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You may be wondering what time management has to do with health, so bear with me and read on. The interactive world we live in allows for plenty of distractions. There are distractions by our coworkers or our spouses as well as family and friends. Then there are our own vices browsing through the latest sports scores or seeing which band is going to be playing at our favorite music venue. Some of these distractions are welcome, and they should be. All too often, however, distractions can become a nuisance that interferes with our productivity. Here are some simple tips for time management to help us all stay more focused.
Try to Determine Your Most Productive Work Times
We humans definitely have ebbs and flows in our productivity. For instance, if you’re a writer, you may find that writing in the morning is your most optimal time. If that’s the case, concentrate your writing schedule for mornings only and use the afternoons for other tasks. You may need to track what you are doing for several days or weeks to see when these optimum times occur and to determine their frequency. There are even software packages that can help do the tracking for you.  Here’s a great free tool for you to try:  http://rememberthemilk.com
Come Up with a Plan on What Success Means
Just throwing together a bunch of tasks is as useful as having no tasks defined at all. In other words, neither is very useful. Work with your manager and determine what kinds of tasks or goals will be needed in order to increase your productivity. Your manager will have his or her department’s objectives in mind which can be used to determine how you can best contribute. You may even use these as part of your performance review. The great thing about doing this consistently is that you can make adjustments for the tasks that are not working out or where you may need extra help. Your manager will appreciate you for trying to become more productive and for being proactive.
Give Yourself a Break
Having a well-defined plan is a great way to increase your productivity, but don’t beat yourself up if you happen to have a few days that are not as productive as others. Sometimes the tasks are going to slip up and you will be more distracted than at other times. This is normal for us mortals, and you should allow for some down time to recharge yourself. No one is expecting you to be a productivity robot.
Be Consistent
Time management is a skill which needs to be learned, practiced and applied. It takes some adjusting in the beginning but is really just a matter of changing how you structure your work and the tasks to complete your work. This requires a consistent commitment to making it work.
How do these simple tips for time management relate to health? In our crazy, too-much-to-do world, anything that helps you be more organized and that reduces your stress level is a real step toward a happier, healthier you!
Cheryl A Major, CNWC
Cheryl A Major lives in Westford and is a Certified Nutrition and Wellness Consultant. Her TV show, Thin Strong Healthy, airs on WestfordCat and is an offshoot of her blog http://ThinStrongHealthy.com  Cheryl offers ongoing information and personal health coaching to help you feel better and be healthier.  Follow Cheryl on Twitter @CherylAMajor. She is also a full time residential Realtor with Coldwell Banker with more than 25 years experience.Â
Questions? Email Cheryl at cheryl@thinstronghealthy.com and be sure to put Health Question in the subject line. Your question and its answer will be included in a future article
P.S. Get a copy of this special report I’ve prepared as my free gift to you: 10 Tips for Healthy Eating on a Budget at http://ThinStrongHealthy.com . As a bonus, you will receive Your Major Health Minutes, a quick bite of healthy information that will come to you a couple of times a week. You know you want to lose weight and be healthier!
