The BEST Question

Think about it: From the moment we wake up to the second we go to sleep, we are making decisions about how we spend our time. I'd like to share with you my secret weapon for making smarter time choices: I ask myself the BEST time management question*:

What is the BEST use of my time, right now?*

For example, this morning when the alarm went off, I had to decide whether to get out of bed to exercise (which I know will make me feel energized all day) OR hit the snooze button and get a little more sleep (which I felt I could use). Today, I decided to get up and exercise (hence I have energy to write this column!) while other days the answer to question is to hit the snooze button. Both are smart decisions, if I consciously decide that it is the best use of my time. There are literally hundreds of other similar pivotal points in my day that benefit from using this question.

I especially love to use the question when I have just 5-10 minutes in between activities and I'm not sure what to do. When I ask myself this question, I think about what I'd like or need to do today that can fit in this timeframe. I have found many things I can do in this short time that enables me to get more done in less time every day, such as:

    * Peruse the newspaper
    * Fold a load of laundry
    * Research something on the internet
    * Call for an appointment I need to make
    * Organize my stuff
    * Do the dishes
    * Pay a few bills online
    * Read a few of my online newsletters
    * And so on!

Each of the above, when completed, gives me a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. Now don't we all need a little more of that at the end of our busy days?! Consider writing this question on a piece of paper and put it where you work. You may be surprised what you decide to do!

So now that you are done reading this tip, what's the BEST use of YOUR time, right now?!

TERMS OF PERMISSION TO REPRINT

This tip may be reprinted when the following byline is included:

Abby Marks Beale is founder of The Corporate Educator, a professional speaking and training company specializing in helping with busy people work smarter, faster and just plain better. Go to www.TheCorporateEducator.com.

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Rev It Up Reading is a subsidiary of The Corporate Educator. Since 1988, we have been teaching faster, more effective reading to busy professionals, educators and students in a wide variety of corporations, associations and schools. We offer speaking services, on-site and online training programs, teleclasses, books and audio recordings about how to manage any reading workload and how to read better and faster. ALL of our training is practical and immediately useful to your life and work.