| SOME TIME SAVERS | | | | day that will enhance your productivity. |
| By: Dr. Donald E. Wetmore | | | | 4. Prioritize It. Your To Do list will have crucial and not |
| In my Time Management seminars which I have | | | | crucial items on it. Despite the fact most people want |
| conducted for more than 100,000 people from | | | | to be productive, when given the choice between |
| around the globe, I show people how to get more | | | | crucial and not crucial items, we will most often end |
| done in less time, with less stress; to help them have | | | | up doing the not crucial items. They are generally |
| more time for the things they want to do in their | | | | easier and quicker than crucial items. Prioritize your To |
| work and business lives. | | | | Do list each night. Put the #1 next to the most |
| If you can recapture a wasted hour here and there | | | | important item on your list. Place the #2 next to the |
| and redirect it to a more productive use, you can | | | | second most important item on your list, etc. Then |
| make great increases in your daily productivity. | | | | tackle the items on your list in order of their |
| Here are five of the techniques I share in our Time | | | | importance. You may not get everything done on |
| Management seminars, each one of which will help | | | | your list, but you will get the most important things |
| you to get at least one more hour out of your day | | | | done. This is working smarter, not harder, and getting |
| of additional productive time. | | | | more done in less time. |
| 1. Maintain Balance. Your life consists of Seven Vital | | | | 5. Control Procrastination. The most effective planning |
| Areas: Health, Family, Financial, Intellectual, Social, | | | | in the world does not substitute for doing what |
| Professional, and Spiritual. You will not spend equal | | | | needs to be done. We procrastinate and put off |
| amounts of time in each area or time every day in | | | | important things because we don't sense enough pain |
| each area. But, if in the long run, you are spending a | | | | for not doing it or enough pleasure to do it. To get |
| sufficient quantity and quality of time in each area, | | | | going on something you have been putting off, |
| then your life will be balanced. But ignore any one of | | | | create in your mind enough pain for not doing it or |
| your areas, (never mind two or three!) and you will | | | | enough pleasure to do it. I prefer the pleasure |
| get out of balance and potentially sabotage your | | | | approach. Take a procrastinated project and turn it |
| success. Fail to take time now for your health and | | | | into to a game. Work with one thing in front of you |
| you will have to take time for illness later on. Ignore | | | | at a time so other things won't distract you. ("Out of |
| your family and they may leave you and cost you a | | | | sight, out of mind.") Break it down to little bite-sized, |
| lot of time to re-establish relationships. | | | | manageable pieces. Get it started, take the first step |
| 2. Get the Power of the Pen. A faint pen has more | | | | and you will likely continue it to completion. |
| power than the keenest mind. Get into the habit of | | | | Dr. Donald E. Wetmore, a full-time Professional |
| writing things to do down using one tool (a | | | | Speaker, is one of the foremost experts on Time |
| Day-Timer, pad of paper, Palm Pilot, etc.) Your mind | | | | Management and the author of "Beat the Clock," |
| is best used for the big picture rather than all the | | | | "Organizing Your Life" and "The Productivity |
| details. The details are important, but manage them | | | | Handbook." If you would like to receive your copy of |
| with the pen. If you want to manage it you have to | | | | his humorous article, "Poor John," who wastes hours |
| measure it first. Writing things down helps you to | | | | in his days, email your request now for "John" to: Dr. |
| more easily remember all that you need to | | | | Donald E. Wetmore |
| accomplish. | | | | Professional Speaker |
| 3. Do Daily Planning. It is said that people do not plan | | | | Productivity Institute |
| to fail but a lot of people fail to plan. Take the time | | | | Time Management Seminars |
| each night to take control of the most precious | | | | 127 Jefferson St. |
| resource at your command, the next twenty-four | | | | Stratford, CT 06615 |
| hours. Plan your work and then work your plan each | | | | (203) 386-8062 (800) Professional Member-National |
| day. Write up a To Do list with all you have to's and | | | | Speakers Association since 1989 |
| all of your want to's for your next day. Without a | | | | Copyright 2001 You may re-print the above |
| plan for the day, you can easily get distracted, | | | | information in its entirety in your publication or |
| spending your time serving the loudest voice rather | | | | newsletter. |
| than attending to the most important things for your | | | | |