Finding Time to Use Your Lists Wisely

The Time Finder with Paula Eder

The way you use your time is the way you live your life.

Finding Time to Use Your Lists Wisely

Posted on September 11, 2009, under Finding Time E-zine Articles, Time Management Skills.

Finding Time to make lists is one thing – and finding time to use them well is another, as you are probably well aware! This Friday we are sharing another adapted article from our Finding Time E-zine. It offers 3 practical tips for using your lists wisely!

1. Look at ongoing tasks.

Every list, whatever its category heading, should contain ongoing tasks. Even if they are part of your routine, be sure to include them. Otherwise, they can slip your mind in terms of the time it actually takes to accomplish them.

Be prepared to be flexible as unexpected tasks and activities change your priorities.

Remember that it will be necessary to realign your lists when unexpected events have to be dealt with immediately, therefore changing your original priorities. Stay with your original lists as much as you can, but no list is ‘etched in stone.’

2. Use your lists to anticipate.

Many people forget the time it takes to gather the materials or the information required to complete a task or simple time-consuming activity, like travel time to and from a destination. Look at your list at the time you’ve set to review it. Then jot down time-consuming tasks that are essential to successfully completing the activity. For example, driving children to piano lessons or sports events may take one half hour each way. Make sure you include this travel time in your estimate of how long these activities will take. Otherwise, you may lose an hour and be rushed as you move to your next task.

3. Share your list with the other people in your life who will be affected by your planned activities.

A good idea here is when you review your list, take a few minutes to share it with your partner, your co-workers, or your children – anyone who may need to know when you will not be available to them.

How do you do with managing your lists? I invite you to try one or two or three of these tips! I’d love to hear how it goes – so please drop me a line!

What if you could find another hour every day? You can! You are invited to sign up and download The New Finding Time Boundary Template. It’s FREE, and when you sign up you will also receive (if you don’t already) my FREE, weekly Finding Time Tips and my FREE, monthly Award-Winning Finding Time E-zine!

Let’s explore time together …

Paula's Signature

There are One Response to “Finding Time to Use Your Lists Wisely”

#1 Tweets that mention Finding Time to Use Your Lists Wisely | The Time Finder with Paula Eder -- Topsy.com - 11 September, 9:01 PM

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Paula Eder. Paula Eder said: New on TheTimeFinder Finding Time to Use Your Lists Wisely: Finding Time to make lists is on.. http://bit.ly/M6LcZ [...]

If this is your first comment it may be held for moderation. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS feed, or Trackback from your own site.