ADVICE

People give different responses when asking what is lacking in life these days. Some may say money, while others may note they don't have a position they enjoy or complain they don't have a meaningful personal relationship. However, if you ask people if they are always short on time, you probably will receive a resounding and unanimous "Yes!".

Experts say that we feel the time crunch so severely, we are even giving up sleep in a desperate bid to find more time to get everything done. But even that doesn't seem to help us catch up on time, so now we're still not getting it all done, and we're exhausted, to boot.

And yet, time management experts argue that there really is enough time to accomplish everything we would like, and get a good night's rest. The key: taking a hard look at your life and determining what you really want to do. Then - and this may be the toughest part - letting the other stuff go. That may sound simplistic, but by taking this attitude, we truly can find a way to get our work done and still have lives with family and friends.

There are many time-wasters in our lives at work, from ringing telephones to drop-in visitors to an inability to say no. And it seems that every day more are added to the list, including additional headaches caused by the same technology supposed to help us be more efficient (think of the useless e-mails you've received in the last week). We are in an age of unlimited possibility, and we want to do everything. But what kind of life is that? You run around like a chicken with its head cut off.

Fortunately, there are a number of steps you can take to tackle your time-wasters.
Among them are:

• 
  Make clear choices. Take a hard look at what you want to accomplish that day, then write it down. Post that note where you can see it all the time, and use it to guide you in your decisions. If someone approaches you with an idea, you can quickly consult your list and see if it fits. If not, politely and cheerfully tell the person "no". Be honest, be matter of fact - but be firm.
• Stop interruptions. One of the biggest time-wasters starts with "Hi. Have you got a minute?". No, you really don't. So when someone drops in on you at work, ask them immediately what the visit is about. If the visit can not be handled in a short period of time, set up another time to talk, refer him to someone else, or simply be honest and tell the visitor - or friend - that you're in the middle of something. You can chat with friends over lunch, and colleagues will understand when you're on a deadline or in the middle of an important project.
• Learn to say "no". Are you one of those people who says "yes" when someone makes a request, then you mentally kick yourself in the behind? Next time, when a request catches you off guard, don't say anything until you count to 10. By listening carefully, you can understand what is being asked of you, and then give a firm "no." If it is appropriate, you can give the reasons for your negative answer, but don't offer any reasons if they are just wishy-washy excuses. You can always show your good faith by offering alternatives. Saying "no" becomes a bit trickier when the request is made by your manager. In that case, review whether the request falls under your agreed-upon priorities. If the manager insists, then go ahead, but state what you fear will not get done because of it.
  Start delegating. First, get your ego out of the way. If the person you give a project to, can’t do the task to your satisfaction, they'll learn. If they do it better than you, the entire organisation wins. Mistakes can and will be made, but that is part of business, and part of learning. If someone else can do the task, give the delegate clear instructions, allow them the authority to accomplish tasks, and be there to support and coach as needed.
• Handle change. When we consider using technology, we need to consider what works best on paper, what needs to be done electronically, and where you need to interact personally. Some problems will be handled more efficiently, and sometimes also more sensitively, if personal action is taken or a telephone call is made.
• Get organised. So much time is wasted each day looking for things that have been lost. At the end of the day, take time to organise, evaluate, and plan for the next day.

Following these basic steps will enable you to get more done in less time, impress your manager and have more free time to boot! Sounds simple? Maybe it is, but it’s also really effective.