Even the best-laid plans can fall apart if we don't have the correct behaviors to support them. That is what we are talking about in this last installment of the series.
Our default tendencies can be working against us as we begin making changes in our lives. We fall back into old habits and find our new practices of planning and productivity go right out the window.
Taking stock of how our behaviors are helping us (or maybe hurting us) can help us stay on track.
Here are a few tips for you to try out this week.
1. Be decisive. Rather than debating for 15 minutes, whether you should keep your 20-year-old college textbooks, set a stopwatch, and make the decision in less than one minute. The longer you think about your options – and the more options you allow yourself – the less likely you will make a decision.
Make a game out of it by letting your kids time you. Take turns with the stopwatch and have a friendly competition between you and your partner to see who can make decisions faster.
2. Don’t micromanage. If a colleague or even a family member is working on a project, avoid asking 500 times if they need help or offering other ways to do things. If you’re focused on other people’s work, then your work suffers.
Lead by example by focusing on your own project and working efficiently. You’ll also give others the space they need to accomplish things by themselves. Helping others comes from a great place, yet check-in to see if you are just using it to delay your own tasks.
3. Learn to say no. Let's be clear; this isn’t about being rude to clients or friends; this is about taking control of your life and your free time. When asked to take on another responsibility, consult your calendar and then decide if you’ll enjoy this or stress out over it.
Most people would prefer an honest answer of no, rather than overburdening someone who’ll only do a less than acceptable job. If you feel awkward saying no, suggest a better time for you to help or help find a suitable replacement.
4. Reward yourself for a job well done. There will always be a particular project or task that we don't like doing, no matter how positive our mindset is. When faced with this scenario, schedule something fun right after you complete each of those daunting tasks. You’ll tend to work faster if you know you have something fun to look forward to.
Go on a family hike after a morning of doing yard work. Allow yourself a phone call with a friend after cleaning the bathroom. Grab a coffee after finalizing a report.
5. Be affirmative. Negative thoughts permeate our minds very quickly when we get discouraged with a challenge. If we carry these negative thoughts with us, we start to believe that all obstacles are impossible, and it’s okay to give up and leave projects unfinished.
The same is true for positive thinking. Instead of saying to yourself: “I will try to get this done,” be positive and say: “I will get this done.”
The Final Lesson
Everyone has the capabilities to change what we don’t like. If you’re a procrastinator, you can change your ways, but only you can take these action steps, and choose to become more productive.
By practicing just one of the tips from this series each week (or each day, if you’re very ambitious!), you will soon develop lifelong habits, and these time management techniques will become second nature to you.
If you missed part one, click here: Part 1 – Procrastination
If you missed part two, click here: Part 2 – Organization
If you missed part three, click here: Part 3 – Easy Wins
I wish you all the best as you increase your time management skills!
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