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1. Take a look at your life and decide if there are any activities you're involved in that are no longer serving a purpose in your life. If they're no longer necessary, drop them. 2. Decide what choice you can make to free up more time and energy. Can you eliminate the weekly dinner with a friend or meet for dinner once or twice a month instead? 3. Don't overextend yourself with social activities. Learn to skip functions when there are other more important or meaningful projects or activities that need to be done or that you want to do. 4. Go over a typical day and decide what activities are a waste of your time. 5. Stop doing the things you don't want to be doing, such as playing golf, simply because you've heard you can make important career contacts on the green, or roller-blading simply to appease your boyfriend. Try to get rid of such activities and substitute them with things you love. 6. Do not take on extra tasks or "favors" that you cannot or do not really have the time to do. Sort through requests and do those that are truly necessary or that you want to do. 7. Get rid of relationships that "take" from you instead of "give" to you, such as nowhere romances, one-sided friendships, etc.
8. Simplify your goals. Instead of ten, concentrate on five. 9. You may need to change your job or career if it is zapping you of emotional and physical energy or preventing you from pursuing things that are more important to you. 10. Learn to say no at work. Refrain from extra projects just because you are afraid of losing your job. If your reason for declining is reasonable and sound there shouldn't be any problem. Explain how extra duties might interfere with your current responsibilities. If your boss doesn't understand, perhaps it's time to look for another job.11. Return phone calls at lunch hour. If the party is at lunch, you can leave a message on voice mail without engaging in lengthy conversation. 12. Take one hour to sort and read mail daily, then toss it, deal with it, or file it. Handle mail only once. If you put it aside for later, you'll soon have another pile and will simply have to go through the process again. 13. Get your name off of junk mail lists by writing to the Mail Preference Service or notifying magazine and catalog companies that you do not want them to sell your name and address to other companies. 14. Get rid of clutter in your home. Clutter makes it difficult for you to find things. Pitch clothing that is dated, too small, or needs repair (if you know you will never get around to fixing them). Pare down your files.
15. Organize your closet, grouping blouses, skirts, dresses, etc., together and by color, so that you can easily find items.
Written by Gerrie E. Summers, Today's Black Woman |
