TIME COVER MANAGEMENT FEATURE

BY

GARY KELLER

and we all need to be intentional about how we spend it . It ’ s too easy with all the devices , social media and constant streams of information to fall victim to time-wasting traps that prevent us from accomplishing our most important work .

If you ’ re not a natural time management pro , don ’ t worry . Time management is a learned skill , not a born talent . Here are three easy ways you can identify or manage the worst time-wasters in your life and win back precious time throughout your day .

1 . PLAN AND PRIORITIZE .

When you know you ’ ve got a busy day ( or week ) ahead of you , it ’ s important to have a clear plan for what you need to achieve . Not only does a plan keep you focused and on track , but getting it all down on paper can remove the sense of being overwhelmed or not knowing where to start . This is why we recommend time-blocking , and using your 66-Day Calendar to map the most important things to focus on .

On Friday afternoons or Sundays , sit down and think about your big goals for this year . What do you want to achieve , both personally and professionally ? With those longer-term goals in mind , you can work backwards to figure out what you need to do this month to get there , and then what you need to do in the next week . Once you ’ ve identified the three ‘ Big Rocks ’ for the week ahead , you can plan out your schedule ( and you can use this system to develop a routine that will work for your specific situation ).

2 . WORKING ? WORK . RESTING ? REST .

It happens to the best of us : we ’ re in the middle of a scheduled work block , and then , barely even registering that we ’ re doing it , we click open a new tab to check in on Facebook or email . We open the news , Twitter or forums that we like , compulsively refreshing them — and losing our focus on the work we were doing .

Once you ’ ve identified the traps you usually fall into , you can take preventative measures to keep yourself out of them .

Put your phone away during work hours so you ’ re not tempted to check it and utilize programs like Cold Turkey that will block distracting websites from your computer for as long as you need to get work done . Build your Bunker , collecting everything you will need ( snacks , water , work resources ) to stick at your scheduled task as long as you need to .

That ’ s not to say that you shouldn ’ t take breaks . You definitely should — breaks are critically important to our long-term productivity . The longer you work on something , the less mental resources you have to give it .

Entrepreneur Magazine ’ s The Secret to Increased Productivity : Taking Time Off , notes that “ one study found that mental fatigue takes hold after three hours of continuous time on-task ; other scientists say brains need a break after 90 minutes , the length of the “ basic rest-activity cycle .” You can also use systems like the Pomodoro Method , in which you take a short break after 25-30 minute work intervals .

Just make sure that your breaks are scheduled and intentional , rather than distractions .