by Karin Stewart

Created on: June 15, 2009   Last Updated: June 16, 2009

As a leading time management expert, I'm often asked what are the top mistakes I see people make so they can get an idea of where to start and how much these issues impact their own lives. Readers, clients and editors alike are often astounded by how quickly they can regain control and, too, just how far-reaching and damaging the effects of poor time and organizational management skills are. Companies lose billions in inflated overhead and lost sales annually, not to mention the astounding cost in medical care due to stress. Here are my top ten:

Being a slave to your mobile email system or cell phone: You know you have become a slave to your mobile email or cell phone when, almost every time it rings or buzzes, you jump and answer it. Cell phones and mobile email systems can be wonderful tools, but when YOU consciously control them (i.e. you decide when and how you will pick up and answer). Otherwise, they become a phenomenal time waster eating up to several hours each day! Daily Mastery clients, just by learning how to manage these tools, often reclaim a full hour of productive time every day.

Working by emergencies: Many clients finally call me for help because they feel overwhelmed by the constant emergencies they face in their work and home life. In other words, they have to take care of the things that scream at them the most, leaving less urgent tasks until finally they simply have to be addressed. they, in turn, become the new, pressing emergency. When taken care of before they become emergencies, most things require less time, energy and resources and turn out better, are more creative and even more profitable than they do as full-fledged emergencies.

Not sleeping enough: We often make the mistake of sleeping less so we can get more done. This is a crucial mistake because the fact is that sleep is critical to making the most of your time. When sleep-deprived, we think and do things more slowly, and are much more likely to make mistakes. Studies confirm that sleep deprivation affects us similarly to alcohol. We wouldn't think of drinking excessively right before our biggest client presentation, yet we don't think twice about staying up until two or three in the morning to finish the presentation handouts. The result the next morning is not much different, except that recovery from the hangover of lost sales, failed projects and the life can be much more difficult.

Not using an effective task list: In my years as time management expert, I've seen

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• Next Page >>