. Get the children involved if they are old enough to want some choices in the activities that they do and that you participate in.
Delegate if Possible
If you find yourself with a huge deadline at work, don't ignore the fact that your child needs a ride to her piano lessons. Call up your husband or mother or friend and ask them if they can do it.
Have a Flexible Schedule
Leave ample space in your schedule for interruptions. Try to be flexible so that if your child becomes sick you can take a day off. Your schedule is to help you, not run you.
Use a Scheduling System
Keep track of your schedule in a day planner, calendar, palm device or some other schedule. Make your schedule available to your entire family. Involve your children in creating a magnetic calendar to place on the refrigerator, where they can add in their own activities.
Reward Yourself
As you accomplish your goals, reward yourself! Take a day off from your schedule and just have some fun. It will give you something to look forward to as you're working towards completing your tasks.
I've been doing a lot of research on time management. Most of the information I've found has the same series of steps to follow...
Establish Your Goals
Break Goals Into Smaller tasks and Set Deadlines
Establish Your Priorities
Make Time to Plan
Delegate if Possible
Have a Flexible Schedule
Use a Scheduling System
Reward Yourself
Some of the applications involved work, going to school or other such tasks. But nowhere did I see this applied to the working mother... the woman whose time is spent in a fragile balancing act that can get knocked out of whack in one second. So, let's see how we can apply these steps to the women who need time management the most!
Establish Your Goals
This is important for the working mother.
Are you at your job to make supplemental money or is this a career and there is a position that is a goal for you? How much time do you want to spend at work vs. at home? How involved do you want to be in your children's activities? You may want to set aside weekends for your son's baseball games, in which case you need to make sure your work doesn't require weekend work. Write down all of the goals that you have as a business woman and as a mother. Make separate columns if you would like.
Break Goals Into Smaller Tasks and Set Deadlines
Typically goals can be broken up into smaller tasks, with smaller goals. For instance, let's say that one of your goals is to be a leader in one of your child's activities. You can break that goal into smaller tasks; researching different leadership roles and what's involved, determing time commitments, figuring out what interests you the most. Then you can start attacking each of these smaller tasks and set deadlines for when you want to accomplish them. If you just had the major goal - your deadline could be a year from now, but you wouldn't think to work on it for the next 11 months.
Establish Your Priorities
Prioritize your list of goals. Your priorities are your own ideas of what is more important to you and what you would like to see achieved first. You don't necessarily need to prioritize them one after the other. Maybe set up a scale of 1-3 and set all of your top goals at 1 and all your bottom goals at 3.
Make Time to Plan
Set aside time each week or month where you can plan out your schedule. Revise activities that are conflicting or don't seem to work out for you. Get the children involved if they are old enough to want some choices in the activities that they do and that you participate in.
Delegate if Possible
If you find yourself with a huge deadline at work, don't ignore the fact that your child needs a ride to her piano lessons. Call up your husband or mother or friend and ask them if they can do it.
Have a Flexible Schedule
Leave ample space in your schedule for interruptions. Try to be flexible so that if your child becomes sick you can take a day off. Your schedule is to help you, not run you.
Use a Scheduling System
Keep track of your schedule in a day planner, calendar, palm device or some other schedule. Make your schedule available to your entire family. Involve your children in creating a magnetic calendar to place on the refrigerator, where they can add in their own activities.
Reward Yourself
As you accomplish your goals, reward yourself! Take a day off from your schedule and just have some fun. It will give you something to look forward to as you're working towards completing your tasks.
Our Benefits Programs
We offer 4 main health-related programs.
1. Dental Plus – Dental (general dentistry and specialists),
vision, Rx, and chiropractic care. Indivdual cost is
$14.95/month, household is $19.95/month.
2. Basic Health – Primary Care Physicians, Specialists, ancillary
care (labs – blood work, imaging), 24-hour nurse hotline.
Househould plan only, for $29.95/month. This program only
available through paper-enrollments. It is no longer online.
3. Total Health – Dental Plus and Basic Health. Household plan only,
for $39.95/month
4. Basic Wellness - $14.95/month. This has Vision, Rx, Chiro &
Nurseline.
We also offer 2 non-health related programs:
1. Accessaver – Savings on dining, automotive, recreation and
Shopping. Cost is $14.95/month or you can “add-on” the program
or only $10/month.
2. Secure Net – ID Theft prevention, national child ID, family legal plan,
roadside assistance and financial services. $24.95/month or $20 as
an “add-on.”
They have a 30 day money back guarantee of the first monthly fee.
It can take up to 6 weeks for a refund.
The one-time registration fee is non-refundable.
$20 for Dental Plus , Basic Wellness & Securenet
$30 for Total Health.
$5.00 for Accessaver
We can add on the the securenet program to any of our medical programs for an additional $20.00 per month and the accessaver program for an additional $10.00 per month.
We earn 30% off of the sales of our programs, with the exception of SecureNet where we earn 20%.
Important Websites:
www.ameriplanusaprovidersearch.com – Search for providers
www.coasttocoastvision.com - 3rd party network for vision
www.healthtrans.com - 3rd party network for prescription
www.freedomathometraining.com – for marketing tools, group sales
and other training materials
www.ameriplan.net – for more on Group sales and fee zones
www.apsecurenet.com – More on identity theft, roadside assistance,
national child ID, family legal and financial services
www.apfreedompass.com – savings on dining, automotive, recreation,
shopping, travel and more
www.roadtonsd.com/postcard – example of postcard advertising both
sides of business
Fee Zones:
There are 3 fee zones. Fee zones only effect the dental program.
Red, Teal, lime green.
RED – Large cities. Best discounts offered.
TEAL – Big cities. Good discounts offered
LIME GREEN – Rural areas. Least discounted
1. Dental Plus – Dental (general dentistry and specialists),
vision, Rx, and chiropractic care. Indivdual cost is
$14.95/month, household is $19.95/month.
2. Basic Health – Primary Care Physicians, Specialists, ancillary
care (labs – blood work, imaging), 24-hour nurse hotline.
Househould plan only, for $29.95/month. This program only
available through paper-enrollments. It is no longer online.
3. Total Health – Dental Plus and Basic Health. Household plan only,
for $39.95/month
4. Basic Wellness - $14.95/month. This has Vision, Rx, Chiro &
Nurseline.
We also offer 2 non-health related programs:
1. Accessaver – Savings on dining, automotive, recreation and
Shopping. Cost is $14.95/month or you can “add-on” the program
or only $10/month.
2. Secure Net – ID Theft prevention, national child ID, family legal plan,
roadside assistance and financial services. $24.95/month or $20 as
an “add-on.”
They have a 30 day money back guarantee of the first monthly fee.
It can take up to 6 weeks for a refund.
The one-time registration fee is non-refundable.
$20 for Dental Plus , Basic Wellness & Securenet
$30 for Total Health.
$5.00 for Accessaver
We can add on the the securenet program to any of our medical programs for an additional $20.00 per month and the accessaver program for an additional $10.00 per month.
We earn 30% off of the sales of our programs, with the exception of SecureNet where we earn 20%.
Important Websites:
www.ameriplanusaprovidersearch.com – Search for providers
www.coasttocoastvision.com - 3rd party network for vision
www.healthtrans.com - 3rd party network for prescription
www.freedomathometraining.com – for marketing tools, group sales
and other training materials
www.ameriplan.net – for more on Group sales and fee zones
www.apsecurenet.com – More on identity theft, roadside assistance,
national child ID, family legal and financial services
www.apfreedompass.com – savings on dining, automotive, recreation,
shopping, travel and more
www.roadtonsd.com/postcard – example of postcard advertising both
sides of business
Fee Zones:
There are 3 fee zones. Fee zones only effect the dental program.
Red, Teal, lime green.
RED – Large cities. Best discounts offered.
TEAL – Big cities. Good discounts offered
LIME GREEN – Rural areas. Least discounted
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Time Management - Managing Your Time
Take Inventory
Like money, the time that you waste (or don't use efficiently) is gone forever. And like your finances, knowing where your time is going now is the only way you will ever be able to change how you are spending it. Take a "time inventory" for a week. Mark down all of your activities and how long you spend doing each of them. This need be nothing more than a notebook, kept on a daily basis, that keeps track of your time expenditures. For example:
Time Activity Time Spent
8:15-9:30 Ironing 1.25 hours
9:30-11:15 Soccer Practice 1.75 hours
11:15-12:00 Preparation and lunch .75 hours
Find your "Time Holes"
Those are the activities that take the longest to complete but have the least benefit. An example of a "Time Hole" is spending an hour and a half combing the house looking for a lost $2.00 toy. Not only is the loss of time counter-productive, your "hourly wage" is probably worth more than $1.33 ($2.00 for the toy divided by 1 1/2 hours searching for it). Time holes are often money holes too!
Prioritize
It's common sense, but few people are able to carry it off. Concentrate first on things that:
1) Have the most pressing demands
Health issues
Repairing dangerous items
Paying bills
Are necessary to maintaining your job
2) Contribute meaningfully to the welfare of the family
"Family Time"
Teaching children
Improving our job performance
3) Those items that can be put off until a "better time" (especially those items that others "dump" on us--when they could better be handled on their own!)
Forget Perfectionism
If it takes 2 hours to "perfect" what should take 30 minutes to "do right," why waste the time? It is far better to complete 5 tasks adequately than to do a single one to absolute perfection and leave the other 4 undone (this is when tasks and projects "back up" and we feel time stress breathing down our necks.
Learn to Delegate
Don't say, "it's better if I just do it myself" when doing so does not leave you enough time to complete the tasks you need to do. Yes, it is true that delegation will require training and monitoring of those to whom you delegate, but generally, once the training has been completed, it is almost always easier to monitor a task tha n it is to do it yourself. Who do you delegate to? Spouses and children who are capable of doing certain tasks (but who often seem to want to leave the tasks to you!)
Do. Don't talk.
You'll get a whole lot more accomplished if you simply plan your tasks and then do them. We often spend so much time talking about an activity--to our spouses, children, friends and neighbors--that we actually steal time (or force it to a later time) from the task itself. Do it. Get it done. Get over it!
Like money, the time that you waste (or don't use efficiently) is gone forever. And like your finances, knowing where your time is going now is the only way you will ever be able to change how you are spending it. Take a "time inventory" for a week. Mark down all of your activities and how long you spend doing each of them. This need be nothing more than a notebook, kept on a daily basis, that keeps track of your time expenditures. For example:
Time Activity Time Spent
8:15-9:30 Ironing 1.25 hours
9:30-11:15 Soccer Practice 1.75 hours
11:15-12:00 Preparation and lunch .75 hours
Find your "Time Holes"
Those are the activities that take the longest to complete but have the least benefit. An example of a "Time Hole" is spending an hour and a half combing the house looking for a lost $2.00 toy. Not only is the loss of time counter-productive, your "hourly wage" is probably worth more than $1.33 ($2.00 for the toy divided by 1 1/2 hours searching for it). Time holes are often money holes too!
Prioritize
It's common sense, but few people are able to carry it off. Concentrate first on things that:
1) Have the most pressing demands
Health issues
Repairing dangerous items
Paying bills
Are necessary to maintaining your job
2) Contribute meaningfully to the welfare of the family
"Family Time"
Teaching children
Improving our job performance
3) Those items that can be put off until a "better time" (especially those items that others "dump" on us--when they could better be handled on their own!)
Forget Perfectionism
If it takes 2 hours to "perfect" what should take 30 minutes to "do right," why waste the time? It is far better to complete 5 tasks adequately than to do a single one to absolute perfection and leave the other 4 undone (this is when tasks and projects "back up" and we feel time stress breathing down our necks.
Learn to Delegate
Don't say, "it's better if I just do it myself" when doing so does not leave you enough time to complete the tasks you need to do. Yes, it is true that delegation will require training and monitoring of those to whom you delegate, but generally, once the training has been completed, it is almost always easier to monitor a task tha n it is to do it yourself. Who do you delegate to? Spouses and children who are capable of doing certain tasks (but who often seem to want to leave the tasks to you!)
Do. Don't talk.
You'll get a whole lot more accomplished if you simply plan your tasks and then do them. We often spend so much time talking about an activity--to our spouses, children, friends and neighbors--that we actually steal time (or force it to a later time) from the task itself. Do it. Get it done. Get over it!
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Time Management - Time Stealers
The bigger time stealers....
Know the difference between wasting time and enjoying time. Doing nothing but enjoying a sunset with the family probably isn't wasting time, but yapping endlessly on the phone with someone you really don't want or need to talk to, is! Keep mental track of exactly how you are spending your time. You will probably find that a good portion of it is wasted. Even if you convert only ten percent wasted time into enjoying time, you are making progress.
Cut down on interruptions. Starting and finishing a task is much more difficult when you are interrupted every few minutes. Get caller ID and don't answer the phone if you don't want to talk to the caller. Give the children something to do while you complete the tasks you need to get done. You will be much more effective if you start a task, and take it to completion before starting another. Jumping from project to project usually means that you end up with a lot undone. Plus, you will get a sense of accomplishment as you bring each task to a close.
Develop a schedule. You must determine that you will schedule your day. This is the time for this activity. No other. Learn to say, politely, NO, to any unnecessary disruptions of your schedule.
Set realistic deadlines for yourself and other family members. Don't expect things to be done before they can realistically be completed, but don't allocate too much time to each project.
Use the Internet to save time. There is a wealth of information out there, saving time going to the library, shopping, planning trips, etc. You are probably aware, though, that as much of a time saver the Internet can be, it can also be a horrible time waster if you are not able to control your online time!
And some smaller ones...
Plan shopping trips. Combine as many shopping expeditions into one as possible. Lay out an intelligent route that circles you back home. Use your shopping list--laid out the way the store is laid out. If at all possible, leave the children at home (you'll cut trip times by a bunch!) or, if you have to take them, get them involved according to their age and ability. It will keep them occupied and may actually help. Shop at "unpopular" times if possible. Sundays are often the worst day for shopping and the traffic and standing in line can sometimes double your shopping time.
Have a set place for frequently used items. Ever wasted 20 minutes looking for your car or house keys? Lost a half hour hunting down your glasses? Get into the habit of always placing such frequently needed items in exactly the same place, every time.
Save time by preparing. For example, have your outfit and your children's outfits put out and ready the night before rather than rushing around trying to get them ready as you prepare for work and school.
Shop at stores where the service is better (meaning faster). Saving 5 minutes driving time by going to a grocery store where you always seem to wait an extra 20 minutes in line (due to poor service) actually costs you time.
Buy stamps by mail. A little one that can save a lot of time. Have you been to the Post Office lately? Talk about wasting time! Standing in line for 15 minutes or more just to buy stamps when it can be accomplished in just a few seconds.
Sort the mail over the wastebasket. If a piece of mail is necessary, file it. If its not, pitch it. You'll save lots of time not shuffling around old, worthless mail.
Know the difference between wasting time and enjoying time. Doing nothing but enjoying a sunset with the family probably isn't wasting time, but yapping endlessly on the phone with someone you really don't want or need to talk to, is! Keep mental track of exactly how you are spending your time. You will probably find that a good portion of it is wasted. Even if you convert only ten percent wasted time into enjoying time, you are making progress.
Cut down on interruptions. Starting and finishing a task is much more difficult when you are interrupted every few minutes. Get caller ID and don't answer the phone if you don't want to talk to the caller. Give the children something to do while you complete the tasks you need to get done. You will be much more effective if you start a task, and take it to completion before starting another. Jumping from project to project usually means that you end up with a lot undone. Plus, you will get a sense of accomplishment as you bring each task to a close.
Develop a schedule. You must determine that you will schedule your day. This is the time for this activity. No other. Learn to say, politely, NO, to any unnecessary disruptions of your schedule.
Set realistic deadlines for yourself and other family members. Don't expect things to be done before they can realistically be completed, but don't allocate too much time to each project.
Use the Internet to save time. There is a wealth of information out there, saving time going to the library, shopping, planning trips, etc. You are probably aware, though, that as much of a time saver the Internet can be, it can also be a horrible time waster if you are not able to control your online time!
And some smaller ones...
Plan shopping trips. Combine as many shopping expeditions into one as possible. Lay out an intelligent route that circles you back home. Use your shopping list--laid out the way the store is laid out. If at all possible, leave the children at home (you'll cut trip times by a bunch!) or, if you have to take them, get them involved according to their age and ability. It will keep them occupied and may actually help. Shop at "unpopular" times if possible. Sundays are often the worst day for shopping and the traffic and standing in line can sometimes double your shopping time.
Have a set place for frequently used items. Ever wasted 20 minutes looking for your car or house keys? Lost a half hour hunting down your glasses? Get into the habit of always placing such frequently needed items in exactly the same place, every time.
Save time by preparing. For example, have your outfit and your children's outfits put out and ready the night before rather than rushing around trying to get them ready as you prepare for work and school.
Shop at stores where the service is better (meaning faster). Saving 5 minutes driving time by going to a grocery store where you always seem to wait an extra 20 minutes in line (due to poor service) actually costs you time.
Buy stamps by mail. A little one that can save a lot of time. Have you been to the Post Office lately? Talk about wasting time! Standing in line for 15 minutes or more just to buy stamps when it can be accomplished in just a few seconds.
Sort the mail over the wastebasket. If a piece of mail is necessary, file it. If its not, pitch it. You'll save lots of time not shuffling around old, worthless mail.
Five Ways To Stay Focused in Your Home Office
1. Create a to-do list.
Give your work structure by using a PDA like Blackberry or Palm Pilot date book, scrap paper, Earnware as it's important to write down your goals for the DAY, WEEK & MONTH.
By checking off a task on this To Do List you will feel accomplished
2. Schedule your time.
When are you most productive?
Structure your time so it works for you and your family.
Schedule your time for speaking to prospects, training calls, team members, family and personal time.
3. Shut the door.
It is easier to screen out distractions when you can shut a door.
4. Spouse or family member watches kids.
Ask a friend or family member to keep an eye on the kids while you get some much needed and undistracted work done.
Speak with other moms about play date swapping.
5. Invest in a Headset.
A headset allows you to multi-task and you can accomplish more by using one. You can walk around and do your house chores while you are prospecting to build your business.
Give your work structure by using a PDA like Blackberry or Palm Pilot date book, scrap paper, Earnware as it's important to write down your goals for the DAY, WEEK & MONTH.
By checking off a task on this To Do List you will feel accomplished
2. Schedule your time.
When are you most productive?
Structure your time so it works for you and your family.
Schedule your time for speaking to prospects, training calls, team members, family and personal time.
3. Shut the door.
It is easier to screen out distractions when you can shut a door.
4. Spouse or family member watches kids.
Ask a friend or family member to keep an eye on the kids while you get some much needed and undistracted work done.
Speak with other moms about play date swapping.
5. Invest in a Headset.
A headset allows you to multi-task and you can accomplish more by using one. You can walk around and do your house chores while you are prospecting to build your business.
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