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VO Tip #5: Stop Procrastinating (List of stuff NOT to do while working)

By Regina P. Brown

Real Estate Broker/Owner with MBA Broker Consultants CalBRE Broker #00983670

November 27, 2008 07:17 PM

You may have read my blog about getting more done by prioritizing your tasks and scheduling your day better. Click below to see Part 1, "Did you Make Money Today or were you just Busy?"

http://activerain.com/blogsview/803284/VO-Tip-2-Did-you-Make-Money-Today-or-were-you-just-busy

This is Part 2: What NOT to do during your most productive time first thing in the AM (for me, 9-11 am). Eliminate the items below, or minimize the amount of time spent on them during business hours:

Reading news, info, gossip - newspaper, magazines, internet (the online black hole)
Surfing the internet
Playing games
Reading & sending emails - whether computer or PDA (instead, make it part of a quick regular routine)
Opening & reading incoming mail (instead, make it part of a quick regular routine)
Shopping / purchasing items
Socializing with other people during business hours
Doing any tasks that you can delegate
Giving free advice to non-clients (time spent; no money received) -- mooches
Excessive cleaning and organizing (instead, make it part of a quick regular routine)
Putting out crisises
Starting new projects or ventures
Business operations that are losing money
Watching TV
Personal pursuits
Cleaning the house, and other household duties
Other time-wasters not directly making you money

Unfortunately your business schedule can be complicated by:

Juggling multiple jobs
Supervising employees
Lack of focus, persistency
Lack of discipline
Lack of interest

At the end of each day, add up number of minutes/hours spent on each item EVERY day! You'll be very surprised and it may help you change your routine by creating more productive habits.

Print out the tips from the first blog in this series -- it'll help you stay focused. Well I guess I better quit surfing the internet and get back to work......

Regina P. Brown
Allison James Estates & Homes
www.ReginaBrown.AllisonJamesInc.com

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Cecily Parks

iMove Group, Knipe Realty NW, Inc. - Salem, OR

Hi Regina: Great advice...I think we are all guilty of at least one of these items on your list....I do know better but still make the mistake of checking my email or answering my phone too early in the morning. Oops! I'm already on AR.....my bad.

Nov 28, 2008 03:23 AM

Regina P. Brown

MBA Broker Consultants - Carlsbad, CA

M.B.A., Broker, Instructor

Cecily, that's cute! I love Active Rain, it's so exciting to check my messages first thing in the AM. Sometimes I have to pull out my wireless card (cutting off my internet access) so I can actually get some work done. Guess I better get back to work now, eh!

Nov 28, 2008 05:32 AM

Robert Vegas Bob Swetz

Las Vegas, NV

Regina - Great stuff there, and I am not sure if I want anyone to know my hectic day! It sounds like you keep your self busy during the day too.

Nov 28, 2008 05:00 PM

Chris Fisher

Your Virtual Assistant - Concord, CA

Regina - I am still stuck on the fact that your most productive hours are between 9 and 11am. I am still drinking coffee and trying to focus, all I can do during that time (well for me 8:30 to 10:30) is email. Good advice though, I agree. I never, however, watch tv while at work. : )

Dec 01, 2008 02:37 PM

Chris, just think if you had a regular office job, you'd have to be there by 8 am or get in trouble for being late! I did that for over 10 years, so I'm very thankful that I can now set my own schedule.

I reality, I usually work until late at night, so I schedule my AM appointments beginning at 10 am. Then by about 2 pm, I'm usually a little tired, and have trouble concentrating, so that's why I try to get out to do my errands or appointments at that time.

Dec 01, 2008 03:03 PM

VO Tip #5: Stop Procrastinating (List of stuff NOT to do while working)

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