Staying Focussed and Managing Time... There is a solution!

Sometimes it can feel like there are not enough minutes, hours and seconds in the day.   There are 86,400 seconds in a 24 hour day, 8760 hours in a year. No matter how you slice it, we have the same amount of time available every day.

Have you had those days where it feels like you have moved the piles of paper far too many times, or maybe you have 10 electronic documents open, but none completed?  It might be time to shift gears in terms of how yo manage your time, energy and actions.

86400 seconds

Here are some tips that I have found help keep me focused, productive, creative, and high energy:

1. Use a timer. I love my iPhone because I use the timer, stop watch and alarm frequently throughout the day.  Just for fun (actually just for a reality check), I recorded every activity I did during the day from returning calls, to email, to doing dishes, marketing tasks, going for a walk with the dog, preparing presentations and working on a new book.  This gave me great insight to where I spend my time, what tasks I may be able to delegate (or drop), and how long tasks take.  I time my activities. For example, working on this blog I set my iPhone for 15 minutes. It's amazing what you can accomplish when you are timing yourself. 
2. Pick your Big Three. I use a red file folder or Big 3 list... these are the three things that must (did I say MUST) be done by the end of the day. Do these first, early in the day so you free up your energy for other tasks.
3. Have a GREAT IDEA file. Many times people get sidetracked by new ideas, creative bursts something new... this is when the skill of discernment comes into play.  Ask your self questions like.... Is this a must do or would be nice to do project?  Does it need to be done now? Then if the answer is no, put it in your Great Idea file, which you look at once per week.
4. Forgive mistakes. We can sure zap alot of time by being wrapped up in the drama of mistakes.  Blaming ourselves. Then sharing the story with others. Blaming self some more. Playing it over in your head. When I used to teach stress management to children and teenagers (a life time ago in another career), we used an exercise called the Worry Jar and Worry Time. The key was to provide yourself with a worry time (not before bed, and no longer than 10 minutes). During that scheduled time, you could worry but after the timer went off, it was time to stop and forgive and move on. Or, put the worry in the worry jar.  This has served me well as an adult, and funny thing is, there is nothing to worry about at the scheduled time, so I freed up 10 minutes to do something fun, relaxing or helpful.

 I encourage you to choose one of the four ideas and try it for one week.  Let me know how it works.  Add your comments and best strategies to the comment section so that we can all learn from one another.

Until next time, let's make it a great day!

In my book GPS Your Best Life, Co-authored with Debra Kasowski, we offer a number of strategies to create work life harmony.  You can find it here:

Just for the record, I stil have 1 minute 26 seconds left on the timer.  Whoot Hoot!

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Organize your office, your home, your life!

Have you ever found that when your desk or workspace looks busy or overwhelming, you feel busy or overwhelmed? 



Sharon McRill has a three step road map to help reduce clutter and increase organization and efficiency. Recently I interviewed Sharon on my radio show Conversations with Charmaine, you can listen here:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/charmainehammond/2012/07/18/guests-sharon-mcrill-and-christy-whitman

Sharon's three step process is called the HOT, MEDIUM, COLD system, a system to organize your tasks, paperwork and desk:

• HOT- all tasks or responsibilities that are urgent and must be done in the next 24 hours. Place these on the left side of your desk.
• MEDIUM- tasks and responsibilities that are important but not urgent, can be done sometime in the next week.
• COLD- your wish list or rainy day pile. Schedule time once a week to work on these tasks.

Begin with the end vision in mind...how do you want your office space, your desk to look and then create the road map to organization using the above three step process. Where else could you apply this strategy at work or at home?

Sharon McRill is founder and president of The Betty Brigade, an expanding personal assistance and concierge company based in Ann Arbor, MI. The Betty Brigade helps busy professionals with moving, home staging, organizing, event planning, pet care, errands – virtually anything clients need done but have no time to do themselves. Laid off from a corporate marketing job in 2003, McRill turned joblessness into an opportunity in the midst of an ailing economy. As a busy professional herself, she’d fantasized about having a personal assistant. Thus was born the business concept, which grew into “The Betty Brigade.” http://www.bettybrigade.com/

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/charmainehammond/2012/07/18/guests-sharon-mcrill-and-christy-whitman

Wow! Where did the day go?

How many times have you said that…. “where did the day go/”

Carrie Greene joined me on the Conversation with Charmaine show to talk about how leaders, business owners, team members and entrepreneurs can get a handle on the systems and structures to get focused, and step into action.

Systems are not just for filing or scheduling time, a system, explained Carrie is for any action or function that you do regularly, and each system or process actually begins with a decision. Once you have made the decision (e.g. something is a priority) then you can create the actions needed or the rules to follow. Systems help you accomplish your goals. Carrie wrote a phenomenal book called Chaos to Cash, and in this practical easy to read book, you will find many tips, strategies and questions to help you cut through the confusion and procrastination that gets in the way of success.

Carrie talked about the importance of getting back to ready- always being prepared for whatever might come up, and, always complete what you have started, otherwise things become extremely overwhelming.

You can hear Carrie talk about this in more detail on the recording of our discussion:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/charmainehammond/2012/05/09/guests-april-morris-and-carrie-greene


To minimize disorganization, chaos and procrastination, ask a few questions….

If I do this, what won’t I be able to do?

If I do this, what can I do instead?

What REALLY needs to be done here?


Carrie Greene Bio:

Carrie Greene is a speaker, trainer, coach and author of the book Chaos to Cash: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Eliminating Chaos, Overwhelm and Procrastination So you Create Ultimate Profit. Carrie is a master at cutting through the confusion and chaos that surrounds business owners so that they can stop procrastinating, take action, get more clients and make more money. Carrie can help you create the systems and structures you need to help you get focused, make decisions, set your priorities and most importantly carry through so that you can get your message to the world and have a successful and profitable business. http://chaostocashbook.com/ and http://carriethru.com/