Time Management – dealing with distractions

 

Time management is more about managing our attention and thereby deciding the priority. If we can focus on our planned task, it ensures a good progress. One should analyze reasons for diverting attention and can work accordingly. It could be a few changes in the eco system where we need to work. One must identify time wasters and prepare a plan to avoid or minimize them (NOT TO DO List)

My proposal – Best Practices for effective time management

 

a.      Avoid Time wasters – Minimize as time demands

b.      Manage Energy Levels and pick tasks accordingly – More Smart work

c.       Plan time for technology – Mails, calls, meetings, social media etc.

d.      Have a Vision – get a bord’s eye view and stay focused always

e.      Balance between Perfection and Excellence:  Identify what needed for more results

f.       Stress and Time Management: Start early and complete ahead of schedule to avoid stress at the end

g.      Leadership practices – Irrespective of your title – Delegation, Trust and Empowerment, etc.

h.      Self-Health – Spend time for Exercise, Meditate, etc.  regularly to avoid future impact  

i.        Avoid Multi-Tasking – Implement Mind fullness

j.        Keep a buffer while setting goals for a day or a week – Keep list for upcoming tasks in pipeline

k.      To-do list is important, but also remember Not-To do list as well (identify time wasters)  

l.        Analyze when there is tendency to procrastinate – Never delay most important tasks

m.    7-minute rule – Plan when day starts; Review your day / have next day’s plan before going to sleep

n.      Plan effective estimation for tasks – Keep learning from past and create benchmarks for future reference.

o.      Apply the Pareto Principle- Focus on 20% of high value tasks that gives 80% of results.

p.      Continuous self-improvement – Habit of Renewal – improving skills, domain scopes, automation, etc.

q.      Learn to say no - It is fine not to commit on tasks which you can’t deliver due to multiple reasons.

r.       Habits versus Routines – Little energy investments for habits, better convert routine jobs into list of habits.