Today's guest is a very dear lady and I'm proud to know and be a friend of hers. DiAnn Mills is a multi-award winning author and has graciously shared thoughts and treasures with us before so please give her a great, big, warm, WELCOME!
We’ve heard quotes about time:
“Hey, all you people who
use emojis, what are you doing with the time you’ve saved?”
“The problem with saving
time is that as soon as we get it, we spend it.”
“Time is a great teacher,
but unfortunately it kills all its pupils.” Hector Louis Berlioz
“The bad news is time
flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.” Michael Altshuler
If we’re disciplined and
scheduled people, time management is part of our operating process. It falls in
line with the way our brain works. We’re on time with all we do, and we’re
quick to tackle the next project.
But if we struggle with
procrastination and lack the ability to stay productive, then we need tools . .
. sharp ones. Our families are disappointed because we’re always late. Our
employers are frustrated because we can’t meet deadlines. And we’re frustrated
with ourselves for upsetting others.
Here are 10 ways to
increase productivity:
1. Organize and calendar
tasks
Investing in a calendar
allows us to record tasks, appointments, due dates, and whatever else stalking
us. I suggest an online calendar in which the user can request an audible
alarm. For those who prefer a hardcopy calendar, we must examine it throughout
the day.
2. Establish goals
We need goals to keep us
moving in the right direction. They need to be attainable with measurable
steps. Goals can be fun and rewarding as well as work oriented.
3. Commit to do the work
Unless we are determined
to learn how to manage our time, no amount of reading helpful blogs, books, or
investing in tools will prove successful.
4. Enlist an
accountability partner
Changing habits is hard,
and sometimes we need those whom we respect to keep us on task. Don’t be afraid
to ask for help.
5. Make a list
Write down each item that
needs to be done in the order of due date and most difficult. Then cross
through what has been accomplished.
6. Sleep 8 hours each
night
No one is productive,
creative, or able to apply new habits unless the person is alert and
well-rested.
7. Learn to say “No” to
time-zappers
Each one of us has a
time-zapper. Mine may not be yours. Perhaps it’s social media, TV, other
people, or unhealthy activities stopping us from managing our time. Saying “No”
is difficult but we can master the art of priorities.
8. Eliminate
multi-tasking
I’m most guilty of this .
. . doing several things at once and not quite finishing one before starting
another. We call it multi-tasking when research shows we aren’t doing any of
the tasks well. Finish what we start then move on to the next item.
9. Practice healthy
nutrition and exercise
This is a biggie for me.
The more we devote to taking care of our bodies, the more our bodies reward us
with strength and energy. Neurons snap to attention when we decide to eat
nutritionally sound and move our bodies. Here’s a great article from the Mayo
clinic about exercise: http://mayocl.in/2nNGcB7
10. Celebrate
Mark your successes with a
festive occasion. It doesn’t have to be a party, but then again why not? Adding
time management into our lives adds value and importance self-esteem.
Breaking from old habits
and establishing new ones isn’t easy, but with the right tools, it can be
done.
What is your favorite tip
for managing time?
DiAnn
Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure.
She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create
action-packed, suspense-filled novels.
Her
titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy
Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’
Choice, and Carol award contests. Firewall, the first book in her
Houston: FBI series, was listed by Library Journal as one of the best
Christian Fiction books of 2014.
DiAnn
is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member
of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Sisters in Crime, and International
Thriller Writers. She is co-director of The Blue Ridge Mountain Christian
Writers Conference and The Mountainside Marketing Conference with social media
specialist Edie Melson where she continues her passion of helping other writers
be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops
around the country.
DiAnn
has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid
reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in
the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.
DiAnn
is very active online and would love to connect with readers on Facebook: www.facebook.com/diannmills, Twitter: https://twitter.com/diannmills or any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.
Readers can read about DiAnn's latest
release, High Treason, view a trailer, find resources for their book club, and even take a test to see if
they are a true heroine. https://diannmills.com/books/high-treason/
Hope you enjoyed today's post and that you'll check back each week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight!
Until next time take care and God Bless.
PamT