Time

Monday, the day before a four days trip to Estonia, a hectic day with so many small and big tasks to be solved prior to my departure. With such a loaded working program no wonder I started thinking of this week's GBE 2 theme, TIME. 


For me time is a precious resource, which became very valuable lately. I spend a lot of my professional life on business trips (if I think back in 2011 I had around 60 flights only for business!!!) thus I have learned that I should not waste it. 


Time management is key for me, it is a skill that helps me to keep a comfortable level of control in my work, and to minimize my stress level.


Having this hectic schedule requires a lot of planning and with time :) I did learn how to apply some tricks, below some of them: 

• Keep a TO DO LIST and on a regular basis take the time to tick what you have done, it will bring satisfaction and a bit of motivation for the remaining items
• Set up some goals, for the week, for the month, for the year. If you know what you want to achieve it will help you focus.
• Prioritize, learn how to classify issues as important or not relevant. Sometimes we spend too much time on the not so important items and loose the big picture.
• Manage interruptions effectively. Each day I get calls which actually do not bring any added value to my current problems, but I have learned how to use them. Even small talk brings you some good points which might be used a later stage. People remember if you are nice and friendly, take the time, it will pay!
• DO NOT PROCRASTINATE. Yeah I know, easy said hard to do.  What helps is to draft an action plan, to break your activities in small manageable steps. Again if you achieve a small step it will give you a great feeling of achievement and then you will look at the next with more enthusiasm!
•  Learn to say NO, my biggest issue at the moment. No lessons from me, just my personal goal!
• Relax from time to time, no point is being under pressure all the time
• Allocate the tasks according to your day's schedule. I for example am a morning person, I love to be in the office starting 7am since for 2 hours I will not get any important calls, will not attend any meetings, thus I will be able to do some work, under quiet conditions. If you are a late afternoon person no point in being at 7am at work right?

In the end I will leave you with my thoughts and with one of my favorite songs.

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