Time is the one commodity that is given in the same amounts to everybody, everyday. Twenty-four hours is all you get no matter who you are. The difference between the most successful people and the rest of the population is in how they use their time.

There are five things that the most successful people stopped doing long ago. You should stop them too.

5 Time Killers You Need to Stop Today

1.  Stop saying “yes.” Just because you were asked to do something, doesn’t mean you should. Don’t let good get in the way of great.

Tip: Every time you say yes to something, you’re saying no to something else. Make sure you weigh the cost before saying yes.

2.  Stop “multi-tasking.” Multi-tasking is a myth. When you think you’re multi-tasking, you’re actually just switching your attention from one task to another very quickly. Science has shown that you can only truly focus on one task at a time.

Tip: Focus on one task until completed, then move on to the next. This will actually save time in the long run.

3.  Stop allowing distractions. Sometimes you don’t have control over distractions, such as if your office is on fire. You need to pay attention to something like that. Most often, we have complete control over what we allow to divert our attention.

Tip: When working on a project, turn off your e-mail and phone and shut your door until you’ve made significant progress on the task at hand.

4.  Stop trying to remember everything. You can only hold so many items in your brain at a time. The rest will be forgotten.

Tip: Create a system for getting everything out of your head and into a reliable “holding tank,” until you can give it your full attention.

5.  Stop leaving your desk a mess. Your tomorrow begins today when you leave the office. Leaving a messy desk for tomorrow means tomorrow starts with a mess.

Tip: Organize your desk, your thoughts and your plan for tomorrow before you turn out the lights for the night.

Make a commitment to now allow these time killers to kill your success. Enjoy the rewards of time well spent. Decide – commit – focus.

Lack of Direction, not lack of time is the problem. We all have twenty-four hour days. ~ Zig Ziglar

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