In this fast and crazy world, we want to multi-task at every given moment. After all, how else can we accomplish all that needs to be done in only 24 hours? We've been taught that if we reach all of our goals in a day, week, month, or year, we are successful. What we haven't been taught when achieving goals is that quality counts and so does the amount of effort exerted.
Our tendency is to set many goals especially at work for any given day or week, and then we feel discouraged or disappointed when we don't achieve all of them. In fact, we usually have to carry them over to the next day or the next week. The first step in feeling a sense of accomplishment and completion is to set only 3 goals for a day, for a week, for a month that HAVE to be accomplished. Why only 3? In an average day, we can't anticipate all of the other things that will snag our attention. We get called into a meeting, we get a time-consuming phone call, we get a request that requires some searching, we notice an article of interest that we want to read, etc. If we don't allow for these other time-consuming things, then we're not being realistic about what we can accomplish in a day. Same goes for a month ? unexpected family situations, travel, illness, new projects, etc.
So, how do we accomplish 3 goals in a day and accomplish them well with little effort? It's better known as focus and undivided attention. The keyword is undivided ? our attention remains TOTALLY on the task at hand. The distractions, the pulls, the unimportant but more interesting, don't take us away from what needs to be done at that moment. If you attend to the task in front of you and don't allow the distractions to interfere, you will notice how effortlessly the task is accomplished. Even if it's something you have been putting off and dreading ? just simply setting aside the time and concentrating on it, will result in one less thing on your plate. Ironically, the more attention you give it and the more focused you are on the task at hand, the less you will feel any effort in its completion. If you allow any of the distractions to interfere and you believe you are multi-tasking, what you are really doing is flitting between many different things and not giving any one thing your undivided attention. The result: a little of this and a little of that gets done with mediocre quality and it feels as though a lot of effort is needed.
Invitation to Experiment: Set 3 or more goals for any given day, for a week, for a month of which 3 HAVE to be accomplished. That may mean letting the answering machine pick up, turning off the cell phone and Instant Messaging, going to another desk or conference room. Totally focus your attention on one thing at a time and notice how they are accomplished ? and see if it feels any different than it usually does.
Marion Franklin - is a Professional Certified Life Coach who coaches individuals and groups regarding personal and professional change, focus, human relations, and conflict management. Marion has coached managers at major corporations including PepsiCo, Toys'R'Us, and Reader's Digest. She conducts and help clients design workshops and presentations, has been a featured presenter at meetings, retreats, and an ongoing Women's Workshop Series, has been cited in The Journal News and The Wall Street Journal, and has appeared on local Cable Television. http://www.lifecoachinggroup.com
recurring maid service Buffalo Grove ..The concept of Mercury Retrograde is very well known even... Read More
A simple kitchen gadget is transforming my life. I don't... Read More
One of the tried and true organization and time-management tools... Read More
Hey - Did someone press the FFW button?Have you ever... Read More
It is not enough if you are busy. The question... Read More
I have worked with so many people over the years... Read More
We are constantly inundated with routine (often boring!) tasks around... Read More
We live in a world where more is expected of... Read More
"You will never find time for anything. You must make... Read More
How many times have you remarked to someone that there... Read More
Show me, O Lord, my life's end and the number... Read More
How you spend the first sixty minutes of your day... Read More
Recently I saw an advertisement for a time management booklet:... Read More
What are the most important things you should accomplish today?... Read More
* spreading yourself too thinTaking on too many things at... Read More
Handle small emergencies fast: When a small emergency does pop... Read More
In this digital age, the importance of being able to... Read More
Most people want to start a home-based business to make... Read More
Time - it is the one thing that we are... Read More
How can you get an extra hour out of each... Read More
In working with and coaching people across the country, one... Read More
Do you wish you could work less and play more?... Read More
As a professional organizer, consultant and trainer, I have come... Read More
This is one more article on "Organizing and Enjoying Your... Read More
When a good friend asked me to contribute a little... Read More
premium house cleaning Glenview ..It's been said, "That no one has enough time yet,... Read More
Are you a worrier? Do you frequently spend time and... Read More
Yesterday, I'd just gotten comfortable at my favorite table in... Read More
If you're like most people, you want to get better... Read More
OK...let's assume that you're truly motivated to change. Great. But... Read More
Once you have completed your day you can boost your... Read More
If you have spent any time at all working at... Read More
Fitting an education into a busy lifestyleMany people have aspirations... Read More
Microsoft wanted to know how individuals around the world were... Read More
"It's just been one of those days?I can't seem to... Read More
TIME MANAGEMENTWith the creation of the universe, God gave humankind... Read More
All too often we can feel overwhelmed by the amount... Read More
One of the most challenging situations people face when planning... Read More
I am an ordinary man - A middle class high... Read More
Time is wealth;Time is health; Time is power; Time is... Read More
Work life balance is the new Holy Grail; that search... Read More
Why waste your precious time working on tasks, which are... Read More
If you can motivate yourself at will to get any... Read More
"Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces up, snow... Read More
Where does your time go? We all know we are... Read More
I give presentations on organizational skill building as it relates... Read More
Friends, colleagues, and clients are all telling me that one... Read More
If you are like most moms I know you think... Read More
When trying to achieve a quality education, everybody knows that... Read More
Years ago when I started in this business, it seemed... Read More
Time Management |