Randy Pausch’s Lecture on Time Management

Carnegie Mellon Professor Randy Pausch gave a lecture on Time Management at the University of Virginia in November 2007.

I never caught this video the first time around.  I did see Randy’s The “Last Lecture,” but never caught the time management lecture.  If you missed it like I did, I highly recommend you watch.

Watch the Video and come back in 30 days to watch it again to see what you have improved.

Tips:

• Failing to plan is planning to fail.
• Plan each day, each week, each semester (or whatever time quanta you deal with)
• Break things down into small tasks.
• Do the ugliest task first.  If you have to eat a frog, don’t spend time looking at it; If you have to eat three frogs, don’t pick the smallest one).
• Cluttered paperwork leads to thrashing.  Keep your desk clear and one thing only.  Touch each piece of paper once.
• You inbox is not your to do list. Having a cluttered inbox is just as bad as having a cluttered desk.
• A speakerphone is recommended.
• Stand during phone calls.
• Group your phone calls, right before lunch or right before quitting time.
• Get a phone headset.
• Address stamper so you don’t have to keep writing writing your address.
• Thank you notes.  Use them.
• Learn to say No.
• “Procrastination is the thief of time”
• It’s not a vacation if you are reading e-mail.
• Make time for sleep.  Sleep-deprivation impacts performance.