DAY SIX: MANAGE YOUR TIME EFFECTIVELY

Perhaps the most precious resource that we have is time. Although we may sometimes think that money is more important than the time we spend on acquiring it this is not in fact true. Money is abundant and there is an almost infinite supply of it. Whereas time is something that each of us has in a very limited supply. In order to accomplish what we would like to achieve we must manage our time effectively. Being able to manage your time will allow you to get more done, feel less stressed and free up more spare time for other things that you like to do.

NLP makes a distinction between two types of time –

In time – Where you are in the moment

Through time – Where you step out of time to look at the past, present and future

When you are taking action you want to be in time. But when you want to plan your time it is better to be in through time. It is important to understand that the idea of counting time, through the use of a clock, is an abstraction. It originated in the industrial revolution when it became necessary to keep workers to a strict timetable. NLP can teach you to manipulate time so that you can move from in time to through time. While time manipulation is too large a topic to cover in this eBook I have provided you with some techniques to help you manage your time more effectively.

Firstly you need to plan and prioritise your work. It really is as simple as working out what the most important things are that you need to do. What will move your overall goals forward? And then do those things first. If something is not moving you towards either your short or long term goals then it is not vital that you do it.

Next up, if you want to get things done you need to be enthusiastic about doing them. The way to achieve this is change your attitude. NLP offers a range of different tools to help change your attitude. If you want a quick way to get yourself in a more resourceful state where you can get more done, check out the section on personal development in this book. There you will find a technique to put yourself in a resourceful state so that you can get more done.

You need to focus on the task at hand. Work on only one task at a time. Do not allow yourself to get distracted. If necessary turn off your cell phone and make sure other people do not disturb you. Start working on the first task on your list. Work until you complete this task and then move on to the next task. The secret is to only do one thing at a time and not to think about whatever else may need to be done.

You also need time to recharge. Make sure that you are taking consistent small breaks throughout the day. There is no point in sitting in front a keyboard and monitor for hours on end if you are achieving nothing. Give your mind some time to recharge. Every half an hour get up, make a cup of tea, walk around for five minutes and then return to work. Also make sure that you establish a good work/ life balance.

You need to learn how to delegate. There is simply not enough time to do everything yourself. Think about the tasks that you have to do in a day. Which of these tasks can only be done by you and nobody else? These are the tasks that you should do. If there are other tasks that somebody else could do then get them to do it. Don’t worry about the fact that you could do the task faster than someone else. What is important is whether that task can only be done by you.

Make sure that the work that you are doing is aligned with your values. It is important that you are doing work that is important to you. Getting a lot done will be a lot easier if you are committed to the work.

Think back to times in the past when you have managed your time very effectively. You are the best judge of how to manage your own time. Think about what you did at those times which is different to what you normally do. How was it that you managed to get so much done in such a short space of time?

One of the most important things to understand about time management is the fact that the many of the things we do on a daily basis aren’t that important to moving us towards the place we want to be. Creating an inspiring future and thinking about what exactly you need to achieve to reach it, will help you to prioritise your tasks.