If you’re a recent retiree or a veteran retiree, you likely realize that although you have a lot more time to do the things you want to do, you still have a difficult time getting everything done. Its not that you’re a flake or simply aren’t motivated, it’s just that your time management skills need to be tightened up a bit. You need to learn how to better prioritize your goals in order to get the most done in the least amount of time. Well, don’t worry, you can effectively manage your time and get more done than you ever intended to do by following these ten tips:
Here are some proven tips that you can implement right away.
• Create a personal mission statement- Take some time to evaluate your life and figure out what is really and important to you. Write down your priorities and what you hope to accomplish in your life. Be specific about your goals.
• Keep track of how you spend your time- For one full month, don’t change anything. See how you spend your time and keep a time sheet that indicates how much time you spend doing everyday tasks. This will give you a good idea of your time stealers.
• Develop a realistic plan- Once you’ve got an idea of your time stealers, figure out the best way to make more time for yourself. For instance, are you able to say “no” to activities that have little or no meaning in your life? Are you able to delegate activities? Are you able to hire someone to assist you?
• Get organized—The next step is to get organized. It’s true, the more organized you are, the more productive you’ll become. Therefore, it is absolutely paramount that you take some time to organize your life. Buy yourself a planner or simply write down your activities on a wall calendar. Whatever method you use, make sure you use it!
• Prioritize- Always remain committed to prioritizing your life. If an activity doesn’t fit in with the bigger plan and will waste too much time, don’t take it on. Your retirement years are too important to waste. Guard your time.
• Combine activities- Always combine activities to save time. For instance, if you only like going into the city on certain days of the week, you should set 1-2 days a week to run errands in the city. Schedule all your city activities for those days. Not only will this save you time and energy, being organized will also save you money!
• Plan all your activities –The absolute best way to accomplish your goals is to plan out all your activities. It doesn’t matter what type of system you use, you only want to set some time out of your schedule every day to figure out what your priorities are and then plan your activities accordingly.
• Set long and short term goals – Effectively manage your time by setting and achieving long and short term goals. Really take the time to figure out what you want to accomplish and then go after it. For instance, if you’ve always wanted to open up a bed and breakfast, now might be the perfect opportunity to do so.
• Delegate to others – Being a good time manager means relying on others and delegating activities that you don’t have the time or desire to do. Remember that you don’t have to please everyone all the time.
• Don’t be a perfectionist- Although everyone likes to do a really great job, you have to realize that you can’t always be a perfectionist. Trying too hard can lead to feelings of frustration and wasted time. Therefore, know when good enough is good enough and simply be willing to move on.
In conclusion, you can take control over your time and get more done than you ever wanted. Although this requires careful planning and learn, you can accomplish all of your goals by not being a perfectionist, delegating to others, setting long and short term goals, planning and combining activities, prioritizing, getting organized, developing a realistic plan, keeping track of your time, and creating a personal mission statement.
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Dr. Cynthia Barnett is a ”refired” educator who had reinvented her life moving from the school house to an entrepreneurial venue.. If you are ready to “RE-FIRE” your life sign up for my free 7 day audio mini course on the 7 biggest mistakes retires make and how to avoid them for an extraordinary life at www.refiredontretire.com
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