‘Fall back’ into a new habit
When we turn the clocks back the first weekend in November, it is easy to yield to the temptations of extra sleep or a lazy morning. Instead, seize the opportunity that the end of daylight saving time presents and ease into a productive new habit.
If you wake up on schedule that Sunday (an hour earlier by the new clock time), you can take advantage of a precious block of time: the early morning.
My brother-in-law used to wake at 4 a.m. to study, when he was an Air Force sergeant and father of two young children. I’ve confessed on The Organized Executive’s Blog that I’m not naturally a “morning person,” but I’ve come to appreciate the benefits of starting my day while others sleep. If you study the habits of successful executives, you’ll find that they don’t squander those precious early hours.
To make a new, earlier habit work for you—and resist the temptation to hit that “Snooze” button on your alarm—plan to use that first hour for something that is meaningful to you. If you hate to exercise, you’re unlikely to rise earlier to do it. However, if you designate the early morning for something you enjoy or are passionate about, you will start the day with a great attitude and you will free time later in the day for your “must do” items.
Over the next few days, review your goals and priorities and identify something that is worth leaving your cozy bed to do. List the benefits of devoting an uninterrupted hour, first thing in the morning, to that endeavor.
Of course, to stay on track you’ll need to go to bed earlier too. Without enough sleep, that extra hour in the morning will be worthless. So review how you spend your evenings and trim any time-wasters there.
Get more done, in less time, with less stress!
Ever had to hunt for a document that you desperately needed? A survey shows that workers waste an average of 2.5 hours every week just hunting for documents. That’s about 16 days a year—roughly equivalent to an employee’s vacation time.
And what about meetings? How much more work could you get done without meetings about how the work is going and updates that don’t even pertain to you? About 6.5 days’ worth of work—that’s how much. Just cut out an hour’s worth of meetings each week, and you would have an extra 6.5 days a year to do your “real” work.
So, how do we change our own habits and behaviors, and ultimately stop falling victim to the distractions that are claiming our time and our productivity?
The answer: Productivity Training Camp.
Join acclaimed speaker and trainer Bruce Lee for timely, mind-blowing techniques and systems for time management and project management that will help you reclaim your day—and accelerate your career. We are now offering this course two ways: online, starting Oct. 30 and in-person, Dec. 10-11 in Las Vegas. Choose the option that best fits your schedule!
At Home or in Your Office
Oct. 30-Nov. 20
Tuesdays, 1-4 p.m. ET
Las Vegas
Dec. 10-11
Click here to receive The Organized Executive’s Priority One twice each month!
