DO YOU REALLY WANT (or need) 7 MORE HOURS IN YOUR DAY?

I was reading on Flipboard (one of my fave items on my ipad) an article titled "How to Get 7 More Hours in your Day" and my curiosity got the better of me . . .

What would I do with a 31 hour day?

To be honest, my first thought was MORE SLEEP!

But wouldn't that defeat the purpose?

The article started with tip #1 being "Handle things once (saves 15 to 20 minutes)"

I do that already.  This is something I learned way back when the Paper Dragon regularly threw up in my office!

Tip #2 was "Don't listen to the news first thing in the morning (30 minutes)"

Stopped that years ago too . . .  something about depressing not getting my engine running  . . .

Tip #3 ?

"Make good use of waiting time (30 minutes)"

You guessed it . . .  I learned this lesson many years ago too and always have something to do when I am forced to wait for someone to play catch up.  Don't get me started on this HUGE pet peeve of mine!!!

Looks like I'm already missing out on 1 hour and 20 minutes of my day (or am I ahead already?)

Tip #4, the jury is still out on this one.  It is what we call Multi-Tasking.  It was something that most of us do naturally but what can easily be turned into an exercise in futility if not used correctly.  There is nothing wrong with completing one task whilst waiting for another to come to fruition.  Such as having dinner cooking in the oven while you play fetch with the dogs.  But when you find yourself with several different projects incomplete and your head in a spin?  That is not multi-tasking.  100% is the goal; 100% complete and 100% your best effort.  Not, oh I work better under pressure and to a deadline.  NO YOU DON'T so stop trying to fool yourself!  That is just what you're used to doing!!   OOOPS, off on a tangent again.

Tip #5 says to "Be decisive and move on (up to 60 minutes)"   Another Pet Peeve of mine.  I used to dine with people who couldn't never make up their minds on what to order.  After 20 minutes of studying a 1 page menu they would then ask the waiter "So is this  special/fish/steak good today?"   As if the waiter was going to know what their personal likes and dislikes were or as if he would respond back with "Well the Cod is crap today and the Salmon stinks . . ."   Servers hate this and your fellow diners hate this -  someone had to say it!!

I still haven't made up any lost time yet - darn!

I love Tip #6 and took it on as my own many many years ago - "Lighten up on your cleaning standards (30 to 45 minutes)"

I live in a HOME with 2 shedding dogs and have come to the point in my life where I simply do not notice disorder until we have company arriving.  Then it is everyone to their stations and our HOME becomes a HOUSE BEAUTIFUL!

To Do Lists - do you do them?   I was faithful to a written list for years until technology jumped in to save my life.  Tip #7 "Write it down (60 minutes)" 
Siri is my new best friend and she keeps me on track for everything!

Tip  #8 "Turn off technology during your high-energy time (90 minutes)"  Now this can't possibly work for me because I need access to my technology when my energy is high because that's when I write my blogs, create my marketing pieces, my newsletters, etc.   Must be for another profession than ours!!

#9 "Monitor time-sapping addictions (60 minutes)"  Okay, MAYBE I could reduce a bit of TV time but I think I've already done that by using my DVR and fast-forwarding through commercials etc.   Taping shows to watch when I WANT TO WATCH them rather than when they are scheduled.   I think I've done this one already too!

Hopefully, some of these tips will help you add 7 more hours to your day but I feel like, as an adult, I mastered these 30 years ago.  This leaves me, Susan Emo, with time I can dedicate to you and your home buying and selling in Gananoque, Kingston or the 1000 Islands Area!  You know how to find me . . .