Time Management Skills: Top 5 Ways to Improve Them

Time Management Skills: Top 5 Ways to Improve Them
By Pamela Catey

Do you feel like your time management skills are lacking? Feel overwhelmed, stressed, or like you are losing your life as each day quickly passes by?

In this article, I will share with you the top 5 ways to improve your time management skills to regain control of your life. There is a great quote by Business Philosopher Jim Rohn that says, Time is our most valuable asset, yet we tend to waste it, kill it, and spend it rather than invest it. Are you investing your time in things that are producing the results you desire? If not, read on.

Plan Your Day
Another great piece of wisdom from Jim Rohn is to never start your day until it is finished on paper. It is great advice. You can piddle away so much time when you are not focused on how you are going to spend it. Have you ever noticed how you can waste a whole day before you ever really started it? Plan it before you start it, and you will get more accomplished.

Prioritize
Are you clear about what your short-term, mid-term, and long term goals are? If not, get to work, eh? Every day is an opportunity to be taking action toward your short-term goal, which should be furthering your mid-term goal, which should be leading you down the road to achieving your long term goal. Taking even small actions on the things that matter will you give a sense of accomplishment and control.

Before You Go to Bed
Write down the 3 most important things to do tomorrow on a 3 x 5 index card. When you wake up in the morning, all you need to do is read your index card and schedule when you will do these 3 most important things. And of course, they should be in alignment with furthering your short term goal.

Be Relentless
Keep your eye on the prize. Stay focused on the objectives of the day until you have completed them. Be steady and persistent on the task at hand and only focus on one task at a time. When one is completed, focus fully on the next.

Value Your Time
No one will value your time as much as you do. So, it is vital that you relate to your time as the valuable asset that it is. Its only when you regard your time as valuable, that others will do so. It has to start with you first. It is your responsibility because we train people how to treat us. If you want other people to value your time, you have to value it first.

I hope these 5 ways to improve your time management skills proves valuable for you. Let me know your results, Id love to hear your wins!

Pamela Catey, MA is a Best Selling Co-Author, Self Improvement Coach, Musician, and Inspirational Leader. She holds a masters degree in Counseling Psychology and is a Licensed Massage Therapist. If you are ready to live a life you love or are interested in learning more about time management skills sign up for her Free FunLightenment Newsletter and discover how fun self improvement and personal growth can be at http://www.LightenUpandLive.com.

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How to Communicate Better with Superior Listening Skills

How to Communicate Better with Superior Listening Skills
By Peter Murphy

From early on in school we have been taught that listening skills are an important part of how to communicate. It is natural for humans to use listening skills to build communication skills.

Babies learn to speak through listening. We learn about things we do not know about through listening. So having effective listening skills can make you able to communicate better. You can learn how to communicate better through listening skills if you know the basics about listening.

The following four sections explain the key points to being a good listener and why they are important to communication.

1. Use body language to show you are listening.

Not only will body language show you are listening, but it will also help you to listen better. If you move closer you can hear better and not be distracted as easily. If you maintain eye contact you will be less likely to be distracted by something you see around you.

Also avoid fidgeting as this can show your lack of interest or that you are getting bored.

2. Repeating back parts of what someone has said to you shows them you listened.

It also helps you to comprehend what was said better. If you misunderstood this will let the speaker know and then it can be clarified. You also show you are interested by taking their words and repeating them back. It shows you were really focused on what they said.

3. Focus on the person speaking.

You should be giving you undivided attention to the person speaking. This means you are not looking for something in your purse, glancing around the room or doing some other task during a conversation.

If you are even slightly distracted you may miss something the person says or be at risk of misunderstanding them.

4. Do not interrupt the person speaking.

You should hear the other person out and wait for a break in the conversation to ask questions or express your point of view. Interrupting only shows you are more interested in your own thoughts than theirs.

These tips basically cover the ways to be a good listener. There are various takes on what is required to be a good listener. Some qualities vary depending on the situation you are in. These tips are based for those in a casual situation, such as at a party.

You should always do your best to be a good listener. If someone knows you never really listen then they will be less likely to want to talk to you again.

Try not to ignore what is said and show your interest and your listening skills will come across. Knowing how to communicate better through listening skills will make you an overall better comunicator and someone people want to talk to.

Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert. He recently produced a very popular free report: 10 Simple Steps to Developing Communication Confidence. Apply now because it is available only at: conversation starters.

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Using Perception and Third Eye Part 3 How to Hone Your Skills

Using Perception and Third Eye Part 3 How to Hone Your Skills
By Katheryn Hoban

Not all people have consciously worked on accessing third eye wisdom or perception. Many are very frightened of their ability to access wisdom, or information that seems to come from the unknown. Others dont question where it comes from but they just access it.

Now when you work long periods of time with the third eye you develop your ability to access psychic channels but also it can make you tired if you do not work with balance. I feel it is like a door that you cant leave open all the time. It is necessary to close the door and rest. When you wish to close down the area, put my hand on your forehead and move it from top to bottom and imagine that youre closing a great big gate or a drawbridge door in the same manner.

Then say to yourself shutting down now. Then take great big breaths into that area like a psychic wash. With each breath you wash that area mentally with light. Sometimes you can imagine that you are turning off a light bulb by pulling an old fashion chain. The area goes dark. But just like that light bulb, you can switch it on again very quickly.

Become as sensitive to subtle changes in energy, as you can, ask yourself if this is coming from you or someone else. Also put out a feeler if this is trustworthy or false. Ask questions about the information that is coming in. How should I use this? Who is this for? What do you want me to do with the knowledge?

When you are consciously working with your third eye drop your gaze to a place that is out on the bridge, or tip of your nose. Half close the eyes so that you can allow the opening and unobstructed view into the psychic realm through the third eye and then let this area begin to open. Imagine the draw bridge door slowly drawing up and open. The column of light then begins to expand out into the universe, as long or short as need be.

You might feel like the light emanates only out the front of your forehead. Or you may feel more like an egg with a major crack all around the circumference and tiny cracks on top and in back. The light that is contained within can emanate out from all the cracks from the front, back, top, sides, at the same time, allowing you to see all around at the same time. The major portion comes from the front or third eye area, but it is not limited by that.

When you become aware of the energetic shifts, you can then begin to direct your channel. You could think on a certain subject or person and ask questions. As you ask the questions, continue to breathe through each. Allow some time in between each question to register the information. You could also think of someone or something and feel what impressions come to you immediately and first. Do this without judgment. Trust yourself that the right answer is coming for you. You could ask a question like What am I missing here? or What it the key element? You could allow an open flow to direct you Direct me to the person or group that is most able to help me. Then expect to be guided and then proceed as if you are already on the way.

Yoga Kat--aka Katheryn Hoban is a yoga teacher and Reiki Master Teacher with twelve years experience. She teaches children's yoga ages 3-6, and Adults privately in NJ. She is the author of the book -Masters of ConsciousnessA Guide Book for the Cosmic Traveler. She has created a children's affirmation CD (ages 3-6) and an affirmation CD for adults. Yoga Kat is available for speaking or writing and can be reached at or 201 970-9340 http://www.thecircleofpeace.com and sign up for our newsletter andSee me reading from my book on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDdJyIActw

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Leadership Skills: Four Ways of Overcoming Perfectionism

Leadership Skills: Four Ways of Overcoming Perfectionism
By Teresa Proudlove

We pay a high price for perfectionism. What perfectionism? we perfectionists mutter. Weve known for years perfectionism is not healthy so we have dealt with this issue and strive for personal excellence only! Really?

When you slip-up - maybe handle a situation, task or project less than perfectly what do you say to yourself? Are you able to commend yourself on what you did well and perhaps then, note a thing or two you could improve upon? Or do you focus on the mistake or less-than-perfect behavior neglecting your positive efforts?

Recently I completed facilitating six evening Leadership sessions. Being only my second time facilitating this particular series I closely observed my perfectionistic tendency. As I completed each session I could readily see areas I could have improved upon.

Commend Yourself! Gently Observe Improvements!

For me, it took a huge effort to commend myself on what I had done well and to be gentle with myself on the areas of improvement. In fact, I made a pointed effort of congratulating myself after each session and allowed myself the joy and relief of savoring a job well done when the series of six was completed. This is not a simple, natural process for us perfectionists.

To further this exercise in self-acknowledgement I did not read my participants evaluations at the program end as usual. This was perhaps a first in my fourteen years of facilitating. Too often, I have rushed to read the evaluations to determine my success.

Eventually I will receive a summary of the evaluations from the College I was contracted to but more importantly, I have deepened my self esteem and self worth through rewarding, congratulating and commending myself despite what others may think. To be a strong leader and healthy human being let us begin now acknowledging our achievements rather than devaluing our worth and work.

Herein, we begin to wean ourselves from being reliant on outside influences to determine our worth or how well we have done. We begin to befriend ourselves and give the internal Judge less power over us.

Not only are we robbed of the enjoyment of our efforts by focusing on what went wrong and neglecting to commend ourselves but also, by rushing into worry over the next thing we have to do. When caught in this repetitive ritual of not good enough do better do more I have found this simple phrase very freeing

Not Perfect but Well Enough!

Feel the relief and comfort of this phrase, not perfect but well enough! Yes! Thank You God! Thank You God is another simple phrase that can help relieve us of the burden of perfectionism. Not only have I been working on giving myself credit but also on thanking God for His/Her part in my success. I know I must constantly turn to my God, my Source, my Higher Power call it what you will for guidance in all I do.

In the perfectionists mind it is all up to ME to do everything so very, very well but of course - never quite measuring up. The more I trust that God is working in me and through me the more I can lay down the heavy burden of perfectionism. It is not all up to ME. My job is to do my best and give God the rest.

Do My Best and Give God the Rest

Even in the midst of our fear, doubt and inadequacy we can comfort and encourage ourselves by knowing it is not all up to us. We can trust God is also at work and all is unfolding according to a Grand Design far greater than our understanding. As an Alcoholics Anonymous slogan so simply says Let go and let God.

We can become better leaders and human beings and release ourselves from the bondage of perfectionism by practicing these few ideas.

1. Commend yourself on a job well done.
2. Be gentle observing your areas of improvement.
3. Remember: Not perfect but well enough!
4. Do your best and give God the rest.

What a relief to give up responsibility for doing everything AND doing it perfectly!

Teresa Proudlove has been inspiring, supporting, and guiding over 3000 people upon their career and life work path for over fourteen years - with compassion and heart. Teresa's workshops offer a deeper understanding and respect for ourselves, for others, and for our lifework path. This entrepreneurial woman also owned and successfully operated two women's retail boutiques for ten years. For over twelve years, Teresa was a well-read newspaper columnist. Visit Teresa at http://www.yourlifework.com; listen to your inner guidance and navigate through life and work with more meaning, acceptance and peace.

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Are You Content With Your Time Management Skills? 7 Reasons Why You Must Have a ToDo List

Are You Content With Your Time Management Skills? 7 Reasons Why You Must Have a To-Do List
By DeAnna Spencer

As an entrepreneur with ADHD, I often struggle with staying on task. One way I combat this is by making lists. This strategy can help people without ADHD stay on top of things as well. This article lists 7 things to remember about to-do lists. I know you've heard time and time again that you need to make lists. Here's why it's important to have a to do list.

1. It will help you to remember what you have to do today.

Small Business owners often wear a lot of hats. You usually find yourself with a kazillion and one projects going on at once.When you have a to-do list, you won't have that, Now I know I was supposed to be somewhere. thing happen to you as often.

2. A to do list keeps you on task.

Sometimes you get distracted by things such as forums, games, or shopping when you're supposed to be finishing a project.One surefire way to combat that is to keep that to do list in front of you to serve as a gentle reminder before you go to that non business related forumand spend hours reading the posts.

3. When you complete the items on your to do list you feel a sense of accomplishment.

I don't know about you, but I get a warm and fuzzy feeling when I can scratch items off of the to-do list.Even when I have completed a small task it makes me feel good to know that there's one less thing that I have to do.

4. A to do list should be recorded somewhere. It doesn't count if the list exists in your head. You are guaranteed to forget something.

Write it down, put it on your pda, use outlook, do whatever you have to do to get your to do list recorded.I use http://www.plaxo.com and my pda to stay organized. Basically plaxo is an online version of outlook.It has a section that is a calendar and there's a place for your tasks for the day.The great thing about using plaxo is that it's on the web so even if your computer crashes, you still have access to your calendar.

5. A to do list is never set in stone.

It's just a guide for the day, week, month or year.You should always allow room for the unexpected to happen.You could get sick or there could be a dire emergency with one of your clients.You may have to work overtime on your job.You could get stuck in traffic.Always allow a cushion for these sort of things.

6. Your to do list should be realistic.

If you work a full time job and are running a business, don't put too many things on your daily to do list or you'll feel discouragedwhen you don't get all of the things accomplished on your list.

7. Make sure to include some time for fun in your to-do list.

You should always schedule at least one hour of me time on your to do list.This could be your time to exercise, read, write in your journal, or stare at your bellybutton.It's important to have down time so you don't get stressed out.

These are just a few ways to manage your time better.For more ideas, please read my article, 31 Ways to Get an Extra Hour Out of Each Day,located at http://ezinearticles.com/?31-Ways-to-Get-An-Extra-Hour-Out-of-Each-Day&id=3191You should also pick up a copy of the book, Getting Things Done, by David Allen. This book has a lot ofuseful tips on time management.

When you manage your time well, you can focus more on marketing yourself.

DeAnna Spencer is a virtual assistant that helps entrepreneurs run a successful business by providing affordable administrative help. She also publishes a blog for small business owners. Visit this small business resource today.

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Disbelief as Essential Skills Go Untaught Underutilised and Neglected by Almost Everyone

Disbelief as Essential Skills Go Untaught, Underutilised and Neglected by Almost Everyone
By Ian Canaway

Goal setting is possibly the most important success secret you were never taught in school, yet it remains one of the most powerful tools you can use to achieve what ever you want.

With the influx of people seeking fulfilment and success in all aspects of their lives, more and more people are turning to techniques such as goal setting to facilitate their path to success. However goal setting remains one of the most underused techniques which are readily available to people from all walks of life. The problem is goal setting is not a compulsory skill taught in schools and when it is, the importance of it is often under emphasised and neglected.

Anne Sprigpitt owner of http://goal-setting-secrets.info says, It sickens me when I hear people say Ive never been taught how to set goals, or what are goals and whats the point of them. It really is disgraceful that our children are not trained how to set achievable goals and then taught how to re-evaluate them once theyve been achieved.

Goal setting is not difficult and should be utilised by everyone from high school kids to top business executives, if people dont know what they want or where they are going, how can they expect to achieve anything other than mediocrity. The most successful people in the world know this and use goal setting techniques on a day to day basis to get what they want.

The key point to remember when goal setting is to use the SMART acronym; goals should be Simple, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time related.

Goal setting is a straight forward task which allows you to identify what you want and how youre going to get it and provided you follow a few simple rules it could be one of the most important techniques you begin to utilise in your day to day life.

For more help and advice on goal setting visit http://www.goal-setting-secrets.info and find all the tips you need on how to set goals to create easy stepping stones to get what you want.

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Two Key Success Skills Take Action Now And Be Bold Enough To Talk

Two Key Success Skills - Take Action Now And Be Bold Enough To Talk
By John Watson

I am writing this article to cement two key success skills in my own mind as well as yours. They are so important that they are worth thinking about every single day.

Mike Chen, the twenty year old internet guru, and Mark Joyner, his mentor both agree that the 'ability to take immediate powerful action' is more important than any other skill to achieve success on the internet.

They argue that it is better to have a mediocre plan today than a perfect plan tomorrow. Obviously a perfect plan will achieve more but too often people fail to act while they are busy thinking of the perfect plan or simply waiting for it to come to them.

People will often wait for the 'best' day to start taking action on some project or other. The best day is today. Give yourself permission to start today. You don't have to wait and if, for some good reason, you do have to wait, start taking action on something else while you are waiting. This will put you on the fast track to achieving your goals.

A poor plan executed fairly well is a success. All we need to do is act and not waste time worrying about whether we are doing the right thing.

Every moment you are thinking: Are we doing the right thing? you are not doing things and are not getting results. If you are not getting results (good or bad) you are going nowhere.

What if your plan does not work? You will be no worse off and you will, like Edison, have discovered another path to avoid. If, like Edison, you do not give up, you will eventually succeed.

Mark Joyner states (and I agree) that amazing things happen when you start taking action. People and mighty forces will come to your aid.

You may be thinking: It's too late; I should have taken action ten years ago. Mark suggests getting into your time machine and moving ten years into the future. In ten years time will you be looking back to today and wishing you had taken action today? You and I have another chance. Today can be the first day of the next ten action packed years.

Some people get pleasure from just thinking about doing something. How much more pleasure would they get if they added action to their dreams?

The whole world is full of dreamers who are always waiting for something to happen before they get started on that path to make things happen. If you wait for some one else to inspire you to start, you are putting your future in the hands of someone else. That is not a good idea. What if they don't arrive?

Many Jacobites waited wistfully for Bonnie Prince Charlie to return before they would take action. He never did. He was over the sea in France and never returned to claim his kingdom.

I am a classic 'wait till later' person. I even delay listening to audios that I know will teach me key skills. I fail to watch videos that will bring me success. That is why I need this article as much as any one else. Action can be something as simple as taking out a video about internet marketing or whatever and watching it carefully.

Another great success tip is this: Be bold enough to talk to people - to network. Of course people may ignore you or even slap you in the face but if you talk boldly and with confidence that is unlikely.

You will feel good after you have spoken up. I remember years ago standing on a bench in the dinner hall of Pembroke College, Cambridge and suggesting to the amazed undergraduate diners that they take the words of Jesus about his second coming seriously. Some people did not like this but to my surprise, many did and I had a full house at my bible study group the following week.

More importantly, when I look back on my days at Cambridge, this one action is the one I am most glad I took. I have seldom felt so good.

If you are bold enough to risk rejection you will be able to network and leverage the skills and support of other people. Whatever happens, you will feel good about taking bold action.

Action must often take place in the face of criticism and negativity. Just don't quit and you will usually be proved right in the end.

So then, don't just sit there and wait for something good to happen. Take action and make it happen. Create your plan or system and start doing it and doing it until a better plan comes to mind.

Be bold and speak to people without fear. The worst they can do is say No. You and I may be surprised by how often they will say Yes.

About the author

John Watson is an award winning teacher and martial arts instructor. He has recently written two books about achieving your goals and dreams.

They can both be found on his website http://www.motivationtoday.com along with a daily motivational message.

The title of the first book is 36 Laws To Ignite Your Inner Power And Realize Your Dreams Now! - Acronyms, Stories, And Pictures...Easy To Remember And Use Everyday To Grab Your Life And Soar With The Eagles

The book can be found at this URL: http://www.motivationtoday.com/36laws.php

The book uses acronyms, stories and pictures to help readers remember 36 laws that can gradually transform your life if you apply them.

You are welcome to publish the article above in your ezine or on your website so long as you do not alter it and keep in the words about the author and the 36 Laws.

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