My Time Wasters

 

 

Read the following list of common time wasters.  Place a check before your 3 to 5 biggest time wasters.  If any of your biggest ones are missing, add them in the blank spaces at the bottom and include those in the 3 to 5 chosen.

 

 

_____ 1.  Interruptions, drop-in visitors, unplanned conversations.

 

_____ 2.  Meetings, scheduled or unscheduled.

 

_____ 3.  Lack of objectives, setting deadlines, setting priorities.

 

_____ 4.  Cluttered desk, hunting things needed, personal disorganization.

 

_____ 5.  Doing routine things of minor importance.

 

_____ 6.  Attempting too much at once.

 

_____ 7.  Unrealistic time estimates.

 

_____ 8.  Procrastination, indecision, daydreaming.

 

_____ 9.  Inability to say “No”.

 

_____ 10.  Leaving tasks unfinished, jumping from one task to another.

 

_____ 11.  Getting involved in unnecessary details – “chasing rabbits”.

 

_____ 12.  Socializing, idle conversation.

 

_____ 13.  Playing cards.  Games, etc.

 

_____ 14.  Lacking self-discipline – not carrying through on plans.

 

_____ 15.  Constantly switching priorities.

 

_____ 16.  Failure to listen carefully to assigned tasks.

 

_____ 17.  Failure to do first things first.

 

_____ 18.  Failure to use short blocks of time constructively.

 

_____ 19.  “Breaks” which turn into “vacations”.

 

_____ 20.  Duplicating effort (having to start over, losing material).

 

_____ 21.  Watching television.

 

_____ 22.  __________________________________________

 

_____ 23.  __________________________________________

 

_____ 24.  __________________________________________