You know what I hate? Time wasters.
You’d think since I don’t have to be anywhere at any given moment (unless I am subbing that day) that I’d love wasting time. I don’t. I loathe it. I like to get going and get stuff accomplished before the day gets away. Not to be confused with hopping up at the crack of dawn. I don’t like early mornings. 8 am-ish is my prime time, it’s when I can focus on the things that need my attention….AHEM! COFFEE!
What I’m trying to say is that my time is important to me. If you are wasting it for me, I get frustrated. I get all out of whack. If you are wasting my time – clearly, you are wasting YOUR OWN TIME!
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Procrastination is the worst kind of time wasting.
I’ve done my own fair share of procrastinating. It’s a shame. Time is so fleeting, yet…I have dawdled away hours even days that I wish I could get back. Time doesn’t wait around for me to get motivated. That’s why I cherish my mornings to get my mojo rolling.
I’m convinced that every person can manage their time with a little bit of discipline and determination. How?
1 – Get organized.
Clean up after yourself by putting things away. Organize important items with shelving & tubs/baskets. Throw out or donate clutter. Only keep things that you absolutely need. Too much stuff or clutter is stifling and slows down progress. No matter what task you are trying to tackle.
2 – Stick to a schedule.
Go to bed and get up at a decent hour. Every day. Staying up too late automatically puts a slower morning into place for the next day. Placing a boundary on wasted time at night helps the early morning NOT feel so horrible. Plus, sleep has wonderful health benefits. Getting at least 8 hours sharpens the brain, recharges the body and boosts energy. Sleep also protects us from sickness.
3 – Make lists.
Not just write down your to do’s but stick to them. Check off the items that you’ve accomplished and move on to the next. Lists are a great organization tool. They show us exactly what our goals are and what we need to get done in a day. Crossing off to do’s feels great. Try it.
4 – Plan.
Making a plan is a lot like writing a list. A plan gives you a map. The list gives you direct orders. Together they pave the way to a successful location. Set yourself up with both and you will have plenty of time to do things you want to do. Like, loafing.
5 – Focus.
If you don’t stay focused on the important things to do, you will not get them done. Ever. Successful people do not live their lives willy-nilly. They are intentional, focused on the goal. If it’s a job, do it. If it’s a project, do it. Don’t drag stuff out. More than likely, nothing will ever get completed. Half-done jobs or projects are a sure sign that time wasting is your downfall. F O C U S !
6 – AVOID.
The greatest gift a procrastinator can give him or herself is AVOIDING what distracts you. If it’s social media, stay away. Allow yourself limited time on the internet each day (here’s where discipline comes in again), don’t get sucked into sites that are meaningless mindless time wasters. Avoid the bad habits that set you up for hours of lost time; sleeping too late, not being organized, forgetting important items/meetings/dates/bills, playing on your phone, tv and whatever it is that steals your time.
Remember, if you are wasting your time…..more than likely, you are wasting someone elses as well. Stealing time from others is wrong but stealing time from yourself is just wasteful.
