How to Get More Done with the Time You've Got  Last issue, we talked about how challenging it can be to set up a successful online business when you're already working a full-time job.
... There's so much to be done, and so little time to do it in.
This week, we'd like to share our favorite strategies for dealing with this common obstacle to success... we hope they help you out!
Our Top 5 Time-Saving Tips1. Organize your work space -- offline and on
How much time do you waste every day trying to find a pen or a notebook or that site with all the great information you were reading just yesterday?
You'll be much more efficient if you take a day to organize your work space and make sure you know where everything is.
This is as true of your online resources as it is of the things you have on your desk. Take a moment to create a few bookmark folders under the "Bookmarks" tab in your browser. Name these folders according to subject (e.g., Niche Market Research, Website Building, SEO.) Then every time you find a site that offers valuable information, save it in the appropriate folder.
That way, you'll never have to waste valuable time trying to find it again.
2. Eliminate distractions
When you sit down for a serious work session, make sure there's nothing that will divert your attention from the task at hand. Shut down your email program so you aren't distracted by any new messages that arrive in your inbox.
Also be sure to close your Internet browser so you aren't tempted to take any web surfing breaks. You may think you're "only going to spend a minute" checking out the latest developments on your favorite website, but those minutes add up all too quickly.
3. Break down large jobs into manageable chunks
When you've only got 30 minutes to spare at any given time, how can you accomplish a chore that's going to take days to complete?
Simple -- by taking it one small step at a time.
Instead of being overwhelmed by a big job, break it down into smaller, more easily manageable chunks. You'll be surprised at how much you can accomplish in 30 minutes if you just sit down and DO it.
4. Set yourself "unbreakable" daily goals
When the events of your day are crowding in on you, it's all too easy to look at the work you wanted to do on your online business and say, "Oh, I'll do it tomorrow."
Don't give in to that temptation!
Let's be realistic -- tomorrow is also going to be a busy day, and te best time to get something done is NOW.
Create a work schedule that identifies a clear and achievable task for you to do every day. Then do what you must to make sure you complete each daily task on your list -- don't go to bed until it's done.
5. "Reward" yourself for each task you accomplish
As you cross each task off your list, reward yourself with something fun -- maybe five minutes to check your email or 10 minutes of surfing your favorite website. Just make sure you set a timer so you don't lose track of time. Hopelessly disorganized? Turn to an expert for help Right now, you're probably thinking one of two things:
1. Yes! Those are awesome tips and are just what I need to streamline my work time and get more done each day
2. Nope! Not so helpful -- I'm still feeling overwhelmed. How can I break these huge tasks into "manageable chunks" when I'm not even sure what they are???
If you fall into the second group, here's good news...
... This month's issue of StartUp features a one-hour audio interview with Brian Tracy -- one of the world's most successful time management experts.
Brian Tracy is a best-selling author of more than 15 books and has appeared on CNN and the Today Show and has been featured in Time, Newsweek, and The Wall Street Journal.
The number of mega-millionaires who credit him as the driving force behind their success runs into the double digits -- and of the hundreds of people who have attended his time management workshops, he boasts that an incredible 99 percent have doubled their income and their vacation time within a year or less.
In this one-hour interview, Brian shares some of his most effective life management techniques and explains exactly how to make them work for you.
... So if you feel like you're currently floundering because there's so much to do and you don't know where to start, then this interview could be the lifeline you've been looking for.
If you're already a StartUp subscriber, make sure you have a pen and paper in hand when you listen to this interview -- you won't want to miss a single strategy!
If you're not yet a subscriber, you can get instant access to this interview if you click here now.
|
