How to Handle Time Crunches

Although we have more labor-saving devices than our grandparents did, we remain locked in a struggle with time to accomplish what we desire to do. One idea to handle time crunches is the 80/20 rule, developed by the 19th-century Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto. Focusing on about 20 percent of the causes produces about 80 percent of the results. Other ideas follow.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Develop clear values and goals in life. This helps you set priorities for the day.
2. Create a to-do list for the day. Organize it and direct your energies toward what is really important using Pareto's 80/20 rule.
3. Delegate tasks to others at home or at work when possible. For the assistant at work or the child at home, this empowers them while freeing your time.
4. Handle potential time-wasters by avoiding them. Do your shopping, commute, go out to eat and run errands at times when others don't. For example, if the grocery store is crowded on Saturday, shop on Tuesday.
5. Say no to social commitments or work assignments when necessary. You know your schedule and know how much time you can devote to social gatherings or tasks at work.
6. Use waiting time at a doctor's office or car repair shop. Take along a letter to write or a laptop to work on a task, and you could gain 30 minutes or more toward handling time crunches.
7. Handle each piece of paper once instead of shuffling it into a pile where you must deal with it again. Paper piles create clutter and wastes time as you look for documents.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't be a perfectionist. Worrying about every detail uses time better devoted to other endeavors.
• Avoid procrastinating. Tasks you put off today are tomorrow's time crunches.