| There is so little time and so much to do that our | | | | 6. Cut down on the amount of TV you watch. Think |
| minds get so full of to do lists that seem to never | | | | about the shows that you watch. What purpose are |
| end. It is hard to move forward when you do not | | | | they serving you? Are they merely entertainment or |
| even know where to start. | | | | educational? How do they benefit you? By cutting |
| 1. Replace Negative Self Talk With Positive Self Talk. | | | | down your television viewing a half an hour to an |
| Be kind to yourself. Negative chatter is the chatter | | | | hour each day, you are gaining more time to do |
| that blocks us from doing what we really want to do. | | | | other things that you love like reading a book or |
| This negative self talk tells us that we can't go ahead | | | | listening to an audio program. As you increase your |
| and do things. It tells us that you don't know enough | | | | knowledge you will see the rewards. The rewards |
| or perhaps you are not beautiful enough or you don't | | | | can be: climbing the corporate ladder at work, |
| have the skill or talent to do something. Unless you | | | | developing a successful business, or spending more |
| try it, you will never know what your ability or | | | | time with your family. |
| capacity is. Take some time to be kind to yourself | | | | 7. Check your e-mail only 2 to 3 times a day. Email is |
| and think about how you can do it rather than how | | | | a time waster; we can get drawn into emails that do |
| you can't. Eliminate "I can't" from your vocabulary. | | | | not help us obtain our goals. Allot certain times of |
| You can always learn a skill set but you must change | | | | day to check your email, perhaps you need to let |
| a mindset in order to succeed. | | | | people know that you will check your e-mail at |
| 2. Clearing up incomplete tasks. Have you ever felt | | | | specific times during the day. This allows others to |
| overwhelmed by how much there is to do? Do you | | | | know that you are busy and they will have a better |
| have all types of to do lists? Have you done a walk | | | | sense of when to expect a reply from you. Many |
| through inspection of your home or office? As you | | | | people get so caught up listening for and responding |
| walk through your home or office, you may notice | | | | to the "bing" when a new email arrives that they end |
| things that have been left unfinished. Make a list and | | | | up wasting a lot of time instead of focusing on the |
| take time to conquer each of these incompletes. | | | | things that they need to accomplish. Turn the |
| Replace, fix, or toss items that are damaged. Buy | | | | "binger" off. |
| items that will enhance your environment and your | | | | 8. Clear and prepare your desk for the next day. This |
| productivity. Get rid of the old items that are | | | | process can take about 15 to 20 minutes on average. |
| cluttering up your location. Better yet donate them | | | | Throw out anything that you think you do not need. |
| to your local charity. It will be someone else's | | | | Use the one touch paper method. When you touch |
| treasure. If you have not used it in a year, do you | | | | paper, you need to decide if you are going to file it, |
| really think you're still going to use it? Pack it up in a | | | | deal with it, or dispose of it. Paper clutter can |
| box and if you do not use it in six months, give it | | | | overtake our lives. |
| away! The item is not serving you well and you'll be | | | | 9. Take a break from what you're working on. There |
| amazed at how much lighter you feel. | | | | are times when you need to get away from the |
| 3. Write down your to do list. Don't rely on your | | | | computer and your desk in order to clear your mind |
| memory to remember everything that you need to | | | | so you can look at your project again with fresh |
| do or accomplish. Some of those tasks may be daily | | | | eyes. When we have been working steadily, we can |
| and monthly, or even yearly. As you write down | | | | lose sight of our vision of the end result. Sometimes, |
| what it is you need to accomplish each day, you will | | | | if we spend time away from a project and then later |
| have clearer picture and focus on the things that you | | | | go back to it, we can think more clearly and |
| need to get done. You may break them down into | | | | generate many new ideas. The best way to clear |
| different tasks and delegate them. | | | | your mind is to sit in silence and write down |
| 4. Determine your priorities. When you decide what | | | | whatever thoughts come to your mind. You will be |
| your priorities are in your life you can better channel | | | | amazed at the results; some of your ideas could be |
| your energy to accomplish those priorities. As you | | | | ground breaking. Conversations with mastermind |
| take care of your priorities, the rest of your life | | | | groups, mentors, or coaches may trigger some new |
| tends to move with ease because you are focusing | | | | ideas for you to look at too. |
| on what really matters to you. | | | | 10. Stress reducers. Stress reducers like exercise, |
| 5. Work on your biggest action items first. When you | | | | meditation, and prayer are fabulous ways to |
| have a deadline to finish a big project, it can be a bit | | | | de-clutter your mind. Exercise not only rejuvenates |
| overwhelming. Some projects seem larger than | | | | us and keeps the blood flowing; it also helps our |
| others. We can often talk ourselves out of what we | | | | body to get in the best shape ever. Meditation is |
| need to do by changing the subject or choosing to | | | | wonderful for clearing the mind. Prayer gives us hope |
| do an easier task first. We tend to put these | | | | for future and beliefs and we can achieve. |
| important tasks to the side and even procrastinate | | | | Declutter your mind daily. Each time you declutter |
| when approaching that task. However, when you | | | | your mind you make room for new ideas and |
| start with the biggest task item first the other tasks | | | | opportunities. You will feel calm, cool, and collected |
| seem to be that much easier. By doing the hardest | | | | and ready to take on the challenges and |
| or most difficult task first, you will be more | | | | opportunities that come your way. |
| motivated to continue with the rest of your list. | | | | |