December 2009 - Issue 66 - www.clareevans.co.uk

Welcome to all new subscribers.

Hello ,

I can't believe another year is almost over. How have things been going for you in 2009? Many people haven't been finding things easy but having a clear plan and being consistent has helped in weathering the financial ups and downs of the year.

I've done more workshops, talks and presentations this year and it's great to get the opportunity to travel around and see new parts of the countryside. I did a workshop over in Hastings and then a presentation up in Shropshire this month.

I've recently upgraded my phone to a Blackberry. While I'm not about let it rule my life, it has got some great features and saves having to have both a PDA and a mobile phone.

There are thousands of applications available for download and I'm sure many people are tempted to download every potentially useful app. I'm still finding my way around them all but do let me know if you've found any great apps you can't manage without.

I did notice one neat feature - you can automatically switch it on and off between certain times. Something that might be useful to those of you who feel too tied to your phone and links in to this month's article.

Don't miss out on getting a running start to the New Year. Why not book up a Time Audit session or a Focussession to start 2010 full of enthusiasm and motivation. Never mind your New Year resolutions - put resolutions in place that will really make a difference to you and your business.

Take a look at my Fan Page on Facebook - Time Management For ... Everybody.  I'll share tips and ideas and you can ask for advice, get updates and resources.

As usual, you can get extra news and tips from my blog www.clareevans.co.uk/blog or Follow me on Twitter and keep up-to-date automatically. Connect with me on Linked In and Facebook.

Enjoy the rest of this month's newsletter and have a great Christmas and New Year.

Clare

P.S. Feel free to pass this newsletter on to friends and colleagues.

Do you find that you're always taking on more and more or that people are constantly making demands on your time?

So often when I talk to clients, it becomes clear that one of the reasons they are so busy is that they don't know when to say no and where to draw the line.

If you work from home you might find it difficult to keep your home and work life separate.

It helps to have clear boundaries. People then know where they stand.

Set some rules and boundaries. Decide when you want to work, don't let your clients or your other people dictate your hours. While you might have to work within set hours it doesn't mean that you have to work long hours or work weekends as a matter of course.

When you are about to say 'Yes', ask yourself this:

- What am I saying 'Yes' to?
- What am I saying 'No' to?

Don't say yes until you know what you're agreeing to. What's involved, how long will it take, do you have the capacity, interest, motivation, to take it on?

- Saying 'Yes' to finishing an urgent report by the end of the day, you are saying 'No' to getting home on time.

Being asked to do a one hour presentation might not seem a lot but there'll be planning and preparation time, travel and follow-up. All of which will take a lot longer than one hour.

When you say yes, you're committing your time, which means something else you wanted to do, won't get done. If you're already doing too much this becomes a problem.

Be clear, direct and realistic about what you are able to achieve. You can't say yes to everything.

Don't replace a Yes with a Maybe.  Saying 'maybe later' when you actually mean 'no' is just putting it off.

Manage other people's expectations and get back in control of your time. If people set you unrealistic or unmanageable deadlines, learn to say no or go back and renegotiate their deadline.

Don't make your sense of urgency someone else's problem but don't let someone else's deadline become your problem.

Don't make elaborate excuses or go into long explanations. Be open, upfront and honest with people.

Be clear about your personal boundaries, or you'll end up finding you don't have any time to yourself, especially over the holiday season when you're likely to have even more demands on your time from friends and family.

To find out more about setting and maintaining good boundaries, email me or give me a call.  Book a free Focus session if you'd like to discuss your specific situation or email me at info@clareevans.co.uk.

Until the New Year.