Today I want to pass along to you some of the best Time Management tips that I have gathered over the years that have helped me be more productive in life. As I like to keep these posts to a readable size, I am going to break down my Top 4 List into two different posts. Here are the top 2 items for today.
#1 – Hanging Folders (aka Tickler Files)
“SAY WHAT, Scott? Is this still 1985?” Well, I don’t think so, but it really does not matter. You see, when you discover something that works for you, there is no reason to change it. The challenge with technology is that sometimes, in an effort to “save time” or to “keep up with the times”, we leave behind something that worked very well. My experience has shown that using an actual physical system of organizing the flow of tasks to be accomplished pays off in spades.
What I learned to do years ago is still what l do in my home office. I took 32 hanging folders, and hung them in a desk drawer. 31 of them are labeled with the numbers 1 through 31, representing that day of the month. The other one includes 12 file folders that are labeled January through December. By putting items that are to be handled in a specific day’s (or month’s) folder, never again will you fail to pay a bill on time, miss sending a birthday or anniversary card, or let your driver’s license expire accidentally..
I especially love taking something that I do quarterly, and making reminders that I place in four monthly folders, so that I do not forget to do a task. In my case, that would include something like paying Sales Taxes. I put reminders in the January, April, July and October folders. Then, on the first day of the month, I pull out that month’s folder, and put each item into a specific day’s folder to do that task on that day.
#2 – Daily Planner
Remember that if you are not controlling your time by using a planner or calendar, someone else will control your time. I have discovered in my life that a task will take as much time to do as I allow. In other words, if I fail to put an item in my planner – thinking that I will remember to do it without writing it down – either I forget to do it, or I get it done at the last minute. By planning exactly when I am going to do the task, I control my time, and I am much more productive as a result.
Two other tips about planners. First, make sure to Prioritize your daily tasks. “Take out the trash” and “Plan a date with my wife” really do have different priorities, guys! (If you don’t think so, don’t worry about it. You will have plenty of time to take out the trash after your wife leaves you!)
The other tip about using a planner may sound a bit radical. Only use it if you want to be the most productive person you can be. Here you go: be Accountable to someone else for your results. In other words, have a person in your life who will regularly ask you if you are making a daily prioritized list of actions, and whether or not you are doing your tasks in the prioritized order. It is so easy to kid yourself by checking off a lot of items on your list day after day, only to realize later that the items you did really got you nowhere. This is a great time to give you my favorite quote of all time:
“Our greatest fear should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.” – Francis Chan, “Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God“
Be on point, on purpose, and on time. You can do it. I believe in you!
