I follow simple rules to make sure I invest my time only in most important things. These simple rules keep me from wasting my time on non-important activities. Focusing only on important activities helps me getting results in less time and with less effort. Here are the rules:

  • Define important categories. For example, my important categories are Family, Finance, each Customer is a category, Blogging, Personal Development, and some other. This can a be a good start to define your categories.
  • Define outcomes/results/achievements/deliverables in each category. For example, conduct service A for customer B by Date C. Have another baby. Write and publish 1 professional blog post and 1 personal blog post tomorrow. It must be measurable and timely.
  • Allocate time for each category. Block time beforehand for each category. This keeps me from using great excuses like "if I only had time for this…".
  • Prioritize activities in each category. Each category has a list of tasks/activities to complete. When dedicated to either category I pick the activity that gets me closer to the outcome faster or with less effort.
Category Tasks/Activities Outcome/Deliverable
Family Buy flowers.
Have sex. 
Say "I love you".		 Have another baby
Finance Get another job.
Do not eat out this month at all.		 Eliminate overdraft
Customer A Create first draft.
Interview more team members. 
Research the topic online.		 Assessment document

 

Once I know what I need to do [activity/task] I can estimate required time and block it appropriately.

That is it. As simple as that. The biggest trick is sticking to these simple rules which is pretty hard. I wish I had a dog to watch me follow the rules [from "4 hour workweek" by Tim Ferris]:

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This simple practice keeps me away from workaholism, I spend much more time with my family, I breath with full chest and my mind is clear.

“Man must be disciplined, for he is by nature raw and wild” - Immanuel Kant

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