Focus, focus, focus on STARTING tasks rather than finishing them. The greatest challenge is taking the first step and getting started. (Ah yes – doesn’t that feel good?)
2
专注、再专注,专注于开始一项任务比完成他们更重要。最重要的挑战就是开始第一步。(是不是感觉很好?)
5
Categorize your To Do list into A, B, and C priorities. “A” priorities are the activities that are critical for your success. “B” priorities are important but not critical. “C” priorities would be nice to do if you get the time. Begin with your “A” priorities and work your way to the “nice to do” items.
Here’s a suggestion that will help everyone: create a “talk” file for your boss, subordinates, peers and even your customers. Unless it is a real emergency, wait until you have at least two items in the file before calling that person with your questions.
Get a spiral-bound notebook, date it, and keep all your notes in the book for future reference. Quit writing on loose papers or sticky notes that tend to get lost.
Try something new. Read (really) the instruction manual that came with your electronic organizer. Even better, try the manufacturer’s web site to find new software updates and releases that may further your productivity. Bet you will find several time management tools you haven’t used. Let the organizer do the work so you can spend less time organizing yourself.
Use only one time management system. Whether you choose an electronic or paper system, one consistent system will eliminate much wasted time spent searching for information
Abracadabra! Take a speed-reading course. You could already be a lot further along in this book!
胡言乱语!参加一个速读课程。你也许已经远远超过现在读这本书的进度了。
11
How about all those passwords? Tough to remember? Simplify your passwords and have a logical, easy to remember reason for selecting each. Trying to remember a password is frustrating and a total waste of time. You may want to select passwords that can be typed on the keyboard with one hand so your other hand is free.
Take a Saturday and devote two hours to reorganizing yourself. Take a fresh look at how you are organized and look for opportunities to improve. You will probably discover several areas where you can eliminate some personal time wasters simply by becoming a little better organized.
Create a “quiet time” for planning. Let everyone know your closed door means “do not disturb” unless there is an emergency…or someone in your family calls.
Throw things away! Yes, even those ticket stubs from the last football game. Ask yourself, “What is the worst thing that could happen if I throw this away?” Most of the time, you can live with your answer, so start filling that wastebasket!
Date stamp (ker-chunk) every item that hits your desk. This will help you decide when to file or throw away the paper.
在你桌子上的所有文件都盖上一个日期戳。这对你决定什么时候把这些纸张是归档还是扔掉有帮助。
16
If you get heartburn from throwing paper away, create a drawer or file to store your stuff for 90 days. If you have not used it within 90 days, you can safely throw those “keepers” away.
Still not comfortable — even after the 90 days? Then find the “office pack rat” and become their new best friend. Someone around the office has a copy of every memo and report from the past 10 years. Love that person — but throw your trash away.
Trust me on this, too! Most of all filed materials over a year old are never needed again. Archive the files and get them out of your way. If possible handle the paper only once and avoid the “I’ll just put it here for now” habit.
The key to paper management — KEEP IT MOVING! (Now, how simple can we get?) Move the paper to your out basket, your file, your “to read” folder or to your trash. Don’t let paper just sit.
Wait! Do these three things before you leave the office: (1) clear your desk, (2) plan tomorrow’s activities and (3) enter your next day’s to-do list in your organizer. Then go home. Planning the next day before you leave reduces stress and allows you to enjoy your time away from the office.
Okay, listen up! Clear your desk…NOW! Despite what some people believe, a cluttered desk does not indicate genius. Au contraire! It signals confusion and creates stress. Even mini-clutter will grow and eventually fill every inch. Keep your desk clear of everything except your project du jour and your family picture.
Get rid of that paper! Shuffling and reshuffling paper from pile to pile or file to file wastes time and keeps you from focusing on what needs to get done. Find a gigantic wastebasket and fill it up. The larger the wastebasket, the more you will use it. Throwing things away then becomes an art. Enjoy!
Files should not be an obstacle course. Put your most often reviewed files at the front of the cabinet. Here is a test to see if your current filing system works. Within two minutes, can you retrieve any paper you need? Go. If you failed the test you are wasting time searching through your files.
Never clear off your desk by randomly throwing things in a drawer. Gotcha! You will eventually have to go through that drawer. Instead, create a logical system for storing these items in your desk.
A picture or two on your desk is probably not distracting, but limit pictures to a special few. The more pictures on your desk, the more distractions and interruptions you invite.
Organize your desktop! If you are right-handed, make sure the phone is located on the left side of your desk. You want to keep the right side of the desk (and your right hand) free to take notes. Just the opposite for lefties.
Right-handed people should place the calculator on the right side of their desk. Ditto the above for southpaws, the proud but under-represented!
习惯右手的人应该把计算器放在你的右边。左撇子的人则相反。
27
Avoid glass desktops. They glare and are hard to keep clean. You don’t need to spend valuable time wiping off fingerprints.
尽量避免使用玻璃桌子。它们比较耀眼并且很难保持干净。你不需要用很多有价值的时光来擦除手指印。
28
If a report comes across your desk that you can’t use, notify the sender and ask to be deleted from distribution. The key question to ask is, “Would I pay for this report if I had to?” If not, get rid of it.