Shooting Yourself in the Foot

August 2010

10 Statements that Waste the Day

If you find yourself asking where the day went, consider the statements below - they're huge time wasters.

1. "I'll do it later." Postponing the inevitable is a terrible burden to carry. If you don’t start now, you can’t finish.
2. "Sure, I'll help." Sometimes tight deadlines demand staying focused. Prioritize, get it done, and then help others.
3. "See you at the meeting." To save and use time effectively, prepare for meetings. Set an agenda, address the issues, and get to the point.
4. "No, I don’t need to write it down." The key here - don't rely on your memory for everything.
5. "Hello." Unplanned or unexpected phone calls can take up a significant part of your day. Take 30 seconds to plan what you’re going to say or ask.
6. "I thought it was in this pile." If you’re unorganized, it’s going to be difficult to find important files, memos, contracts, etc.
7. "I have plenty of time." If you don’t plan ahead, chances are you’re never going to have enough time to finish it.
8. "Danish anyone?" This is a major time waster. Avoid unnecessary indulgences at all costs.
9. "Sure, you can come in." Unexpected visitors can be time wasters. If you're in a time crunch, it's perfectly OK to tell visitors that you’ll have to chat with them later.
10. "I just need to check this last e-mail." Use the computer wisely - personal e-mails and chat rooms can cut into work time.

"I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have." - Thomas Jefferson