નિરંતર પ્રગતિ માટે આયોજનનો અમલ | ગુજરાત ગાર્ડિયન, સુરત | ૧૭. ૦૨. ૨૦૧૪

SPRING FEVER

You develop your jam packed “to do” list the night before. You awake to the new day ready to conquer the world. But the sun is shining after a long winter. It warms your soul. The birds are singing and the fresh scent of new flowers breaking ground is all around you.

Ouch! You just got bit by the spring fever bug and all the ambition of your plans from the night before go out the window as you proceed to fill your day with unimportant stuff like shuffling piles of paper and dusting your desk again and again. Sound familiar? It should because it happens to all of us from time to time.

When you get bit by the spring fever bug, one of two things will happen.

First, you may give in to it, blow off the day and then feel guilty about it. Or second, you will give in to it, blow off the day and feel good about it. Either way, you’re going to give in to it.

What to do, then? Give into it, blow off the day and feel good about it. The spring fever bug bites you for a reason. You are not some robot or machine. You need an occasional break from the stresses of high performance. Give in to it. Blow off the day.

Now, if you have made commitments to others about getting something done today then you have to honor that obligation and let the spring fever bug come back another day. But most of the things you have to do can probably be pushed off to another day. Give into it. Blow off the day.

Think about this. Will your overall productive output for the year be greatly diminished because you took a goof off day in April? One day lost out of 365? Probably not.

When you get the bite, give in to it. Use the day to recharge your batteries while taking time out to literally smell the flowers around you.

But what if every day you get bit by the spring fever bug? Then you’ve got a problem. But every now and again? 

Take advantage of it. Your overall productivity will be enhanced in the long run.

Article reprinted with prior permission from Don. Link: www.balancetime.com/article_archive/Spring%20Fever.doc

How to Do Daily Planning ?

A poet once said, “The most powerful time is when you are alone, thinking about what you are to do rather than the doing itself.” You’ve been reminded many times, “A stitch in time saves nine.” Daily Planning is the time you ought to set aside each evening to plan out and take control over the most precious resource at your command, the next twenty-four hours. Done correctly, Daily Planning is not an expense that will cost you time but an investment that will pay you back many times over the time invested.

Here are four important steps to follow each day during your Daily Planning time.

1. Create a To Do list of everything you “have to” do and everything you “want to” do during the next day. If you want to manage it, you have to measure it first. Add actions steps to take care of your commitments and responsibilities but also include other action items to help you to balance your life more effectively and achieve more of your goals in each of your Seven Vital Areas: health, family, financial, intellectual, social, professional, and spiritual.

2. Review every item on your To Do list and ask yourself three questions with regard to each item:
1. “Is this the best use of my time?” If it is, plan to do it. If it isn’t, try to figure out a way to delegate it.
2. “Is there a better or more efficient way of handling or completing this item?” For example, combining telephone calls and making them all together.
3. “Is there anything I can do in advance to prepare for this task?” Do you need supplies or information from another to get it done?

Most of the time I cannot delegate my tasks, find a better way to do it, or do anything to better prepare for it, but I can always find a few ways to improve. Whatever those improvements are, add them to your To Do list as action items

3. Review any Appointments and Scheduled events you have planned for the next day and ask yourself the same three questions you asked in step #2 above. As you review each commitment, determine if it is the best use of your time. Maybe you are scheduled to attend a meeting that has little value to you. Try to get excused. See if there is a better way to handle each commitment. For example, instead of an actually meeting with someone, are you able to fax, email, or call that person instead?  Can you do anything to better prepare for it? If you have a doctor’s appointment, are there questions you can write down to ask the doctor. Whatever these improvements are, add them to your To Do list as actions items.

4. Prioritize your To Do list. Place the number “1” next to the most important item on your list.  Place the number “2” next to the second most important item. Continue prioritizing the entire list. You now have a To Do list of all the items you “have to” do, but, more importantly, all the items you “want to” do, including action items to help you achieve your goals and better life balance and make your appointments and scheduled events and To Do list items flow more smoothly. 

The process of Daily Planning will save you more time in the long run than what you spend to do it and will increase your daily productivity each day.

* This post is based on personal experiences