9 Unique Ways to Get More Done in Less Time

When thinking about getting more done in less time, most people will turn to the traditional time management literature. But, what if you don't believe in time management? What if you believed there was no such thing as time management and there was only self management in time? Where would you get your top tips for improving effectiveness, then?

Consider these, less-than-traditional methods for changing your behavior and become a more effective self-manager.

1. Do not trip over the trap of Parkinson's Law. In case you're wondering, Parkinson's Law says that work expands to fill the amount of time available for it's completion. If you give yourself two weeks to get a project done, guess what?! It will take you two weeks to do it! That same project, if you look at the actual time spent, may have really only consumed one week's worth of your work. Next time, schedule only one week.

2. Use the Pareto Principle to your advantage. The Pareto Principle, also known as the 80/20 rule, is the concept that you'll get 80% of the results from 20% of the work. It's true in every field of human endeavor. The key is to know what results are expected of you and then identify the 20% of your activities and work that yields 80% of those results.

3. Always focus on results. Top executives in this country are top executives because they're always focused on results, not the process. Ask yourself, "What results are expected of me?" Then, as you're going through your day, categorize what you're doing into one of two areas: A) This is helping me to accomplish the results that are expected of me. Or, B) This is not.

4. Motivational speaker, Jim Rohn has been heard to say, "Don't start your day until it's finished on paper first." Another way of looking at it is to spend a few minutes the night before getting ready for the next day.

5. Recognize that your surroundings will affect your effectiveness. Identify what's happening around you to cause stress, increase anxiety, and reduce your ability to work efficiently and effectively. Do whatever it takes to reduce, eliminate, and delete these negatives.

6. Always break down larger tasks into smaller assignments. This helps them become more attainable and less daunting.

7. Have a list of things to accomplish for a day, a week, a month, even a whole semester and check each one off once completed or achieved.

8. Set a schedule for exercise and relaxation. Remember, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

9. What's yours?

Remember, there's no end to how you can become more effective by managing your own behavior, taking responsibility for the outcomes in your life right now, and developing self-management skills.