Be the best that YOU can be...

We’ve heard this before, but oftentimes we look around at others “best” to determine what our best should “look” like. We find ourselves comparing our personal best. We hear about accomplishments of our colleagues, friends, peers and even people we don’t know because we have read about them in a newspaper or magazine. While there isn’t anything wrong with keeping up with the productivity of others, comparing it to our personal accomplishments doesn’t help us to grow.  Remember, we only have control over ourselves.

We determine our goals, set our goals, and follow through with them.  These responsibilities are our very own and require work and planning. Personal and professional growth is different for everyone. If you’re experiencing a moment in time which you aren’t growing at a rate which you feel is helping you to move forward, then stop and take a look at the current issues in your life that require special attention.  Make a list of issues that need to be addressed. Create a plan to conquer your stumbling blocks. Consider: Who should you contact, what reading/research materials are available and design your POA.  Be sure to include a timeline and share with someone to ensure accountability. Saying it outloud brings a new dimension to making it happen!

Why put off tomorrow what you can do today?

Most of the time if we keep a tally in our mind or jot down something that needs to be done on a random post-it, but the reality is, if we don’t see it, then it doesn’t exist! If you feel yourself jotting down “to-do’s” and they get pushed off to the next day, next week or possibly sometime in the future, then it’s time to reorganize and prioritize to ensure things aren’t piling up and leaving you feeling overwhelmed.

In an effort to be more productive with our time and not leave all of it until the last minute, it’s helpful to keep a continual list as things pop up in your mind that have to get done. Try to keep a list in one location, so you can see everything. This might be a planner, your smart phone, iPad or tablet. Keep your list in a location, which you can view often.  This will organize all of your tasks and allow you to keep checking off items on your “To do” list.  Your challenge: Commit to this- If something takes 5 minutes or less to do, then do it immediately!

If you are looking at your list, thinking you just don’t know where to begin, then number the tasks according to importance. This will ensure you are getting done what absolutely has to be taken care of and allowing you time to enjoy later. If items of minimal importance, don’t need to be done right away, but you don’t want to forget about them, then keep it at the bottom of the list with a date attached to it to make sure that you don’t miss it.

Most importantly, don’t let it pile up… Stay on top of it each day, and it won’t seem like such a daunting task.

Finding Time Today...

Take a moment to yourself. This might sound like something that is easier said than done!  I find the best time is early in the morning before everyone wakes up or late in the evening when everyone is asleep. 

We all are “looking” for time to catch up on our own personal things that often get swept to the side during the day. Decide if you’re a morning person or a night owl and allow yourself time to tackle tasks without multitasking several other things at the same time. Allow your mind to think and prepare for the upcoming week, day or possibly the next few hours!

I took time this morning to work on wedding planning, pay bills and utilized my time to ensure I will be able to enjoy time with my family after work today.

Make it a great Thursday!

Time management- it can be a tricky thing…

Whether you’re organizing your day for work, home projects or running errands, time management plays a huge role in what can be accomplished throughout the day. 

To start, I recommend breaking up the day up into morning, afternoon and evening time blocks. By creating three blocks of time, it’s more manageable and not an overwhelming “To Do” List. Now designate tasks to specific time blocks.  It’s important to determine what is most crucial to complete. Schedule it at the beginning of the designated block of time to ensure it is completed with enough effort and not rushed through.  As you move throughout the day, be sure to take breaks and allow time to rejuvenate before moving along to the next task.  I also find it helpful to break down the hour and decide at the beginning of each hour how much I want to have finished by the end of the hour.

Time management will vary from day to day depending on what’s on your plate. Be patient!  It may not always go as planned, then know that there is always tomorrow.