20 ways to Create More Time for the important things

If you want to know where your time is going, keep a log for a week or two. Is much of your time spent on less important matters? What is the source of most interruptions. Do most interruptions occur at a particular time of the day, or week. Then, weed out time wasting activities.

In order to make time for what matters, you need to know what those things are. Get a clear grasp of your values, goals, and the specific activities that support these. Write down everything you can think of that is important to you: family, friend, work, education, spiritual health, physical health. Then write down your goals. Line up in order of importance to you. Make sure your goals are in line with your values. Under each goals write the activities that contribute to reaching that goal.

Number the items in the to-do order. Mark those worth spending more time on. Check of as completed. Carry over unfinished ones to tomorrow's list.

If you have one calendar on your computer and another on your handled device, synchronize them. That way you don't miss out on an important appointment.

Write down all the steps involved in a project and put into proper sequence.

Then it will be easier to find time for the less important ones.

Choose the activities that yield the most results. Activities that simply cannot be eliminated, Can you delegate them, spend less time on them? Some tasks can just wait, or maybe really don't need to be done. Allocate as much time as possible to those activities that advance the goals you feel are truly worthwhile.

If you fill you schedule too full for a day you will feel rushed and enjoy none of it.

Block off a portion of each day when you are not to be interrupted. Turn off the phone, instant messaging, alerts, or anything else that interrupts you.

Once that is out of the way you will feel much more energized to take on the less challenging tasks

Feel you can get there in 20 minutes? Promise 25. Think an appointment will take an hour? Allow an hour and 20 minutes. Leave a portion of your day unscheduled.

Listen to the news or recordings while waiting or riding. You can 'use' it to relax, but don't waste it.

Are approx 2 of 10 items on you to-do list the most important? Perhaps a certain task is as good as finished after giving attention to just the most important aspects of it.

Divide the cards in 2 piles. . 1) Do TODAY. . 2) Do TOMORROW . . Then tomorrow, do the same thing.

Then you can return to work refreshed in mind and body, able to be more productive with your time rather than working over time.

Have a problem? Write it down. Describe it, why it bothers you, and list as many solutions to it as you can.

Know when it's time to stop and move on to the next important activity.

Don't wait for the right mood, just start working.