You Can't Manage Time – So Manage Your Focus

 When it comes to improving your level of productivity in your business or at your job, time management is crucial. More important is how you focus your energy by setting policies, boundaries, reminders and safe guards.  

Finding Your Focus

Become more aware by taking an inventory of the activities you are doing day-to-day to become clear on where your time is spent.What are the activities that only you can do that create the most impact? What can you delegate?  Do a brainstorm and write down the answers these 5 questions to sort it out.

1) What activities do you do on a daily/weekly basis?

Brainstorm a list of absolutely everything you do from day-to-day.  From organizing the house, taking care of your family and pets, and paying bills to managing your email inbox and social media sites, scheduling appointments, and doing the work that's at the core of your business.  Write down every little task and to-do.  I think you'll be surprised to find that you do a lot more than you thought!

2) What are the activities only you can do? 

Just about anything can be delegated or outsourced, but what are the things that you must do?  For instance, this might include things like personal interactions and connections, relationship building with customers, clients or affiliates, or something else related to your business or job that nobody else can do.  Identify these things.

3) What activities create the greatest impact for you?

These are the activities that when you focus your time here, you notice a significant impact.  You can clearly see progress in your business or forward motion toward your goals when you complete these tasks.

4) What can you eliminate or delegate?

What activities on your list can someone else do for you?  Whether it's getting your family to help with household chores, paying someone to do the laundry, or hiring a virtual assistant a few hours a week, what things can you take off your plate?  It doesn't have to be all at once – you can do it in small steps!

5) How can you better manage your focus?

Where are you spending too much unnecessary time, or what distractions could you eliminate that keep you from getting to the most important and impactful stuff?  Also, think about safe guards you can put in place to make sure you stay focused and on task.

A coaching program may be a wise choice to sustain progress and make you accountable for you new behavior patterns to keep you in charge of you life. 

Edie Raether is an international speaker, corporate trainer and a bestselling author with over seven books in numerous languages. Visit Edie at www.raether.com or contact her at edie@raether.com or (704) 658-8997.