Blog
Time Maximization Skills: Leverage Reminders
- December 17, 2022
- Posted by: Marcel Sanchez
- Category: Soft Skills Training Time Maximization
Have you taken full advantage of setting reminders to maximize your time?
Leveraging reminders may be one of the most overlooked skills in your effort to drive greater performance while consistently executing your plans.
You have reminders on your online calendar and on your mobile phone.
You can download reminder apps or simply use an index card if you prefer.
Regardless of the method you choose, what’s important is that you recognize the purpose of reminders and act because of their positive interruption.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that reminders are overly simplistic.
They’re not.
Some of the most effective people in the world leverage reminders daily.
Positive Interruptions Stimulate Alignment
Although you would probably agree that interruptions often work against effective time maximization, there is another perspective to consider.
Reminders can serve as a positive stimulation in your professional and personal alignment.
They can abruptly force you to stop and consider where you are and where you planned to be at a specific moment in time.
Reminders can serve to remind you of upcoming important meetings and conversations.
Reminders can keep you focused on what matters most in life.
They can prevent you from missing flights, running late for an appointment, or forgetting to contact your top client at a crucial moment.
Reminders can quickly grab your attention and force you to make immediate adjustments to your schedule.
You can certainly benefit greatly by integrating this key principle in your life.
Although you can certainly overuse reminders to the point of distraction, you can select key reminders in your day to drive greater effectiveness in your life.
Practical Reminders Drive Consistency
I use reminders in the form of alerts to get me out of bed each morning.
I regularly set two alarms, one at 5:00 AM and the other at 5:05 AM.
Although I often wake up before these reminders begin, they’ve served to drive greater reliability in my morning schedule.
If I’m entering a long meeting, but I must make an important call somewhere in the middle, I’ll set a reminder.
When I wanted to start exercising more consistently, I set daily reminders.
And even though at times it irritated some of my family members, reminders kept me on track during those first weeks of training.
When I wanted to connect more with my neighbors, I set reminders.
When I wanted to increase my daily devotions, reminders led the way.
Without going overboard, here is an example of what my reminders look like.
5:00 AM – Wake Up
5:05 AM – Bible Study / Prayer Walk / Writing
7:30 AM – Exercise
9:00 AM – Webinar / Projects
11:00 AM – Staff Conversations and Meetings
1:00 PM – Coaching Calls
3:30 PM – Follow Up Calls / Planning
6:30 PM – Family Dinner and Conversations
As I’ve implemented reminders in my own life, it has increased the quality and quantity of my relationships along with my effectiveness at work.
What’s your story?
Do you use reminders?
If so, are they effective for you?
If they’re not, try a different method.
Don’t marry the method, but do marry the purpose and mission behind what needs to get done.
Methods will always change, but mission and purpose remain constant.
If you’ve never used reminders to keep you aligned spiritually, relationally, and professionally, start with just one reminder.
Think about the most important thing you need to do today.
For your activity to be a success, what do you have to do to get you there?
Use reminders to make sure you set yourself up for success.
If important activities have three pending items, create a reminder to get these three things done prior to the start of your activity.
Today’s Challenge
Today’s challenge is related to our 4 pillars: Prioritize, Plan, Leverage, and Focus.
And here’s the question.
What are you doing to remind yourself of the importance of getting done what matters most in your life?
If you consistently miss or forget to do certain things due to the whirlwind at work—the busyness of daily tasks—then setting reminders may be exactly what you need to implement to get better.
But what if you’ve developed a sustainable pattern of reminders and find yourself consistently maximizing your time?
That’s great, but don’t get too comfortable.
Please listen closely…there’s always room for improvement.
There’s always a way for you to get better, faster.
So, keep exploring new innovations, online tools, and Apps to serve this purpose in your life.
Are You Ready to Maximize Your Time?
Is the Time Maximization Online Course a good fit for you and your team?
Are you ready to get better, faster?
Invest in Yourself
Looking for a flexible and self-directed way to grow as a leader and thrive in life?
That’s one of the main reasons I created Imagine Coaching Academy. Get professional coaching and online training courses to accelerate your soft skills, equip your teams, and grow your relationships.
Speaking of growing your relationships, click here to sign up for our complimentary online marriage training, “Build a Stronger Marriage—With Zero Drama—in only 30-minutes per week.”
Strengthen Others
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