words Al Woods
Take a look at any of the most successful people in the world. What would be the first thing you’d notice about spending a day with them? Undoubtedly, it would be their insane, ruthless time efficiency. They don’t care about spending millions of dollars on private jets or hiring legions of people to manage their emails. What matters most to them is how they spend the hours in the day. Time is their most precious resource.
Becoming time-efficient, though, is challenging. Many people don’t have the skills. They might be proficient in other areas of their lives, but managing how they spend the hours in the day is not one of them.
Is there anything you can do to become more efficient? In this post, we find out. Here’s what you need to know:
Find Out Where You’re Going Wrong
The first task is to find out where you are going wrong. Taking a time management questionnaire can let you figure out how you’re wasting time right now, and what you need to do to correct your habits. Knowing your biggest time sinks is a great way to figure out where you need to focus first.
Don’t Focus On Just The Immediate Problem
People who are ultra-successful almost always have a system. They manage their days according to a routine – at least until they become successful. Doing the same things, day after day, lets them hone how they spend their time so that they can make the most of it. They rehearse everything, trying to cram more into their working day at every opportunity.
Avoid Rambling Emails
Sending rambling emails is a waste of time for both you and the person receiving them. Try to get straight to the point. Avoid long paragraphs that don’t really add anything.
If you’re sending emails to sensitive people, warn them in advance that you might be a bit terse. If you have a company, tell your team in advance about your new short-form email policy.
Exercise First Thing In The Morning
There’s nothing quite like a morning gym session to get rid of the cobwebs and make you feel great about the day ahead. But relatively few people actually incorporate this into their routines.
Successful people, however, take a different approach. They understand the value of morning activity and do it almost instinctively. It keeps their bodies healthy and gives them the energy they need to keep them going throughout the day.
Don’t Drive
Driving might seem like a great way to build your independence, but it’s also a massive time-waster. Time spent driving is time that you could be doing something else. Think about how much money you could make or work you could get done if you converted all the time you spend driving into helpful, productive activities.
Get Out Of Your Own Head
Lastly, don’t spend too long in your own head, worrying about what you are doing, the timing of various projects, and who isn’t happy with you. Instead, make a decision to focus on the things that will bring you closer to your goals.
