How to master your schedule and become more productive? This might also work for others!
2009 ended with many of my goals up in the sky, except for learning Chinese – goal 100% reached. Work overload, stress, external pressure and – who knows – some kind of permanent midlife crisis left a mountain of frustration. My book did not progress as I wanted. Prospects to have more free time seemed doomed.
People say, just do less. That’s easier said than done.
No end-of-the year resolutions but this first week I analyzed my work schedule and my so-called goals.
Simple – too many goals and too little time. Totally unrealistic. Too many people bossing me around, asking for help, asking to get involved in new business while I have zero assistance (read: no secretary, assistant or something – any candidates?).
Previous efforts always ended up in nothing. I now started a new approach, putting my old schedule upside down. In short:
Rule 1
E-mails are the biggest time-consumers; I won’t go for that blackberries/iPhone stuff; for me, lots of showing off and just results in shallow multi-tasking, doing nothing well (those people usually never read more than the first lines – Twitter philosophy? New rules: no e-mails till after lunch, Internet access only allowed for my top priorities (book – learning Chinese); no after dinner “checking mails”. So, a window of max. 2 hours in the afternoon. Be warned. I miss fax!
Rule 2
Cancel as many subscription to e-mail letters; my most used word is now UNSUBSCRIBE; unbelievable how much stuff people send to you; just ask yourself – any real use for my priority goals? No, I’m not interested in the latest use of Chinese customs rules. I use Postini it is just GREAT; allows to dump those annoying newsletters you can’t cancel – you have a list of blocked senders.
Rule 3
Most people know that as a former telecom guy I’m allergic to being bothered on the phone, especially mobile; the office already blocks most attempts (= cold calls) to talk to me about investing my precious money, real estate, etc. If you have urgent stuff, OK, and also send SMS. Some people (especially the French) seem only able to talk and can’t write. Too bad for them.
There is more, but the above looks like a good start.