5 Tips to Get to Work On Time
Why is time management important? Perhaps because we have a limited amount of hours in every day and when we waste time, it’s gone forever. The good news is that a little advance planning can put you in control of time instead of the other way around. Follow these steps to be perceived as punctual and dependable:
1. Always put your keys, sunglasses, umbrella and bus/train pass in the exact same place. For your keys, a bowl will do or you can buy a key box or sink a nail to hang them. If you place your keys in the same place consistently for 30 days it becomes a habit.
If you observe one day that you’ve thrown your keys on the table, pick them up immediately and put them in the key box or bowl; you will soon learn to always look in this one place for your keys. For the rest of the aforementioned items store them near your exit door in a container or on a hook.
2. Purge your closet of clothing you never wear. If everything in your closet fits you, is in season and you feel great wearing it; you should never have to struggle with what to wear. Pack away clothing that is too big or small and label accordingly. Donate clothing you know you’ll never wear to a friend or organization. Use your main closet for clothing you love.
3. Realistically evaluate how long it takes you to complete your morning routine. For years you’ve risen at 7:30 a.m. in order to arrive on time for a 9:00 a.m. meeting; but you’re always 10-25 minutes late. Isn’t it really 7:45 am and not 7:30 am by the time you move from the bed to the shower? Are you checking email first? Feeding/walking the dog?
List your morning tasks and estimate the time for every task from showering, shaving, brushing teeth, travel time, etc.; total the entire list and add 20 minutes. Set a time for leaving (and stick to it!) that includes travel time, plus 15 minutes minimum. You’ll have a far more realistic view of how much time is required. Being late does not reflect well on anyone. Resolve to be on time!
4. Prepare the night before. If you take your lunch and breakfast to work, why not prepare it the night before? Or better yet, if there’s a refrigerator at work, buy bagels and sandwich fixings once a week and store them there. While you’re at it, check to make sure your favorite suit is free of fuzz and/or your hosiery is free of runs.
5. Know where you’re going. If you don’t have a portable navigation system be sure to search online for directions to your appointment well in advance. Don’t forget the floor, suite number and your contact’s phone number in case you get lost.
I’d love to hear how you made out after trying these tips. If they don’t work exactly maybe you could tell me your particular challenge and we could tackle it together.
Cheryl Vargas empowers the work-at-home entrepreneur to be more organized, productive and in control. She is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers, the Oak Park-River Forest Chamber of Commerce; and owner of Oak Park, IL based OrganizeChicago, LLC. She’s passionate about getting her clients” organized, prioritized and strategied” and can be contacted at cv@organizechicago.com or visit the website http://organizechicago.com
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June 23rd, 2009 at 10:12 pm
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