(Cont'd)

And how do we know if we truly are effective time managers?  Managing our time effectively is really a reflection of how well we are achieving our goals and dreams.  So determining our goals and dreams in all aspect of our lives is a significant prerequisite to managing our time.  Once we have identified specific, measurable and realistic goals - for work and for our personal lives, we need to constantly take steps to use all the time at our disposal to achieve these goals.  The fact is that each goal that we have can be broken down into specific action plans and each action listed in an action plan can be further broken down into another action plan.  At the end, our daily activities - how we want to use our time - should include as much as possible, items from our action plans since these are directly related to the achievement of our identified goals. 

How We Are Currently Using Our Time

Although we may know how we want to use our time, we still need to determine whether we are being efficient in the way we are using that time.  That's why the introspection as a second step is very important.  In order to take corrective actions - we need to know our strengths and weaknesses when it comes to managing our time.  What are some of things we are doing well and what are some of the things we do which lead to time wastage? Are there tasks that we can complete more effectively by using technology?  Are there things we are involved with that could be delegated to others?  Are others delegating to us inappropriately? Are we trying to be too much of a perfectionist for some tasks or projects that do not require that level of perfectionism?  Are our daily actions truly aligned to our goals and objectives?  Are there some habits we need to change?  These are the questions that we really need to answer by taking a ruthless inventory of "how we are currently using our time." 

Developing New Habits and New Skills to Better Manage Our Time

Once we have determined what we do well and the changes we need to make, it's time to develop the new habits that will enhance our abilities to manage our time more effectively.  Learning to say "no", learning to better prioritize, learning to delegate, being better organized, reducing wasteful time habits like talking on the telephone too much or procrastinating, securing the cooperation of others, managing our meetings and our telephone calls more effectively and using technology productively are all important factors that can help us in our endeavor to become better time managers.  Developing these skills and habits will require at the beginning both discipline and determination but the payoffs are fantastic - the realization of our goals and our dreams.

It is also very important to take time daily to really calm ourselves. One tool that is available to us, among others, is The Managing My Life Deep Relaxation Exercises.  When used first thing in the morning and at night to go sleep to, these Deep Relaxation Exercises can really be very helpful.  They have the effect of helping us become more calm, more centered and more concentrated when completing our tasks during the day.  They can also help us achieve a deeper and more restful sleep so that we feel more energetic throughout the day.

If you would like to know how you could improve your utilization of this scarce resource, this precious commodity called time, click here OR FOR TEXT VERSION www.emeraldharvest.com/mml-managing_time.html