"Time is the scarcest resource and unless it is managed nothing else can be managed."
--- Peter Drucker
Well, here it comes again. That time of year, or that time of a new year, when many of us make a resolution to get a better handle on our time. We look at time management tools, (partly because marketers are sending them to us this time of year in hopes we buy from them), goal-setting formulas, and other online and offline tools that are designed to help us manage our ever-depleting resource-time. Although there are so many books, blogs and other resources to help us manage our time better, it seems that we still can't keep up with the pace of the world.
New technologies, social media, texts and other real-time communications bombard us not just daily, but every minute with updates. Even if we turn off the television, we seem to still stay updated through other means. And those things steal our time away from whatever it is that we wish we spent more time on. Family time is rare in many homes and time for self-reflection for some people only happens in the bathroom. What's a person to do to get more time?
"The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of 60 minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is."
--- C.S. Lewis
We can't manufacture more time, but there are some things we can do to help carve out time for things that are important to us. Here are three keys that might help release some time to be used in other areas of our lives:
"My favorite things in life don't cost any money. It's really clear that the most precious resource we all have is time."
--- Steve Jobs
First, stop multitasking. Although that may seem like a good way to save time, organizational science is now proving that it doesn't work. It makes sense that if we take care of a bunch of things at one time, we can do what we want to do with the leftover time. But new research has found that instead, if we focus on only one task, and do that very well until completed, we are likely to be more successful in our business and personal lives.
By doing one thing at a time and staying completely focused until we're done, we receive greater satisfaction and are more likely to have greater confidence to tackle the next task on the list. The theory is that we then complete more in a day than if we tried to multitask things, we will end up with more time at the end of the day.
"If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you'll never get it done."
--- Bruce Lee
Second, post on your desk or in your car or on your mirror these three words: Do It Now! We all can pick up poor procrastination habits that over time will delay our successes. Instead of suffering from paralysis by analysis, force yourself to get started on a project. Once you do, those things you were trying to figure out or get perfect before you started will iron themselves out.
"How did it get so late so soon? It's night before its afternoon. December is here before it's June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?"
--- Dr. Seuss
Finally, don't complain about a lack of time. We all have the same amount of time in a day. Instead, trick your mind into believing you have all the time in the world. To do that, take a day off. Seriously, regardless of how full your day is, take it off and do something fun and relaxing. It's weird, and amazing at the same time, how that simple act will shed light on how much time you really have. Make it happen. Steal that time.
Take it Off...Vinyl that is
By Dennis Lasik
Right now there are multiple opportunities to create a tremendous cash stream. The question is, "Which companies will recognize the opportunities, respond to them, and thrive?"
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Seen somewhere in Wisconsin:
"Burns Funeral Home: Crematory"
Sign seen outside of a convenient store in Frankfurt, KT:
"Slightly Used Toilet Paper for Sale (in good condition)"
A sign held by a homeless man in Times Square, NY:
"Why lie? I need a beer!"
We need those funny signs you have seen in your travels, come on, we know they are out there. Send them to us at: sean@signindustry.com.