Too many people believe they can boost their productivity simply by managing their time more effectively.

And it’s true that the disciplined use of time management tools can help most people in most circumstances.

However, if you don’t address your poor work habits before applying a new time management system, it’s like putting your foot on the accelerator with the emergency brake still engaged.

You expect to leap forward. But you don’t.

Time management can only help you so much if you don’t first address your poor work habits.

What do I mean by poor work habits?

Here are some examples:

• You are susceptible to interruptions and distractions.
• You are not skilled at setting priorities and identifying where your highest-value opportunities lie.
• You don’t clear your desk of everything relating to your last job before starting on the next.
• You don’t research each project sufficiently before you start writing.
• You don’t have strategies in place to get started and deal with the dreaded blank page.
• You don’t have the self-discipline to stay focused on each task until it is completed.
• And these are just some of the work issues writers have to face each day.

In truth, none of us achieve perfection or anything close when it comes to our work habits. But you should do as much as you can to ensure that you make the most productive use of your time.

It is only then that you will feel the full benefits of applying a time management system.

For instance, if you carefully put aside 90 minutes to write the first draft of a sales letter for a client, those 90 minutes won’t be very productive if you haven’t first prepared by doing all the necessary research in advance and clearing your mind of other tasks and responsibilities.

You may have managed your time well enough in terms of allocating the 90 minutes. It’s just that you won’t be able to make the most of that time slot because your work habits aren’t as sharp as your time management skills.

Time management will help you only when you are able to make the most productive use of the time you allocate to each task.

About the Author:  Nick Usborne is a copywriter, author, trainer and coach. You can learn more about his coaching service at http://www.asknickusborne.com/coaching-service.html.

This entry was posted on Friday, September 26th, 2008 at 2:46 pm and is filed under Writing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.