Time Management
What if time does not exist? What if the past, present and future is just a fragment of our imagination? What if there is no beginning and no end to time as we know it. What if we are existing in a timeless space? Your concept of time and time management is going to be challenged and radically changed in the next period in which we understand to measure time in minutes, hours, days……………
Be prepared to open up to new concepts and different ways to think about time. Latch on to new perspectives and carefully rethink what you have been taught about time and time management. At the end of this session you will hopefully understand that you are in control of your time and how you manage time is solely your own responsibility within the parameters of universal concepts.
Enjoy!!!
By presenting this course, I acknowledge the One and only Creator of the universe and thank Him for giving us certain rules and laws and commandments. One of which is to manage the concept of time effectively, all according to His instructions and in line with His perspective of what matters to Him. You will notice that although this introduction touches some Scriptural principles, these principles were and still are universally accepted by all the main stream religions because all of them agree with the principles of creation. Most of them accept the creation story as a true account of what happened during the first 4000 years of mankind and most of them accept that there is One Supreme King of the Universe who is almighty and who must be obeyed.
The basic object of this course is to teach you what time is and how to manage time effectively by viewing time as tools based on the Creator of the Universe’s principles on the one hand and as we are mortal creatures who will have to suffice in this world we live in with the limitations laid upon us on the other hand. Time for now is how we and the majority of us on this planet earth, perceive it.
Remember one of the most important things in life and for purposes of this course.
THERE IS ALWAYS ENOUGH TIME
Every week is new as every day is new
If we have to create or achieve some order in our lives, then keeping to a timetable of some sorts is what we naturally have to do to accomplish that order. We can live life unattached to rules but eventually it leads to uncontrolled actions which further leads to confusion and uncertainty, steering us away from the ever present feeling of belonging somewhere. A universal concept was introduced thousands of years ago to bring some order into our existence. That concept of rest after a hard few days of work was a concept introduced by the Creator of the Universe and was called Shabbat. That concept forces us to keep to the timetable of the Creator of the Universe. Shabbat is that one day where we get refreshed, ready for the next few days of work. The Shabbat is most important. Keep the Shabbat Holy by not conforming to the demands of your circumstances. Be happy and at peace. Keep Shabbat in all your dwellings. Don’t go searching after the doctrines and religions of man at their various physical meeting places called churches, synagogues, mosques and shrines. Accept the Creator’s invitation and spend time with Him. He has an appointment with you on Shabbat. Be humble and submit to the Most High’s authority by resting on Shabbat. Open yourself up to gain knowledge, understanding and wisdom by using so many tools which are available to us today. Break free from the fears and guilt which were imposed upon us by people who wants to control us for self-gain in whatsoever form. Other scriptural appointed dates also keep us in alignment and harmony with the timetable of the Creator of the Universe. More about the Shabbat a bit later
Much good will be added unto you if you can keep these simple rules. You need to be whole. Your Creator knows what you want and when you ask to be one with Him on Shabbat, your life starts to change. Spend the time you have wise and you will gain success in your life. Connect to your source of life first and then worry about the expectations of man. By finding your roots, and that which makes you tick, you will understand how to utilise your own resources better and reach your maximum potential.
Course outline
1. Introduction
2. What is Time? Introduction to Time and Definition of Time
3. What is Time Management? Introduction to Time Management and Definition of Time Management
4. Manage your Time Effectively
5. Conclusion
1. INTRODUCTION
Throughout this course, you will notice that I touch on physical, mental and spiritual concepts. To isolate these concepts in separate camps or standalone spheres will create fragmentation and confusion in your life. View everything in this course in a holistic manner because they are all linked and building upon each other to create a sense of oneness. Now that we have started, I want to make a statement and then ask 4 questions.
The Statement
You cannot manage your time effectively if you do not know who you are, why you do what you do, what your strengths and weaknesses are, where you come from and if you are willing to accept a different outlook on life if you have not done so yet. Also: If you do not know why you exist and why you walk the road you do in life, and what your purpose is, then you are not whole and the wrong concept of time is manifesting as an unbalanced trait in your routine. We will explore these realities in due course.
Remember: Nations, communities, tribes and individuals will never have and share the same viewpoint about time.
The Questions
Answer them and keep them with you and refer to them during the course as you see fit.
- Have you consciously contemplated what time really is?
- What is the purpose of a time management course for you?
- Why are you here?
- What do you expect to learn from this course?
It is very important that you are honest with yourself when you answer the questions. Click on the link to do a few exercises https://www.theexceptionalskills.com/time-management-activities/
There are many reasons why a Time Management course is of value.
Time wasted is time lost - Time is money - There is a time for everything - All in good time
Have a peaceful time - Time to relax - Time to work
There are also a lot of philosophies built around Time Management
.
*** Tomorrows fate, though thou be wise
Thou canst not tell nor surmise
Pass therefore, not today in vain
For it will never come again – (Omar Khayya)
Time is that fleeting moment when the future passes into the past
Grasp it, Embrace it. Make it your own
The past is here no more,
The future is not yet;
the presence lasts an eye-blink
Whence the worry and fret (Ibn Ezra)
There are also a lot of misconceptions, myths and garble about time and Time Management. Be careful not to be distracted and thus missing out on opportunities to manage your time well. I quote some myths as per Amanda Kelly | May 26, 2015 https://www.liquidplanner.com/blog/5-time-management-myths/ below and will bring it up again later in this discussion
- There’s a magical finish line where everything is done, once and for all.
- Making a to-do list will make you more productive.
- Don’t be distracted by emails, calls or sudden deadlines.
- A perfect time management system exists.
- Undivided focus is king.
Now.
There are a lot of rules, types of time management models, best practice indicators and lastly free advice around how to manage time effectively, Don’t think there is a best way to manage your time but stay rooted in reality. Find what works for you, and master it.
Our aim with this course is to equip you with real life, usable techniques in the complete walk of life and tips to;
- at least - improve your current way of handling time for the better and
- at best - to let you excel in a world where our concept of time is becoming a very frightening and a very scarce commodity.
You can choose to stay as you are or you can commit to change. It is of no use just doing old things in a new way; …. You have to approach this time management challenge in an entirely different way from what you are used to or perceive to know. However;
CAUTION CAUTION CAUTION
It is most important to find your own rhythm and balance.
The concept of managing our time was never intended for us to be a field of study, let alone an instruction (a necessity) for us to succeed in life. We are in the middle of a scary shamble we call existence. Everything is fragmented. We struggle to find the “whole” and “unity” We would not have to do a study on time management if we were part of that wholeness or oneness. Please do not get me wrong. We are very intelligent and have accomplished a great many things on this planet we call Earth. The thing is however, we want to be in control and do or pursue things which is not meant to be done. How do we know what is right then? How could we distinguish between the things we ought to do and not to do. Riots, wars, weapons of mass destruction, crime in all its forms, experiments with animals, cloning, work, money, sex, music, entertainment, sport and religion. Selfish lust, separating us from our sense of belonging to a source of life, cause us to forget the reason we live. Now you will ask me what has all this to do with time management. The answer might come to you as a shock.
We are spending our time chasing after the wind. In other words, we are all wasting our time.
You may ask - but shouldn’t we like our jobs, marriage, and success. Shouldn’t we spend time with our children, relax, have a fulfilling spare time. Shouldn’t we go on vacation year after year until we get old, retire and then live until we die someday? Yes, but the irony in this is that we could have done all this without being trying to learn how to manage our time. It should have come naturally with us enjoying life.
It is us humans who started to impose deadlines and targets of all sorts upon ourselves.
- Look at the ant and work hard.
- Do not be lazy.
- Work from sunrise to sunset.
- Gather in summer for winter.
It is true. We must do it. But the way you do it determines the outcome of how your time is spent.
The scriptures tell us the following. Look at the flowers of the field. They do not labour or toil but are beautiful. You cannot add a single hair to your head naturally out of your own. Your time on earth is pre-determined. You cannot change that at all.
So, to sum up. Between what we were SUPPOSED to do and what we ARE doing, is where we lost it. We never listened and will not listen to the truth, if we cannot view everything around us differently from what we were taught. It is the most difficult thing to let go of our own self-esteem and old/wrong belief systems.
Now here follows some eternal principles in our perception, which can or cannot change:
- On a timeline, from minus infinity to plus infinity, we are just a very small spec. Like a blip on a radar screen
- Our own conscious timeline starts when we are born and it ends when we pass away, be it at -60 80 – 100 – 120 years
- Your existence on earth has a beginning and an end
- It is good to try and comprehend where and how you want to end. It will open up a new perspective on how you think about time. Here is a tip - imagine you are 80 years of age now. Now imagine (at 80) you think back to how old you are now and what you would do to change your course to reach 80. This is reverse thinking and it is quite different from thinking forward from where you are now.
- What we don’t do or what we do on earth, contributes to where we end eventually. This impacts on every sphere of our lives and hence it is very, very important to spend your time responsibly
- There is a time for everything
- We learn to use our time only as we go through life, walking the walk of life every moment of time
We can live a good life when we abide to certain rules.
We can live an abundant life when we realize how to spend our time wisely.
Further. Our Creator’s timeline is important to Him and we are very real in His plans just as we are in our own small conscious existence on earth. We have to abide by His timeline and oh boy, if we can only do those simple things and get it right, how much more could we overcome the difficult challenges we face every day. There are some basic rules very few of us get right. Material vs. spiritual blessing
Oholiab and Betsal’el (shadow of Elohim) were blessed in all that they did. They could do anything and was skilled. We can have the same and our Creator will give us what we need even while we are sleeping. On the other hand - time wasted create no rewards but penalties. Korach wasted his time opposing Mosheh and with no good results. Go read this interesting story in Shemoth / Exodus
- Students – Do you just study to get your degree so you can have a nice job
- Workers - Do you just work to earn an income to eat and pay your debts
- Bosses – do you work to achieve one more goal and get promoted or get noticed, climbing higher up the ladder every time.
Links
2. WHAT IS TIME
The secret to manage your time is that you should know what time and time management is. When you understand what time is and where you fit into the timeframe of life, the concept of time management will come natural and you will succeed in doing your daily activities effectively. You will also reach your goals and enjoy a nearly stress free life. As per Michael Berg, The Kbbalah Centre, November 26 2018
“What is time? Most of us think of it as the measurement of progress through hours, minutes, and seconds. We think about the hands of a clock or the date on a calendar. In Ten Luminous Emanations, Rav Ashlag explores the idea that time, as we perceive it, is actually an illusion and explains how it relates to any negativity we might experience.
"IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM, THERE IS NO TIME, SPACE, OR MOTION."
Rav Ashlag teaches that, in the physical world that we live in, time is not an innate human sense. If we were to sit in a room in complete peace with no movement or noise around us, and no clock or watch, we would not be able to tell time. We perceive time through a sense of action, by physical things happening one after another. Our mind experiences these events and tells us a certain amount of time must have passed. It is merely a construct of our minds.
In the spiritual realm, which represents the true reality, there is no physical matter, so there is also no time, space, or motion. In other words, time is not a true reality, but rather an illusion of the physical world that our mind perceives. Even in the physical world, time does not actually exist, and this is even more true in the spiritual realm.
When spiritual texts like the Torah and the Zohar use words that connote time, we have to be careful not to equate them to time as we understand it in the physical world. For instance, when we study that first the Tzimtzum occurred and then the Kav, it can be tempting to think these events occurred at certain moments in time, as if we were reading a history book. What the wisdom actually refers to is the idea of cause and effect - how one reality naturally affects another. Because we are so accustomed to thinking of time in the physical sense, our mind automatically takes these cause and effect stories to connote time, but it is not true, because there is no such thing as time.
If you think about this deeper, almost all our problems - our fears, doubts, and negative thoughts - come from the realm of time and space. We worry about what will or won’t happen tomorrow and we dwell on what happened in the past. The only true concerns we should have are about whether or not we are changing, transforming, and becoming a new spiritual form, growing closer to the Creator. Besides that, any thought that brings us unhappiness is related to time and space, because that is where the negative side exists.
"WE ARE MEANT TO ELEVATE OUR SOULS TO A STATE ABOVE TIME AND SPACE."
In the realm above time and space, there is no negativity, it is only light. Pain and suffering can only exist within the realm of time and space, because it can only exist within the realm of physicality. In the true world, where time and space do not exist, there cannot be pain, suffering, worry or doubt, because there is no physicality. All these negative thoughts relate to time and space – these physical constructs which are an illusion.
This explains why kabbalists were able to travel through time and space. They achieved such a strong connection to the realm above the illusion of time and space that they were no longer bound by the laws of physicality. When Rav Ashlag would travel, his students would often complain about being far away from him. He would tell them that if they were really connected to him, they wouldn’t feel the distance in space. The reason they felt the distance is because they were still operating within the realm of physicality, and therefore the realm of time and space.
In truth, we are meant to elevate our souls to a state above time and space where they no longer influence us, and therefore, where we no longer experience pain and suffering. This is an incredible lesson that Rav Ashlag shares with us, which should influence the way we understand the wisdom and the way we experience the world.”
*Adapted from Michael Berg’s Ten Luminous Emanations lesson 27
Introduction to Time
Time as can be seen above, is a construct of our physical side but within this operating system we call existence, time is a unique resource. Time consist of seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and years, decades, centuries and millennia. It sounds simple but yet every one of us do not understand what power each of these units of time have. Once time has passed, it cannot be used again……… Is it gone, lost forever? In our physical lifetime, we were all allotted the right amount of time units. When we die there are no more left. In today’s societies we live as if we do not have enough time to do what we want to do, although we perceive that there isn't any more of it.
This course cannot give us more time, but it shows you how to make better use of the time you have in your whole lifetime. Times are changing and every new day brings new challenges which influence your effort to spend the time you have wisely. Are these changing times good or bad? The changes create many challenges with regards to how we think about things and do things. We expand our physical and mental consciousness by absorbing knowledge like a sponge drinks up water. Can we apply it though? Higher levels of understanding is but limited to those who actively seek for wisdom in all that they do. How we get through life and reach a well-deserved end is what matters and to understand what influence you have over the management of the time is most important.
Let me tell you a fact - the speed at which time passes in your sphere of existence on earth is related to what you are doing. One of the most challenging and scary things is that the information overload which we experience and is part of today, is also contributing majorly to our time management ability.
Definition of time
Time is a scarce commodity which consists of measurable units which comes naturally. Time cannot be made, invented or changed. Each of these units of time is used or consumed by a human being. Whether used effectively or not, once each time unit has passed, it cannot be regained.
3. WHAT IS TIME MANAGEMENT
Definition of time management
Time management is the ability of a human being to do things in the time allocated to him on earth for either his benefit or to his detriment. In a work or corporate field, it is a method used to improve productivity and achieve highest results and in your private life it is a method to be with your spouse, children, and family to rest and to revive yourself
What is time management?
One of the simplest things to do is actually to do nothing. Do you get it? NOTHING!!! Who can do nothing for one full day? I mean NOTHING. Remember; I am addressing a group of working individuals or at least those (If there are retirees among us, you might know what it is to do nothing, but you will see that there is also a lesson in what I am saying to you too.)
Now how difficult is it to do nothing. To REST. Not to drive in your car, not to go shopping, not to read a newspaper, not to watch television or movies, not to listen to or make any music, not to play games or read stuff on your phone or computer, not to invite friends for a BBQ, not to do the dishes or make food or bake a cake. For a whole day long do nothing, absolutely nothing. I tell you, there is a day in the week, every 7th day, where we are instructed to do nothing. But we hardly get it right because we are fuelled with a drive to feel worthy or at least not to feel we are worthless. Hang on…., you will see where this paragraph leads to ………
Most of you spend a day resting according to your own will, according to your own desire, according to your own perspective and even according to your own circumstances.
Did you know that a new day actually starts just after the sun has set, acknowledged by all ancient religions. For all the thousands of years before watches were made do you really think that someone knew exactly when it was midnight and then someone would go about screaming in a loud voice “New day, new day, a new day has started…….” How silly – in the middle of the night. Now grasp this……..When the new day begins (after the sun has set) you go to sleep so that you are fresh and revived when the sun rises in the morning so that you could
ENJOY ENJOY ENJOY
a good days work. We do not rest at the end of the day. We go to rest at the beginning of each new day….How different than you are used to think or have been brought up.
What if we could understand some principles found in the Scriptures. Why can we not follow a simple command? Why do we pick those items which suits our individual desires the most and discard all the other ones.
One of those principles
We are instructed to rest every Shabbat (appointed 7th day)
Right from the beginning of creation, from sunset the Friday (the 6th day) evening to sunset the following day – that is Saturday evening, we are instructed to rest. Most of you will think that we can take any one day and rest on it, or even on a Sunday. Why does it need to be specifically on the day we call Shabbat i.e. Saturday as we know it. We are in control of our lives but our Creator instituted this day to have a special meeting with us on HIS TERMS. Example - If you want to meet with the president of a country, you will most probably meet with him when he has the time available to meet with you. Now! How fortunate are we to have an appointed time to meet with the King of the Universe…… every 7th day - Shabbat. You can choose to see and hear that president every day on TV or at public meetings or from every conceivable place possible, but still do not have an appointment with him. So too can you communicate with the King of the Universe without really meeting Him. But on the 7th day you have an appointment with that King. And what do you have to do to meet him? You must be there on Shabbat during the time He commands you to rest – otherwise how can you meet Him when you are busy doing other things. Rest from you normal daily routine, rest from shopping or doing business, rest from going to places where other people need to work in order to serve or entertain you. Just relax at your home and open your being to meet with your Creator, the Most High King of the Universe. To sum up with this paraphrase:
The Shabbat is made for you, not you for the Shabbat
I hammer on the concept of Shabbat because it is the single most important period in time where everything is supposed to get restored. When you feel revived in body, mind and soul all the man imposed, time limiting stresses can be faced head on and handled with peace and success. These stresses, deadlines, crises are still there but you will have enough time and knowledge and wisdom to overcome them with a smile. Your focus on each task will be objective and then you will know how to deal with them in a calm and precise manner to accomplish the required outcome. As said before; Every day is a new as every week is new. Thus Shabbat is given to you as the default period in time where you will be reset and recharged until the next Shabbat.
4. MANAGE YOUR TIME EFFECTIVELY
There are 3 ways to achieve a good time management lifecycle
4.1 Know yourself and your behavioural concepts - lower stress – increase productivity
4.2 Learn to make better use of time – develop skills and set goals - learn when to do what – Analyse your time use! Eliminate time wasters.
4.3 Use resources and make use of tools effectively to improve overall effectiveness and productivity – achieve more in less time
4.1 Know yourself and your behavioural concepts
It is difficult though as every person is driven by a different engine and the influence of all the external “pollution” determines how well our engines are fuelled and how well they perform
What fuels your engine? In other words, what drives you? Is it love, money, loyalty to your work / , lust, selfishness, control, power and also is it peace, your family, contentment, nature, restoration of your body and your soul?
All these affect our ability to spend our time wisely. A major disadvantage of poor time management is its effects on stress levels. It leads to the dissatisfaction of not having worked hard and wasted time. Furthermore, people with inadequate time management skills can't make sufficient time to spend with family and children if that was important to them.
Do you service your engine, replace worn parts, look after it and clean it regularly?
Personal Attitudes and Aptitudes
Self control and discipline (managing yourself) touches the core of time management
Know who you are
Know what is expected of you
Know what is expected of you
Know your limits
Consistency is the mastery of all that you do
Learn how to relate to other people
Find out what personality type you are and work at it for your and the people around you for everyone’s benefit
In the corporate sector – find out and improve your management style. That alone is a
course on its own and it can take you many years to successfully accomplish
Find out what personality type you are and work at it for your and the people around you for everyone’s benefit
In the corporate sector – find out and improve your management style. That alone is a
course on its own and it can take you many years to successfully accomplish
Meditation and Prayer
Do you meditate ‘/ think your day through in the morning / previous day?
I can elaborate on all the benefits but go and do the research yourself
How do you relax
Health and fitness is most important
Do you exercise? Walk, run, swim? ]
What is your physical condition
Stay away from fitness programmes which is not beneficial to you and your
body
body
Consciously find out what is good for you and works for you
What do you eat?
Stay away from sugar – it destroys all the good you try to accomplish with other healthy foods
Drink a lot of water
Consciously find the right combination of healthy foods which works for you
Use supplements wisely and try to eat as natural as possible
Caution!!! We were taught a lot of rubbish by many people. Go and do your homework diligently. If you have a small income then actively pursue where you can get the best deals on healthy foods
Analyse yourself - What do you do when you
Work 8 to 12 hours a day ……………………………………………
How do you handle procrastination?
How do you manage to get out of that negative space?
How do you handle procrastination?
How do you manage to get out of that negative space?
Do you work at home?
Leave work at work?
Take work home?
Avoid the pitfalls of poor delegation.
Separate jobs / offices
Break down your work in
Urgent work
Important work
Relax 4 to six hours a day……………………………………………
Do you waste your spare time? How do you spend your spare time?
Do you read a lot?
Sleep 6 to 8 hours a day …………………………………………….
Do you waste your spare time? How do you spend your spare time?
Do you read a lot?
Sleep 6 to 8 hours a day …………………………………………….
When do you
Wake up
Eat
Prepare for work
Work
Go home
Eat supper
Relax / Exercise / Study
Go to sleep after all has been done
How do you plan your routine / life
Daily
Exercise
Read / Study
Walk
Anything else
Weekly
Shabbat
Monthly
New Moons
Yearly
Vacations
Sukkoth, Passover, Shavuot
When do you go to sleep and do you do it consistently?
What are your sleeping patterns?
Do you wake up early?
What are your sleeping patterns?
Do you wake up early?
Do you wake up immediately or does it take time for you to get out of bed?
How long
When
Time to rise
Power naps
Time you are awake
The wrong sleep pattern can have a negative impact on everything that you do
Parreto Principle 80 / 20 rule according to Wikipedia
The Pareto principle (also known as the 80/20 rule, the law of the vital few, or the principle of factor sparsity)[1][2] states that, for many events, roughly 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes.[3] Management consultant Joseph M. Juran suggested the principle and named it after Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto, who noted the 80/20 connection while at the University of Lausanne in 1896, as published in his first work, Cours d'économie politique. In it, Pareto showed that approximately 80% of the land in Italy was owned by 20% of the population. It is an axiom of business management that "80% of sales come from 20% of clients".[4]
Thus 20% of the time you spend can influences 80% of the results you achieve
4.2 Learn to make better use of time – develop skills and set goals - learn when to do what!
Here follows inherent attributes you must understand, cultivate and master to help you in this world.
There are many websites out there where you can get information on each of the following points. Find the ones which work for you best and pursue it
There are many websites out there where you can get information on each of the following points. Find the ones which work for you best and pursue it
Strategies to “save” Time
Do less
Do things faster
Use systems
Work selectively
Work smarter not harder
Structure your day purposefully
Plan the next day
Evaluate yourself regularly to see if have improved your time management skills
Strategic thinking
Prioritise your work into the following sections
Structure your day purposefully
Plan the next day
Evaluate yourself regularly to see if have improved your time management skills
Strategic thinking
Prioritise your work into the following sections
Needs
Importance and urgency
Crisis
Time wasters
How to handle correspondence.
How to handle cell phones and telephones.
How to handle visitors.
How to handle meetings.
How to handle distractions
How to handle social media in all its different forms and not get caught up in time wasters
How to handle daydreaming and free time
Goals
Goal setting helps you to direct your ways. As said time and time again before: start, see
what is working for you and then change what needs to be changed for you to succeed as
an individual.
Set yourself achievable goals
It starts with a plan -must be able to measure your performance – small steps at a time
Planning your life
Ultimate goal
Fulfilment
Needs hierarchy
Commit yourself
Benefits of goal setting
Focus on what is important as it will guide you to provide direction in your life and it will
motivate you when you achieve your goal. Devote less energy to non-critical tasks
Focus on what is important as it will guide you to provide direction in your life and it will
motivate you when you achieve your goal. Devote less energy to non-critical tasks
Types of goals
Critical
Daily
Short term
Essential / Enabling
Long term goals is only a tool to reach the desirable condition
Nice to have goals
Social
Dreams
Challenges and how do you cope with them in your life?
Stress
Crisis
Decisions
Are you actively involved?
Passive needs.
Do you meet deadlines?
Do you do your work according to importance or need?
Can you say NO!!
Skills you need in order for you to avoid wasting time
Work expands to fill the time available for its accomplishment (Parkinson’s Law)
Avoid clutter - it tend to expand to fill all available time and space
Delegation, trust and be able to take responsibility
Prioritizing
Decision-making
Multitasking
Problem solving
Meeting deadlines
Self-awareness
Stress management and coping
Strategic planning
Effective teamwork
Torah (Contrary to modern day philosophies)
Principles
Methods
Blessings
4.3 Use resources and make use of tools effectively to improve overall effectiveness and
productivity – achieve more in less time
productivity – achieve more in less time
I am not going to discuss each and every topic but keep just one thing in mind – if it does not work for you, move on to something that does work for you or learn how to master a skill or how to use a piece of equipment, otherwise that same tool can become more of a time waster than an effective resource.
To come back to Amanda Kelly | May 26, 2015 https://www.liquidplanner.com/blog/5-time-management-myths/
- Myth - There’s a magical finish line where everything is done, once and for all.
For better productivity, lose the idea that all your tasks will ever be all finished. You (and your team) are never going to be or have unlimited resources. A better way to look at “reaching the end-goal” is to make sure you’re on top of prioritizing the work that needs to be done, making deliberate choices that move us toward the most important outcomes. Productivity will never be measured by what’s left undone. Your focus is better spent on the quality of tasks accomplished, rather than the number of tasks completed.
- Myth - Making a to-do list will make you more productive.
Stop thinking so much about creating to-do lists. They won’t save the day. In fact, this kind of list keeping can often be a way you trick yourself into thinking you have accomplished something when in fact your tasks are as numerous as ever. In fact, the Harvard Business Review’s Daniel Markovitz states, “Stop making to-do lists. They’re simply setting you up for failure and frustration.”
- Myth - Don’t be distracted by emails, calls or sudden deadlines.
Emails, phone calls, meetings, notifications: These are indisputable parts of today’s working world. Even calling them “distractions” minimizes the importance of this kind of collaborative work. Instead, think of them as “obligations.” The ability to respond to colleagues in a timely fashion, be on hand for in-person interactions or occasionally reboot your schedule comes with any job. Being an effective time manager means you manage your schedule well enough to be flexible and responsive in a way that makes sense.
- Myth - A perfect time management system exists.
There really is no single magic bullet for managing your time more effectively. So many factors—from your company’s culture to management timelines to your own inner clock—affect how and when you are able to get your work done. The best way to improve time management for yourself, and for your team, is to make small, incremental changes. Begin with short-term goals: practice adding executing or planning time into your calendar, set aside one day a week to return calls or non-pressing emails, or even book a free hour for sudden meetings into every afternoon. Over the course of a few weeks, you’ll see what changes work best for you and your team as you implement them. Then, adjust accordingly.
- Myth - Undivided focus is king.
One of the most cited time management tips is that successful outcomes come from hours and hours of completely focused, uninterrupted time. The reality is that creativity and productivity respond best to routine. The best way to achieve a large goal is to break it up into manageable pieces and complete those tasks on schedule. Always plan some extra time beyond what you think you’ll need. Try to get into a rhythm of work that suits your internal clock, and be consistent about achieving daily goals.
Other Tools that might be of value but all of them depend on each individual person.
Create a time log as an exercise to see how your week is supposed to be scheduled but then keep it only as a guide as it seldom works like you listed your routine. Be realistic and be relevant when you do this exercise
Manage your diary and optimise your appointment and meeting slots so that you do not have a lot of short intermittent time periods in between these meetings. Those short periods of time always gets wasted by a lot of chit chat. Never be late for any appointment
Use technology to your advantage but if you are a dinosaur do not now jump into a spaceship
Electronic diaries
Cell phones / Telephones
Etiquette
Don’t idle chat
Politely terminate calls
Virtual offices
Internet meetings
Skype
Emails
Etiquette
Concise
Heading and date
Storage method and retrieving messages
Computers and software programmes
Voice recording and converting speech to text saves time – good software
Avoid Facebook and other social media time wasters if you do not actively use them for\
your kind of work
Get cloud based mail and applications if you travel a lot and nowadays for mostly
anything
Avoid Facebook and other social media time wasters if you do not actively use them for\
your kind of work
Get cloud based mail and applications if you travel a lot and nowadays for mostly
anything
Get a big computer screen
Typing skills
Effective communication
Get message across first time clear
Efficient vs. effective (doing the right thing)
Verbal communication skills
Writing skills
Office management
Paper management
Small clean desk
Don’t record everything
Get off mailing lists
Use a big dustbin
Try to handle paper only once – Difficult to do
Create a good filing system
Use a pending file folder only
Office layout and furniture
Create a comfortable but formal atmosphere - You live there
Office location – no distractions to or from outside
Lighting play enormous important role
Is your desk well organised?
Record keeping
Organization and filing
Stock inventory
Resource management
Record keeping
Organization and filing
Stock inventory
Resource management
5. CONCLUSION
It was a vision of mine to complete this writing about time and if you are confused or feel challenged after reading this I think I have accomplished my goal. The intention is to bring you to a place where you are challenged to go and find the truth about who you are first of all and then to align your routine around that what you came to know.
To sum up though
- There is always enough time
- Shabbat is a revival / refreshment resource given to you to use in order for you to physically and spiritually connect with your Creator. It is that period in time where you will be renewed and equipped to accomplish what you have to do in the week ahead. It is a blessing that will help you face all the onslaughts life has to throw at you and if you miss Shabbat then you have to get rid of all these stresses in another way which might not all contribute to your wellbeing and balance.
- Learn to know yourself consciously and diligently. Learn who you are and change old limiting beliefs and habits. Open up and get wisdom and balance in your life.
- Always be positive and influence the people around you to be positive
- Be healthy in body, mind and soul
- Use technology and other systems and methods for your benefit and not your detriment
- Live an abundantly blessed life by managing your time well.
Thank you and be blessed abundantly
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