Procrastination: What are you doing now?

What are you not doing at the moment? I know you are currently reading this email, so my question for you this morning is - what should you be doing that you are not - because you are reading this and probably all your other emails?
 
We all put things off, the question is why.
 
Do you know how much time you "waste" by delaying doing things, either starting, whilst undertaking projects or finishing those projects. We waste time on unnecessary phone calls, answering emails that are not urgent let alone important, talking to colleagues etc etc.
 
One of the best ways to discover how much time you actually spend on those activities that get you to where you say you want to be is to keep a time log. A simple piece of paper next to your computer, or download our timelog - and every time you do something - write down what you are doing and how long it took you to complete the task. If you spend 10 minutes answering emails that is ok, but what happens when you open your email every time the little message pops onto your screen? How much time do you actually spend working on your projects? The answer is not very much - in real terms.
 
My advice - have a designated time to answer your emails - when you arrive, lunch time and about an hour before the end of your day. Deal immediately with what is there - Do it, delegate it or dump it.
 
And keep your time log going for a couple of days - no-one needs to know what you are doing, but if you are serious about getting more from your day, then you need to know how you currently spend your days. Remember you only have a single chance to get the most from today. Once it has gone you cannot get it back. Apart from Dr Who I don't know of anyone who has a time machine - so spend each day doing what is important to you and you will achieve great things.