May I suggest you follow this four step question format to help focus your valuable energy – these questions can of course be reframed to be not only used at work but for personal tasks outside of work.

The Four W’s of Time Management (I wrote this to be easy so the four W’s are not Work,Work, Work, Work

Step ONE

Ask yourself WHAT exactly is it that you need to do.

Perhaps, you need to update your website, organize your past client files so you can start using a contact management system like Aweber,  perhaps you need to design a new product.

Now once you have written WHAT tasks need to be done move to the next question.

Step TWO

Ask yourself WHO is the right person for the task.

Okay, so you are not a web designer so you will hire someone for this (make a note to locate a web designer), you will also hire someone to organize your client files because your time needs to be used more effectively (make a note of what way you need the files organized) but you are very creative in product development area so you will work on the new product.

Now that you have focused your energy and realized there is a ideal task for you to work on (the product design) you need to double check what you are doing before you start.

Step THREE

Ask yourself WHY do I need to do this task?

Well, all your market research indicates the market has changed and your products need to change too. you need to redefine/recreate/create a new product – this task is a good choice to use your time best.

Now that you double checked you are definitely on track you need to ask yourself another question.

Step FOUR

Ask yourself WHEN do I need to do this task?

You have the time, you have the funding, you have the need so then the time is now. If you are missing the funding or you decide the need is not really present in the current or future market place then you need to find another task to focus your time on. And as always in life there are always more tasks to complete.

I hope this idea I put together for you (I call it the four W’s of Time Management) helps you enjoy a more stress free and successful day.

Best Wishes,

David