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| Time Management Information |
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5 Days to A Simpler Life!
Of all the Attraction Principles, the most popular class I teach is "Simplify Your Life - Yes, You CAN!" Based on class attendance, articles in the press, and requests from clients, it's clear there is tremendous desire to live more simply, be more productive, and have greater peace of mind. While the details are different for each of us, the central theme is: "I want less stress, more time and more integrity, and I haven't been able to get it!" The core of this article is that in the next 5 days you can dramatically simplify your life without avoiding your responsibilities or reducing your output. In fact, as you simplify, your life will improve and you'll contribute more, not less, to your work and loved ones. In 5 days, I predict you can reduce your sense of "hassle" by at least 50 items, and add one new practice that will solidify your gains forever! Monday: Clutter. This Monday, take 10 minutes and clear out 10 items that bug you. That junk mail on your desk? In the wastebasket. Those old magazines on the coffee table? Trash 'em! The plant that's almost dead in your office? Water it or trash it. Don't worry about it, don't debate, just deal with these things! In a quick 10 minutes, sweep through your home or office and clean out, throw out, put away or fix 10 small annoyances and make your environment a cleaner, healthier place. You deserve the best. Don't put up with clutter! Tuesday: Tolerations. Tolerations are slightly different than clutter, although they over-lap. Tolerations are things like putting up with a dirty carpet, a car that needs repairs, or a favorite shirt you can't wear because it's missing a button. Choose 10 items, list them, and make commitments to get them fixed or replaced. You may not resolve them on Tuesday, but in 10 minutes take steps so you never have to tolerate these 10 items again. Clutter and Tolerations undermine our enthusiasm, waste our time, they create doubt and they discourage us. Get rid of 'em! Wednesday: Tasks and Errands. If your life is stressed and hectic, my bet is that you're running errands and doing things you don't need to do. Take 10 minutes and choose 10 tasks you will stop doing! Combine errands, or delegate them to someone else. Simplify your wardrobe, take a bag-lunch and avoid the rush to the cafeteria. Renting a video requires TWO TRIPS! Read a book or play with the kids instead. Hire a housekeeper. Most of these things are not "rocket science", they are simple things we ignore because they are so small. But they catch up with us and destroy the quality of our lives. In 10 minutes, commit to eliminating 10 time wasters! Thursday: Update Your Rolodex! All of us have relationships and "friendships" that no longer serve us. And, on the other hand, if you don't have a great doctor, a mechanic you trust, an insurance agent and other experts you can call when you need them, you are not prepared for the inevitable surprises of life. Take 10 minutes to run through your address book and remove obsolete or unneeded entries. Clean 'em out! Then, get the phone book and jot down the names and phone numbers of 10 experts for your "support staff". If appropriate, schedule a meeting to get acquainted. Simplify your life - have your team in place before you need them! Friday: Saying, "NO!" Most of the items this week are about getting rid of the self-talk that we "should keep that", or "I should run that errand." Most of the complications in life come from thinking we "should" do things that make no sense! If you don't want to, or it seems stressful or unnecessary, Just Say NO! Before you can say "YES!" to your own life, you have to say "NO!" to other people's ideas of how your "should" live. If you want to say "YES!" to art, music, love, laughter, and joy, you must first say "NO!" to a thousand things someone, somewhere thinks you "should" do. Make sure you say "NO!" at least 10 times today! It could change your life! And A BONUS: Say YES! to peace and quiet. Whether you prefer to call it mediation, prayer, quiet time, or whatever, the principle is to nurture and renew yourself with 10 minutes of peace and quiet every day. Get up a few minutes early and walk slowly around the block. Read for 10 minutes after the kids are in bed. Write in a journal or sip a cup of tea. If you are serious about simplifying your life, slow down and be quiet for 10 minutes at least once a day. You deserve it! Have a wonder-FILLED week! Slow down, watch a sunrise, do something nice for yourself and for someone else. Above all, be true to yourself! � Copyright 2003 by Philip E. Humbert. All Rights Reserved. This article may be copied and used in your own newsletter or on your website as long as you include the following information: "Written by Dr. Philip E. Humbert, writer, speaker and success coach. Dr. Humbert has over 300 free articles, tools and resources for your success, including a great newsletter! It's all on his website at: http://www.philiphumbert.com
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Based on class attendance, articles in the press, and requests from clients, it's clear there is tremendous desire to live more simply, be more productive, and have greater peace of mind. While the details are different for each of us, the central theme is: "I want less stress, more time and more integrity, and I haven't been able to get it!" How to Make More Time For Your Life Do you wish you could work less and play more? Are you so stuck in the rut you can't see a way out? Have you ever said I wish I had more time for me? Simple Strategies for Home Based Business Owners to Reduce Stress and be More Satisfied Handle small emergencies fast: When a small emergency does pop up being prepared with a home medicine kit will come in handy. Make sure to have one in your car and one in the home and look through them twice a year to make sure they are up to date and have been restocked. Use this same twice-yearly update to change the batteries in your smoke detectors and to put fresh batteries in all of your flash lights. Have a special box where you store a few extra batteries, a new flashlight, some storm candles and some lamp oil for an oil lamp in case of a severe storm or power outage. Just putting these emergency kits together will give you peace of mind and when you need them you won't have to rush around hunting for supplies you will know right where to find everything you need. Time Management - Keeping a Clean Desk I have worked with so many people over the years that have made me wonder how on earth they can work at their desk when everything that was in their drawers and in their filing cabinets have ended up in piles on top of their keyboard. One co-worker of mine couldn't remember what colour the top of his desk was! I had to say something, but when I did, he told me that he knew where everything was and needed all that paperwork for different projects he was working on. House Cleaning - Three Ways To Finding The Time It's always a challenge finding time to clean my house. Seems the hours, days and weeks just fly by, so much to do, so little time. Here are three ways to fit in your house cleaning.
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