Sébastien Fanget's List: Gestion du temps

• Still, Post-It Index Tabs go with Moleskine notebooks like biscotti goes with coffee.
• I use two per Moleskine. The first one goes a little past halfway into the book, the second about a dozen or so pages back from the end. That makes three sections:
• 1. Next Actions/Notes
• tasks go on the right-hand page, notes on the left-hand page.
• There is one right-hand page that’s not for notes, usually the first one. This I designate for “Someday/Maybe”.
• 2. Projects/Goals
• On the first page of the section, the one with the tab on it, I keep a running list of all the projects I’m working on.
• A few pages in, I start pages for each project, usually just lists of tasks and random ideas I want to remember.
• On the back of the first page, I write short-term goals. I have a simple formula: “By [DATE] I will have [GOAL]”. I typically set goals for 1 month, 3 months, and (maybe) 6 months in the future, so in this notebook,

• 3. Reference

  The last section is for pieces of information I might need on the go
• My Moleskine lives in my back pocket. As I said, the goal is that when I need to us it
• Usually, the sewn-in bookmark marks the first page under “Next actions” that I can write in, and the elastic strap is wrapped around the first blank page under “Projects”. If – and this happens very rarely – if the notes and tasks in the “Next actions” section get too far out-of-whack, whether because I’ve taken a bunch of notes recently and gotten several pages ahead of the last page of tasks, or vice versa, I’ll use the bookmark and strap to mark the last pages of tasks and notes separately.
• And that’s the whole system. Like I said, simple, but it works. And because it works with minimal effort, I actually use it. Every. Single. Day.

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• 1. Embrace Your Fear

• 2. Plan For Interruptions

  Effective planning is a cornerstone of the productive lifestyle. Planning for interruptions might seem impossible. Does it to you? Here’s an easy visualization that will help you get started with your planning:

  Start each work session by drawing a few squares on a small piece of scrap paper. These represent distractions that will almost certainly pop up.
• 3. Delegate And Postpone
• 4. Attack Procrastination
• 5. Split Your Day Into Targets
• 6. Limit Inputs

• 7. Batch Outputs

  Responding to emails in batches and scheduling a block of time to make phone calls can seem like a dreary way to do business but it’s a highly effective way to keep distractions at arms length.

• 8. Communicate Your Schedule To Others

  When it comes to managing people-based distractions, communication is key.
• 9. Begin With The Main Point

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• Saying Yes More Slowly

   

  Here’s how it goes.

   

  Someone asks you to do something.

   

  And, while nodding your head, you say “Sure – and let me just ask you a few questions first.”

   

  And then you pick and chose from some of these questions. (Your goal is to ask at least three of these.)

   
   
  • Why are you asking me?
   
  • Who else have you asked?
   
  • When you say this is urgent, what do you mean?
   
  • If I could only do part of this, what part would it be?
   
  • What part of this is something that only I could do?
   
  • What standard do you expect this to be done to?
   
  • Is this more urgent than X, Y and Z that are currently on my list?
   
  • Have you checked with [name] about me taking this on?
   
  • How does this contribute to [Great Work Project]?

• Change your environment
• Break your work into little step
• Create a detailed timeline with specific deadlines
• Eliminate your procrastination pit-stops
• Hang out with people who inspire you to take action
• Get a buddy
• Tell others about your goals
• Seek out someone who has already achieved the outcome
• Re-clarify your goals
• Stop over-complicating things
• Get a grip and just do it

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• Maintain perspective
• Don’t lose sight of the details
• Embrace some of the stress
• Take breaks.
• Manage expectations.
• Don’t extend the stress
• Celebrate

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• 1. “I can’t commit to this as I have other priorities at the moment.”
• 2. “Now’s not a good time as I’m in the middle of something. How about we reconnect at X time?”
• 3. “I’d love to do this, but …”
• 4. “Let me think about it first and I’ll get back to you.”
• 5. “This doesn’t meet my needs now but I’ll be sure to keep you in mind.”
• 6. “I’m not the best person to help on this. Why don’t you try X?”
• 7. “No, I can’t.”

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