I have spent time writing about ways to make the most of your time, and therefore it makes sense to focus this post on ways that can waste your time.
If you can clearly see where you are wasting your time, you can actually do something about it – rather than just carry on as you are and wonder where the days go.
Here are my Top 12 time wasters, I have known myself to lose hours to most of them, and its a weekly struggle to keep on track and try and avoid these pitfalls usingthe ideas I have talked about below – but I’m only human……..
I have really lost count of the number of hours I spend (yes, still now if I don’t watch myself!) trying to work out what would be best to do with that day, how to make the most of my time etc… – only to find that the day has passed and I’ve still got nothing done.
SO FRUSTRATING!
Your diary really should be your best friend when it comes to managing your time. I really get the most out of my day now that I use mine religiously.
Add in any unmovable appointments along with travel and prep time for each, then add in any errands or jobs you have to do that day. In any spare time you have you can then look at your TO DO list and work out the top priority for that day, and add it in.
If you do this simple task each evening ready for the following day then you should know exacly what you need to do and when.
These should all come with a warning – once you have signed into facebook, twitter, linkedin, your email, etc… then time will pass by double quick.
People often say to me that they hadn’t realised how long they spent on these things until they were asked to time how much of a day they spent on it – and most were horrified!
This is a YouTube video that has some amazing stats about social media – it really does blow your mind at how much its taking over – but is also a warning abot how much time you can spend daily on it!
Its impossible to not spend time on social media and email nowadays, but its important not to let it take over.
Spending a set time 2 or three times a day works best – usually first thing in the morning, at lunchtime, and last thing at night. Its also worth remembering that everyone can wait – and a few hours won’t hurt!
Your goals are what you will look back on and feel a sense of pride in if you have achieved them, but feel deflated it not. Therefore it makes sense that anything that takes you directly away from your goals are wasting your time.
Things such as hobbies that you don’t really enjoy anymore, groups that you area member of that have a lot of time comittment but don’t relate to your goals, friends who make you feel low when you are with them, and workingall the hours you have in a dead end job when you would rather start your own business.
Really look at how you spend your time, and what proportion of what you do is helping your towards your goals in life. You may be surprised at the results.
With those things that you really should drop, get out of them confidently and learn to say NO more to things that don’t help you.
There will of course be some things that you can’t avoid in life – but if you can manage things better then you will have more time to get to where you want to be in life, and ultimately this will make you happier.
I have clarified in the title that its not just TV thats a time waster. On the contrary there are some TV programmes that can be useful, relaxing, and entertaining.
What I am talking about is watching things just for the sake of it, flicking through the endless channels available and not really watching much of anything – or simply the hait of watching TV every night and not doing something else that would make you happier. All of the above are a complete waste of time.
One very easy way to do this is to invest in something like Sky Plus or a Virgin Media box. You can record programmes and series and watch them when you want to and not be dictated to by the schedule.
Another big bonus is that you can fast forward through the breaks, and you can watch more of what you want to watch at a time that suits you.
The other option is of course to simply limit how much TV you allow yourself each day, and see how much more you get done!
My biggest gripe of all are phones. They are about the only thing in this world that ring out and expect you answer it there and then, dropping whatever else you are doing, and sometimes waking you – often for no good reason other than someone trying to sell you something.
I simply have answer phones on my mobile and my landline – and only answer if I know who is calling, and I genuinely have the time – which is rare. Instead they will always leave a message, and I can get back to them when its a more suitable time.
This sounds quite cold, but I have been amazed at how much more productive I am. I run a business from home and am often called throughout the day by sales people, who are sometimes difficult to shake! Actual customers tend to email rather than phone, and those that do phone always leave a message as they assume I am busy with another client – so it does nobody any harm – and it does me a lot of good as I can focus on my work and then make calls at the end of the day when I am ready and in that mode.
Doorbells, children, friends, family, deliveries, phone calls, emails, etc… can all eat into your day and before you know it you haven’t got anything done AGAIN.
Now I’m not saying that you should ignore your children (unless its a tantrum of course!), and I am not saying your can avoid interruptions altogether (emergencies will crop up that need your undivided attention) – but you should be able to limit them as much as possible so you get what you need to done.
Try and keep yourself behind closed doors when you have work to do at home, and get someone to look after the children (can you get your partner to share childcare in the evenings for example).
What about doing your important tasks at times of the day when you are less likely to be interrupted?
Also, if you really can’t avoid interruptions, know this and schedule in time for them in your day – which means you won’t get so stressed and should hopefully still be able to get everything done that you wanted.
Have you ever been getting ready for an event and realised that you or your partner haven’t sorted a present/card/babysitter/taxi etc…? Lack of planning not only wastes time, but can really stress you out.
Simply getting more organised will help you stay on top of planning. Knowing where you are going and how to get there, knowing that you have the right clothing, whether you need to have a present etc…. – all these things take a lot less time when done on the right day along with everything else – rather than at the last minute in a rush
Keys are the most common thing that are lost in peoples homes – taking forever to find, and usually when you need to be out of the door and on your way somewhere.
Whether it be your wallet, an important letter, chequebook or a price of jewellery – its so frustrating and stressful when it can’t be found.
A place for everything and everything in its place
This can’t be said enough when you are organising yourself and your home. If you and all your family members are aware of where to put things, and then create new habits that ensure that they are put back each and every time they are used, then you WILL eliminate this time waster once and for all.
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