How much time have you wasted learning how to manage your time?
If you’re anything like me, you have probably attended countless time management seminars over your career…. but here is the thing…
I believe they are a waste of time!
I say this because in my experience I have discovered that time is not what most people think it is… so most people go about “managing” it ineffectively.
In fact, I have learned that time management is actually an oxymoron – is that blasphemous???
Given the number of very intelligent and educated people who have made a living from researching and teaching their time management techniques, how dare I say that time management is an oxymoron.
So please, let me explain….
Time is the one great leveler for every human being…
It does not discriminate
It does not bend to our will
It cannot be manipulated (yet!)
…and once it is gone you can’t get it back!
Given these traits, time cannot be “managed” like you might manage an unruly child or a difficult employee.
I would assert that time is our most valuable resource, but you can’t save it… you can’t spend it…you can’t mine it… you can’t get more than your competitor… the only thing you CAN do is use it as wisely as you possibly can!
All you can do is ensure that every second of every minute of every hour of the day is used consciously and with intention and doesn’t pass you by unconsciously.
This is my key to productivity. And of course productivity is key to high performance!
So what are a few of the strategies I apply to use my time wisely and ultimately be productive?
One word: FOCUS
I’m constantly finding ways to improve my focus, including having the willpower to stay on task (yes ladies, the men are right – multi tasking is a fallacy… we may be able to do two things simultaneously better than our male counterparts, but NOTHING beats singular consciously directed focus!!!)
I’ve found one of the best ways to keep myself on track is asking myself the focusing question:
“What’s the ONE thing I can do right now, such that by doing it, everything else will be easier or unnecessary?”
(From ‘The ONE Thing’ by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan.)
Sometimes the answer to that question is have some ME time… like getting a massage! 🙂
Of course I don’t always find staying on track easy and it continues to be a work in progress. But because I know that productivity is one of the most important keys to high performance I continue to work on it!*
* High Performance is the result of heightened and sustained levels of: clarity, energy, courage, productivity and influence. www.highperformanceinstitute.com
Are you happy with your levels of focus and productivity each day? Are you using your most valuable resource – time, wisely? What distracts you the most? Do you have any habits that move you towards your goals every day or week that are really working?
Take the High Performance Quiz to find out more.
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