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As a professional organizer and trainer, I have come to recognize that unless there is a focused effort to keep vigilance over priority busters, our best time management efforts will go unrealized. Our day-to-day lives demand more to resolving this than just practicing better time management principles.

The cost of a minute

Jim Miller of U.S. West tells us we experience eight interruptions an hour. American Demographics magazine says us we receive 23 paper and electronic messages an hour*each one its own type of interruption. Regardless of the type or number, remember that every time someone stands at the door and asks if you've *got a minute?* they invite you to climb out of your priority and into theirs. Politely moving them to an alternative time enables you to remain focused on your priorities.

'Yes' is an acceptable word

Learning to say no and meaning it is difficult. Let's face it*no can sound like *yes* and no and sound like *maybe*. Saying it to supervisors or customers comes with its own cautionary reminder. But identifying and being committed to your priorities is what keeps us focused on when and if we should be saying 'yes'.

Fight against procrastination

A difficult habit to break. When delaying decisions is how we handle matters, we permeate our time management practices with ineffective and frustrating scenarios. Not only for ourselves, but for others as well. Making decisions to move things forward is the only way to fight procrastination. One mindful step at a time.

Today's business climate creates pressure to produce more work*with fewer people*sooner*for less money. It demands more of us. But there's major productivity gains to be realized by proactively handling interruptions, keeping commitments tethered to priorities and actively making decisions. That is when we will realize productivity gains and less stress as individuals and as an organization.

There are only 24 hours a day. It's how you use them that determines your level of satisfaction with work and life.

Copyright 2001 Cynthia Kyriazis. All rights reserved.