I give presentations on organizational skill building as it relates to paper, time, and computer file management. It seems that we all have too much paper, not enough time, and more than enough information stored in our computers if we could just find it!
Part of my job is to help identify the challenges an employee or organization is facing and suggest solutions. Over the course of time I have found that most individuals are simply unaware of the basics of paper and time management. It's not necessary to know all existing time management theories, but it is important to know the basics.
Appointment books and calendars are two tools that help guide you through your activities and commitments. Here are three basic steps you can take to use these tools more effectively.
Select a user-friendly appointment book
The selection of a type of appointment book and calendar is usually a matter of personal preference. Appointment books or planners come in several different formats and vary in size vary from ones that fit in a pocket to ones that fit in a briefcase. If you use electronics to manage your time that's great. If it's not your style, refrain from buying expensive handheld devices. You'll save time and money by being honest with yourself.
Maintain one and only one appointment book
I frequently find clients trying to maintain multiple appointment books or using scraps of paper as their time management tool. The result is double and triple bookings or completely missed appointments. Using one appointment book will cut down on conflicts and create a less-anxious environment. You can store calendars in several places, but maintain only one appointment book.
Take your appointment book with you?always
Most of us rarely leave the house without our keys and wallet. But I find many people who leave their appointment book behind. When this happens, appointments and commitments are made on whatever is available including napkins and a variety of other things that become misplaced or lost. This not only results in a precious loss of time but is unproductive and stressful as well.
Be prepared and less stressed by sticking to these basic tools and steps when building your time management skills.
Copyright 2005 Cynthia Kyriazis. All rights reserved.
Cynthia Kyriazis is an organizing and time management consultant, trainer, speaker, coach and author with over 20 years management experience in multi-unit corporations. Organize it, a division of Productivity Partners, Inc. is an organizational training firm she founded in 1995 and has been serving Fortune 500 clients ever since. Cynthia works with business and their employees to help improve performance and realize productivity gains.
Cynthia has appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Kansas City Star and the Legal Intelligencer. She currently serves as Secretary on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO), member of the National Speakers Association (NSA), member of the Kansas City of the International Society for Performance Improvement ? (ISPI-KC) and consultant to the American Coaching Association.
One question a lot of people ask me recently is:... Read More
It's easy to waste time on things that seem urgent... Read More
There is an old way of goal setting and a... Read More
Let's say that you have a software project that's under... Read More
I would like to touch upon a subject that it... Read More
How do you know what's the best use of your... Read More
How many times have you remarked to someone that there... Read More
I give presentations on organizational skill building as it relates... Read More
This past Friday I was asked to speak with a... Read More
Nowhere is the line drawn more clearly between 'Industrial brains'... Read More
Everyday life can present us with opportunities to make us... Read More
Last week I had the privilege of spending some quality... Read More
"Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces up, snow... Read More
We are all born equal! We all have the same... Read More
If you're like most people, you want to get better... Read More
Why waste your precious time working on tasks, which are... Read More
Here's some time management tips to try:1) Set strict office... Read More
So What Then Is The Opposite Of Procrastination? Urgency is... Read More
A common remedy for improving your time management is to... Read More
Letters, magazines, bills, flyers, what to do with them all.... Read More
All too often we can feel overwhelmed by the amount... Read More
"Work smarter, not harder" is a cliché that has darted... Read More
Goal Planning-Achieving balance in a person's life requires assessment of... Read More
You can lose, damage or waste some things in life,... Read More
I used to think video game addictions were a joke... Read More
There is an old way of goal setting and a... Read More
Do you manage your time or does your time manage... Read More
Let's look at your time management skills. Most of us... Read More
Here's a smart system for doubling or tripling your daily... Read More
Where does your time go? We all know we are... Read More
At Home? Keep related items together, for example the coffee... Read More
All requests are not equal; all customers or clients are... Read More
Goal Planning-Achieving balance in a person's life requires assessment of... Read More
This is one more article on "Organizing and Enjoying Your... Read More
When trying to achieve a quality education, everybody knows that... Read More
If you can motivate yourself at will to get any... Read More
A simple kitchen gadget is transforming my life. I don't... Read More
As a home-based, self-employed woman, mundane tasks can be as... Read More
There are two ways to start your day. The first... Read More
Do you feel guilty about all the publications you purchase... Read More
"Time is what we need the most and what we... Read More
I have a habit of sending a thank you letter... Read More
It's 6:00 a.m. I'm awake. I'm pumped! I'm ready to... Read More
Most of us have a to-do list ? some of... Read More
My job in Chicago began with three months of probation.I... Read More
It is not enough if you are busy. The question... Read More
As a business owner, wouldn't it be great if you... Read More
Do you have plenty to do, but don't have enough... Read More
?busy, busy, busy, busy, busy?busy, busy, bus? OK, slap me... Read More
Time, time, time. It seems there is never enough of... Read More
|