time – Page 2 – Personal Growth Cafe

March 16, 2019March 13, 2018

I embrace time wisely and focus on every moment to stay productive.

I make good use of my time.

By remaining in the moment and focusing on the task at hand, I optimize my productivity.

To facilitate my ability to stay focused, I am organized in my daily life.

I write out my schedule and keep it handy.

At the beginning of each day, I make a list of things I need to remember.

Then, because I am confident that important matters won’t be forgotten, I let go of thoughts that I would otherwise need to keep juggling.

I also train my mind to turn off internal distractions or challenges I need to solve. I set a regular time to journal or resolve any conflicts.

When these stressors encroach on my work, I remind myself that I will address them during the time I have set aside and return my attention to the matter at hand.

I minimize outside distractions as well.

While I have grown so accustomed to phone and email that I can hardly imagine life without them, I can turn them off from time to time for my own good!

They are merely tools and should be treated as such.

I let my family, friends, and coworkers know when I will be available and then follow through.

By consistently being fully focused on my family when I promise them my attention, I know they will be willing to grant me the time and space I need to focus when I need to do so.

What will you do to minimize outside distractions when you are working?

When you promise other people your time and attention, how do you follow through?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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February 26, 2019March 12, 2018

Top 10 Time Wasters in a Busy Society

Do you fall into the trap of wasting time?

Time is a valuable commodity!

When you waste your precious time, you’re actually preventing yourself from achieving the things you desire.

Below is a list of the top ten time wasters.

If you find yourself spending too much time on these activities, try changing some of your habits so your time can be more productive and rewarding.

1. Wasting Your Worry.

Many people will worry until doomsday about every little thing in their lives.

This is simply unproductive and bad for your health, mind, and spirit.

If you have something worrisome coming up, craft a plan of positive action on paper, then let it go.

After all, worrying doesn’t accomplish anything positive.

2. Television. We’re a couch potato society!

We schedule our lives around our favorite television shows and we spend less time doing more important activities like attending social events that could strengthen our relationships.

Record your favorite TV shows and watch them during your leisure time, or limit your TV intake to just a couple hours a week.

3. Video and Computer Games.

This is becoming such a time waster that gamers are actually developing what is called “gamers thumb,” a repetitive stress injury.

Set time limits for yourself and your kids and help your kids understand why this is important.

4. Internet time.

Are you constantly browsing the Internet, Facebook or Twitter?

Are your kids hearing you say, “In a minute,” much too often when they ask you to spend time with them?

Keep your time on the Internet short and get involved in life.

Instead of chatting with your online friends, spend more time with your real-life friends and family!

5. Telephone Chatter.

Sure, we like to call old friends and chat, but do you chat on the phone all day long?

If you do, you may find that you get hardly anything done all day.

Keep phone calls to a minimum or set a timer to go off after 15 minutes.

This way you won’t feel deprived of a good conversation, but it won’t take over your whole day.

6. Traffic and Commuting.

Some of us spend an enormous amount of time traveling to and from work.

You can turn your commuting time into productive time!

Try carpooling or taking the bus, subway or train to work.

You can use this time to read, plan your day, complete paperwork, or even relax your mind before a productive day.

If you drive, you can listen to inspiring and informative CDs or tapes to sharpen your mind each morning.

7. Hobbies.

Yes, there are people who are so obsessed with a hobby that they don’t make time to do anything else.

They rush home from work to their hobby, even skipping dinner.

If this is you, schedule your hobby time so you’re not skipping meals, missing time with your family, or cutting into other productive time.

8. Daydreaming.

It’s fun and healthy to dream about career ambitions or future aspirations, but when those dreams prevent you from taking action in your life, then you’re wasting time.

Avoid getting bogged down with too much dreaming.

Make a list of your goals or dreams, then take action to make those dreams come true.

9. Meetings.

Although necessary, meetings can be one of the biggest time wasters of our workday.

If everyone is wiped out from sitting in long meetings all day, productive time will be low.

If you’re in charge of meetings, set timeframes for them and stick to your stated time.

Limit the length of your meetings: keep needless chatter and agendas out of the meeting.

10. Planning.

If you don’t take the time to plan your day, the important things you need to accomplish may not get done.

Write down your daily goals and tasks.

Schedule your day in the order of your top priorities.

There are many ways we waste our time in our everyday lives, but with a little effort, you can avoid time-wasting activities and turn that time into an advantage.

How much of your daily time goes to waste?

What can you do to be more productive today?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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January 21, 2019February 21, 2018

In my book of life, personal time equals productive time.

Giving myself personal time is a terrific gift.

I have learned that personal time allows me to be more productive.

Having the time to focus on the things I want to accomplish is important.

Personal time allows me to address the tasks I have set for myself.

In order to actively pursue my life purpose, I need to devote time to my goals.

Because I am a giving person, it is sometimes hard for me to see that I deserve the same amount of respect that I show to others.

When it is right, I find ways to put myself first.

Since I give myself the time and space to accomplish my goals, I am a better person.

I feel like I am listening to and honoring my true desires.

Time for myself enables me to be the best I can be.

It is a great practice to devote time to my thoughts and goals.

Personal time allows me to maximize my productivity.

My book of life is designed to help me become a complete person.

I make time for others and myself.

When I give myself personal time, I use that time fully.

Because personal time equals productive time, I am able to achieve my goals and devote more time to my family and friends.

When I am available to others, I am alive with energy.

My time alone has refreshed my life view and filled me with renewed passion. In my book of life, personal time is priceless.

What do you hope to accomplish during your personal time?

How can you maximize the productivity of your personal time?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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January 3, 2019February 20, 2018

I am devoting some “me” time to my schedule.

Each week I am adding myself to my planner so I can take time out for me.

I do this because I value my health and well being.

My body, mind and spirit benefit when I recharge my batteries.

I make dates with myself to spend time away from every day tasks.

I am important enough to be in my calendar.

I formally designate a time for myself because if I didn’t, I would invariably find something else to do.

“Me” time is for me to do whatever I please, free from guilt or pressure.

Often, I simply relax on my porch drinking a cup of coffee.

Other times, I take a warm bath and soak away my troubles.

Exercising is another enjoyable way to burn my stresses.

During my moments alone, I spend time developing myself as an individual.

I devote time to fine tuning my talents. Sometimes I use the time to improve myself as a professional.

In order to free up my schedule to allow personal time, I delegate tasks to others or decline invitations that may conflict with my planned time alone.

The people around me support and respect me in my quest for personal time because they know they get a better me as a result.

I spend time alone to energize myself and live my life to its fullest potential.

What gets in the way of your alone time?

What types of activities do you enjoy doing by yourself?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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November 23, 2018February 19, 2018

I remain cognizant of other people’s time and treat it as if it is my own.

When I make an appointment, I am on time.

Others never have to wait on me because I am respectful of their time.

Whether it is one person meeting me for lunch or a large group of people meeting for work, I follow the same rule: I always plan to arrive early, giving myself ample time in case I run into an unexpected delay.

When I am in a meeting, I am diligent so we can finish at the designated time.

I eliminate activities or discussions that waste time.

I cut out chatter and keep my conversations brief and to the point.

If I want to spend more time with someone, rather than causing the meeting to run later than expected, I schedule an additional appointment with him or her.

When I am with people late at night, I am considerate of the fact that they may need to get up early the next morning to go to work or get their children to school.

As a result, people trust me with their time.

They feel safe coming to me when I call on them because they do not fear being trapped. Time is priceless.

By respecting the time of others, my own time is respected as well.

Valuing people helps me practice being on time.

When I am on time, I respect people and give them importance.

My time is precious and valuable; therefore, I treat others’ time the same way.

How can planning ahead help you be on time?

How do you feel when others are late?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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November 14, 2018February 19, 2018

Time away from my work is just as important as time devoted to my work.

My work time is an essential part of my life; however, time away from work is just as vital.

I take pride in my work.

A part of what makes me proficient at my job is my activities away from work.

Seeking out enjoyable or relaxing activities every day only serves to enhance my life, both at work and away.

My life is so much richer because of the activities I engage in outside of work.

I enjoy spending time with my family and friends.

My social activities refresh me.

The time I spend pursuing hobbies and entertainment recharges me to be better in all areas of my life.

Equally important is the time I focus on relaxation.

Having downtime to reflect, rest, and relax is essential to me as a person.

I am a stronger and more focused person because I take the time to relax and enjoy all areas of my life.

Today I will make good use of every moment.

Whether I am at work or at play, every minute is important to my life as a whole and I will focus on the moment I am in.

How often have you taken the time to relax?

How can your work improve when you take the time for play and relaxation?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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October 22, 2018February 15, 2018

The Art of Organization: Seven Time Saving Tips

Organization is more important in your life than you may imagine.

Organization is so difficult for some people that they feel as if they’re just meant to be unorganized.

The truth is, however, is that none of us are meant to be unorganized!

We’re a species that functions better when we have structure in our lives. Without structure, we live in utter chaos.

All is not lost, though, if you have trouble organizing things!

Organizing only one aspect of your life helps you to begin on the rest of it.

This nice chain reaction helps things fall into place the way they should.

Time Saving Tips to Organize Your Life

The worst part about organizing your life is that it seems like it can take so much time.

That’s one reason why so many people refuse to find an organization strategy.

They feel like it will take too much time out of their day.

However, it doesn’t have to take much time at all!

The strategy is to work it into your life in ways that don’t take so much time.

Once your strategy is in place, it can actually save you time.

Here are some time saving tips to help you get organized:

1. Pace yourself. You don’t have to do everything all at once. Take care of one thing at a time.

A lot of unorganized people have clothes lying across the floor and shoes in strange places.

You could contain such a mess by picking those things up as you pass by them.

Don’t wait to do it all at once; otherwise it may never get done.

2. Set achievable goals. Make a plan to do only certain chores each day so that an entire day isn’t taken up by trying to do it all.

For example, set the goal of cleaning off your computer desk one day.

That’s a task that may take only ten minutes.

That’s a whole lot more manageable than resolving to clean your entire house in an afternoon!

3. Storage. Invest in some functional storage containers.

There are also some nice storage boxes that are decorative, too. Fill them as needed and when convenient.

Keep a storage box handy in your closet.

As you find things you don’t use or wear anymore, put them into the box.

Before you know it, your closet will be cleaned out!

4. Make a game out of it. Get the whole family in on it. This will save a lot of time if everyone pitches in.

Tell the kids if they help that you can have a special pizza night.

Present them with a reward and they’ll work hard, saving you time and getting your home organized quickly.

5. Change habits. Changing some of your habits can make things easier on you.

Instead of waiting for days to wash those dirty dishes, pick a time at the end of the day to wash them or do it in the mornings.

That will save you time because it only takes a few minutes to wash a few dishes, instead of a heaping pile.

6. Make the entire family responsible. Give everyone in the house responsibilities so that things can become organized and stay that way.

Put up a chart on the refrigerator or on a wall that outlines the weekly responsibilities and who’s supposed to do each chore.

It’s not your responsibility to clean your child’s room, make sure they take ownership of their own tasks.

7. Use racks and shelves. Make a place for everything so that everything has its own place.

Use a spice rack for your spices.

Invest in shoe organizers for the closets.

Hang stuffed animal hammocks in the kids’ bedrooms.

The Importance of Organization

The importance of organization cannot be underestimated because it carries over into other aspects of your life.

Without it, it’s hard to see clearly what’s going on around you.

When your life is organized, you can better point out the solution.

You can also feel better about yourself and your environment.

Plus, you’ll be able to find more time to do things you actually enjoy.

How do you manage your time to have enough for all of the things you need to do?

When was the last time you were able to set time for yourself?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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October 9, 2018February 1, 2018

Create a Better Work-Life Balance and Get Your Life Back

Do you feel like you’re so busy that you don’t have time for a life?

Do you feel as if you’re constantly running behind?

There are ways you can learn to negotiate your work life so you become more productive.

Once you become more organized at work, you can more fully enjoy your time away from work as well.

If you’re not stressing about your job, you can relax when you’re at home and live a more balanced life.

How can you be more productive?

What can you do to improve the quality of your life?

Here are a few ideas to find work-life balance:

1. Slow Down. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and it seems like you’re running in circles, sometimes the best thing you can do is to slow down.

Take the time to prioritize.

Going faster doesn’t mean you’re more productive or that you accomplish more things.

Doing things right the first time will save time in the long run.

2. Stop Procrastinating. There are certain things about any job that are mundane.

If you take the time to do the tedious parts of your job, you can breathe a sigh of relief sooner.

Schedule an afternoon to finish those pesky tasks so you can move on to more interesting (or even fun!) things.

3. Share The Work. You don’t have to do everything!

Recruit some help from your fellow employees or family members.

Delegate responsibilities, and you’ll get everything done in a timely manner.

This facilitates teamwork and makes everyone feel like they’ve made a contribution.

It also gives you some relief while your helpers gain a sense of accomplishment.

Don’t make things complicated. As humans, we tend to make extra work for ourselves even if it’s unnecessary.

Why reinvent the wheel?

If something works, don’t try to fix it.

Always remember the KISS method: Keep It Simple Silly.

4. De-clutter. Streamlining your workspace helps you focus on your work.

Arrange your desk so you can reach what you need the moment you need it.

Sifting through multiple piles costs you valuable time, causes frustration, and can even prevent you from completing important tasks!

5. Learn To Say No. When your workload is maxed out, be assertive about saying Help your boss understand that your plate is full and you’re not being insubordinate.

6. Stay within your scheduled hours. Once you’ve learned to keep work from cutting into your personal time, you will become more empowered to enjoy life outside the office walls.

7. Implement Technology. Use technology to your advantage.

A small time investment in entering information, such as addresses and other contact information, into a computer system can save volumes of time later.

Once you’ve implemented a system, it’s much easier to make changes to information and stay current.

It also makes it easier to keep up with detailed customer information.

8. Eliminate Distractions. If your personal life interferes with your job, set some boundaries.

Be firm when you have work to finish.

Leave your cell phone in the car or switch it off during work hours.

Discourage frequent personal calls or visits.

Delay socializing with co-workers until your work is done.

Once you’ve learned to streamline your workday, you’ll find that you no longer dread going to work and bringing it all home!

Imagine knowing that you’re ready to start your day instead of playing catch up from yesterday.

Be sure to start using these ideas today to enjoy a great work-life balance and a more fulfilling life!

What do you think of when you leave work?

What are you going to do differently this week to have time for yourself and your family?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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October 8, 2018February 1, 2018

For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

September 22, 2018January 31, 2018

I love spending time with my children.

I love spending time with my children for many reasons.

One of the things I love most about them is the way they remind me to live in the moment.

Unlike many adults, kids are generally uninhibited by the need to perform.

They find great joy in the simple pleasures of life: catching fireflies, riding a bike, reading a good book or drawing a pretty picture for a friend.

They can get caught up in their interests for hours, pursuing it with single-minded attention.

When I spend time with them, I remember what it means to be absorbed in the moment, to be so fascinated that I am open to all its beauty and opportunities.

My children also model unconditional love for me.

Oh, they do get angry! But children are remarkably forgiving and trusting.

They know that, regardless of whatever mistakes I make, I have their best interests at heart.

I strive to maintain that same openness in my life.

I allow those I love some leeway, daring to trust their love, even if we occasionally disagree.

I allow myself to slow down and re-experience the simple pleasures in life.

I let go of the idea that time well-spent must involve something that can be billed or bought.

I am content to sit and blow bubbles with my daughter or bake cookies with my son, knowing that they are the ones who know what it means to truly live.

When was the last time you played with your children?

What have you learned from a child recently?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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