Learning Time Management – Five Steps to (Greatly) Increase Your Skills
by www.Sedona.com When’s the last time you had an entirely free weekend? How about a two-week vacation? Can’t remember? It’s likely because – be honest – you’re working the equivalent of several full-time jobs as you go to your paying job, raise children, tend to your spouse, care for your aging parents, manage your household and juggle any other number of daily tasks. If just thinking about your to-do list for tomorrow (Don’t have one? Keep reading to find out why you should) is enough to make you want to crawl under your bed sheets and hide, then you must devote some serious attention to learning time management skills. Don’t worry, it’s simple. Take a look through the steps below and by the time you get to the bottom, you’ll be armed with the information you need to make the most of your day … and still have some time to relax. 1. Stop rushing. This is the number one thing you can do to use your time to your best advantage, according to Hale Dwoskin, CEO and director of training of Sedona Training Associates. “We live in a very fast-paced world. We are constantly running past the moment and missing what is actually here now. If you allow yourself to slow down and notice what is here now, your sense of time expands and you get more done,” he says. 2. Create a to-do list. You’d be amazed how much time you can waste just trying to remember what you need to get done. In the late afternoon or early evening (such as before you leave the office for the day), create a to-do list for the next day. This way, your obligations are down on paper, not racing through your mind, and, come tomorrow, you’ll have a clear plan for what you want to accomplish. 3. Believe you have enough time. “Approach each task as though you have all the time in the world. If you approach the task from a feeling of scarcity about time that is what you will manifest, and that is what you will experience,” Dwoskin says. “If you know you have enough time you can still get things done quickly, but you will do it more effectively and with a lot less stress.” If you’re having trouble believing that you have enough time, learn to let go of the underlying feelings of anxiety, fear and more with The Sedona Method. When you let go of these negative thoughts, you will be able to accomplish your tasks in a calm, but very productive, way. In fact, you can use The Sedona Method to improve your time management skills and much more!
4. Say “no” sometimes. If you look back over the past week, how much time did you spend doing tasks for other people? For most of us, it’s a lot. Now, helping others should definitely be a priority in your life, just not to the point where your personal sanity is suffering. Learning to say “no” (to your church bake sale, your mother-in-law’s suggestion to start a neighborhood book club, your mammoth scrapbook project) is essential to learning effective time management. 5. Set aside some “play” time. Even though we’re “adults,” we still need time to play – everyday. In your to-do list, be sure to schedule in some fun time for yourself, such as lounging in the tub, calling a friend or taking a yoga class. Embrace your playtime and let everyone know that it’s non-negotiable!
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