Hi,

Life is so funny.

I was planning to write about staying focused, setting priorities, eliminating distractions and getting things done - all points that I would make in this Newsletter.

Soon more ideas started to flood my mind about future topics, and before long I was starting to feel a bit tense and overwhelmed.

Then it dawned on me that I wasn't staying focused - I was letting other things distract me.

One of the most common reasons for feeling overwhelmed and unsuccessful is the feeling of not completing things.

Do you feel as though you are pulled in many different directions? Are you often distracted from your priorities?

If so, then you are being pulled off center - your energy is not at optimal focus.

Like the several hundred people who have recently completed this time management survey, you are not alone.

Often distractions can waste precious time and energy, leading you to feel frustrated, anxious and overwhelmed.

In our modern world, with voice mail, faxes, emails and mobile phones, it is no wonder that you have trouble focusing your energy on what is important to you.

While these time management tips can help, too often we are pulled off our priorities because we respond to the needs of someone else.

Some of these tools give you the skills to focus your energy and attention.

Tools to Increase Your Focus

To bring one's self to a frame of mind and to the proper energy to accomplish things that require plain hard work continuously is the one big thing that everyone has. When this battle is won for all time, then everything is easy. Thomas A. Buckner

If you are busy and you want to be more productive, then:

1. make a list of the top three priorities for the week, and
2. know what actions support each of these priorities

When you have your priorities and actions in writing you can start to anticipate and eliminate your distractions.

Use this action matrix to stay focused

Do you feel you jump from crises to crises, putting out fires? If so, then you are putting yourself under stress. Use this action matrix to focus your energy and reduce your stress.

Focusing clearly on your most valuable task and concentrating single-mindedly until it is 100% complete gives you a sense of completion.

How good is your time management?

Try this time management quiz and identify those areas that you can tweak - don't worry, in your personal time management report we send back, we'll point you to the right tools that you can use to gain more control on your time.

Time management course

Our time management course incorporates the latest time management information and the new tools that accompany these changing times.

Wanted - Time Management Experts!

Many subscribers have asked why we give all our resources and courses away for free, and ask for nothing in exchange, especially when these courses cost several hundred dollars each to attend.

Our goal is to improve the amount of quality time management content, tools and resources offered on our website.

And this is where you come in.

It’s clear to me examining your time management surveys and general feedback that many of you are highly knowledgeable at using your time effectively. You can share with the rest of us – it's easy, just click here.

Your first opportunity begins now. We want to hear your ideas what time management tips work and don’t work for you.

You will begin the conversation by introducing the time management tip; explain why time management tip has been successful (or not?) for you.

Now comes the fun part! Once your page is written, submitted and approved for publication, we will create a webpage to highlight your story – and we will also highlight YOU as the generous time management expert who submitted it.

We will announce your story to the rest of the Time Management Strategies community and invite our readers to comment on your page.

Which time management tip has worked for you? Click here to share your time management tip.

Are you worried the bail out won't bail you out? Do you have a hobby or a special Interest? Why not make some money out of it!

This is where Effective Time Management Strategies journey began

To all of our subscribers, please let us know your comments, views or feedback so that we can improve our site for our most valuable resource - YOU