Failing to Manage Distractions

4 of 10 Common Time Management Mistakes

Do you know that some of us can lose as much as two hours a day to distractions? Think how much you could get done if you had that time back!

Whether they come from emails, IM chats, colleagues in a crisis, or phone calls from clients, distractions prevent us from achieving flow, which is the satisfying and seemingly effortless work that we do when we're 100 percent engaged in a task.

If you want to gain control of your day and do your best work, it's vital to know how to minimize distractions and manage interruptions effectively. For instance, turn off your IM chat when you need to focus, and let people know if they're distracting you too often.

You should also learn how to improve your concentration, even when you're faced with distractions.

Not Prioritizing

Not Prioritizing

3 of 10 Common Time Management Mistakes

Your assistant has just walked in with a crisis that she needs you to deal with right now, but you're in the middle of brainstorming ideas for a new client. You're sure that you've almost come up with a brilliant idea for their marketing campaign, but now you risk losing the thread of your thinking because of this "emergency."Sometimes, it's hard to know how to prioritize , especially when you're facing a flood of seemingly-urgent tasks. However, it's essential to learn how to prioritize tasks effectively if you want to manage your time better. One tool that will help you prioritize effectively is the Urgent/Important Matrix. This helps you understand the difference between urgent activities, and important activities. You'll also learn how to overcome the tendency to focus on the urgent.Having a tool, which will help you determine if a task is high-yield and high-priority, or low-value, "fill in" work. You'll manage your time much better during the day if you know the difference.

Something to Ponder about Time

This is the beginning of a new day.
God has given me this day to use as I will.
I can waste it or use it for good.
What I do today is important, because I am exchanging a day of my life for it.
When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever,
leaving in its place something that I have traded for it.
I want it to be gain, not loss;
good not evil; success not failure;
in order that I shall not regret the price I paid for it.

Author Unknown

Some Nice Shirts, Want One?

Not Setting Personal Goals

Not Setting Personal Goals
2 of 10 Common Time Management Mistakes

Do you know where you'd like to be in six months? What about this time next year, or even 10 years from now? If not, it's time to set some personal goals! Personal goal setting is essential to managing your time well, because goals give you a destination and vision to work toward. When you know where you want to go, you can manage your priorities, time, and resources to get there. Goals also help you decide what's worth spending your time on, and what's just a distraction. To learn how to set SMART, effective goals, read up on Locke's Goal Setting Theory. Here, you'll learn how to set clearly defined goals that will keep you motivated. You might also enjoy our Book Insight into "Long Fuse, Big Bang" by Eric Haseltine. This book teaches you how to focus on your long-term goals without overlooking your short term priorities.

Failing to Keep a To-Do List

Failing to Keep a To-Do List
1 of 10 Common Time Management Mistake

Have you experience nagging at yourself because you failed to send an email to someone scheduled today but you were not able to send it because you have forgotten it? If so, it maybe because you are not using a To-D0 List or you may not using yours effectively.

The trick with using To-Do Lists effectively lies in prioritizing the tasks on your list. Many people use an A - F coding system (A for high priority items, F for very low priorities). Alternatively, you can simplify this by using A through D, or by using numbers. If you have large projects on your list, then, unless you're careful, the entries for these can be vague and ineffective. For instance, you may have written down "Start on budget proposal." But what does this entail? The lack of specifics here might cause you to procrastinate, or miss key steps. So make sure that you break large tasks or projects down into specific, actionable steps - then you won't overlook something important. You can also use Action Programs to manage your work when you have many large projects happening at once. (Action Programs are "industrial strength" versions of To-Do Lists.)

Source of this will be posted on my last entry for 10 Common Time Management Mistakes

10 Common Time Management Mistakes

In sharing...

I won't stop surfing the web, just to find the best tips I can give you about time management. If you find this post helpful, feel free to share it with your friends. Team Sixteen 8 will be happy to be of help.

Are you efficient in managing your time? Did you know what pitfalls you must avoid in order to manage your time wisely. Most of us are exposed on how we can manage our time best, but do you think it is easy to spot the mistakes that we are doing?

Read along and I will identify it to you one by one......

Mistake #1. Failing to Keep a To-Do List

Mistake #2. Not Setting Personal Goals

Mistake #3. Not Prioritizing

Mistake #4. Failing to Manage Distractions

Mistake #5. Procrastination

Mistake #6. Taking on too Much

Mistake #7. Thriving on "Busy"

Mistake #8. Multitasking

Mistake #9. Not Taking Breaks

Mistake #10. Ineffectively Scheduling Tasks

The first time I came accross my source about these mistakes, I naturally agree on some proposition, but as human being, we are looking for justification. Some of the mistakes mentioned here may seem unbelievable. I certainly agree with you if you feel that way.

I will give an elaboration on each mistakes I mentioned in the coming days. I do not want to tire your eyes reading but I want to keep coming back to this blog to see what in store for you.

Check Your Schedule

If its not scheduled, Don't do it!!!

This is a very radical rule, I must say. But this will certainly keep one on track of his time.

According to my source, " When something new comes up, whether its a request from someone or a new project or idea, before you say 'Yes' to yourself or others, look at your schedule and ask yourself, 'Can I take this on right now?'

Upon reading this, do you see yourself as someone who does this or not? If you do this, what do you think are the benefits this idea can bring you? If you are not doing this, can you see this as one of the many reason which causes you delays, or may possibly cause you delay?

One reason, why I am writing this is give a chance to reflect on oneself. If you are someone who has no issue in tracking time, keeping schedule and being efficient and productive, then this post may not be for you.

There is just one request I hope you can do for me. If you knew someone whom you can help by sending a link of this blog, please feel free.

This blog will be happy many will see it.

Van's 16:8

Since you passed by this blog, I would assume you have an idea what's this 16:8 is? But if you do not know, it is perfectly fine. I myself did not know it until I read the whole blog and then explained to me by my friend Cheryl.

We'll 16:8 is simply how you manage your time on a daily basis. It promotes efficient time management. Personally, what my 16:8 differs on what day we are talking about. I am employed full time and I have a 2 year old son and my husband also works full time. So you can imagine how much of my time is spent to working, being a housewife and a mother and some part of my time daily is spent taking rest to ensure I will be productive the next day.

Ideally, it should be on a 16:8 basis, 16 hours working and 8 hours resting/pampering ourselves. I personally believe and preach this. According to Time Thoughts, "If you don't learn how to manage your time well, you'll be far less productive than you could be and you'll get a lot less done. You'll also feel much more stressed and overwhelmed, and you'll struggle to find time with the people you care about and to do things you enjoy."

I never wanted to find less time with my loved ones so I take every advantage possible. My family is my inspiration and even if need to work full time to be a good provider, I never forget to find quality time with my family. Earlier today, we attended a work related event regarding Shell Fuelsave and I find this a good chance to spend time with my son while we are waiting for Rey to finish from work.

Sixteen8 Photoshoot

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We are coming soon with the new tee's!

Brand new site coming 2 you!, then the release of the new tee's..

You can buy them right off line..we will post the release date soon.

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Following the principles of 16:8 will allow you to dedicate 16 hours of your 24-hour day to self development or what we call "The Grind" and the remaining 8 hours you dedicate to rest and relaxation.

The subsequent 16-hours are where you get back on your "Grind" and continue with "The Movement".

Each and everyday we remember that perseverance and motivation are our energy supplements.