Too many people claim they are too busy to do anything. Quite possibly, the Noise around them is so loud they can’t think past what is right in front of them. Sometimes, finding a quiet spot to sit and think can be louder than outside influences and could make the difference of becoming effective or reactive.

To be affective you have to seize opportunities and make them work to your advantage. My biggest time waster is leaving the office to go on one errand. Driving 20-30 minutes away to do one thing only to turn around and drive right back. If I wanted to be affective, I would (#1) plan ahead and (#2) string a series of errands I could do around the initial location so driving would be worth the time.

It isn’t always possible to plan an entire day because unexpected occurrences pop up and are unavoidable. However, if you plan for these events and schedule a “flex time” in your day you can accomplish a lot more. If a meeting will take an hour, build into your schedule a second meeting 1 hour and fifteen minutes later. This will allow for drive time or at least an opportunity to collect your thoughts and prepare for the second meeting.

It is not a bad thing to schedule a second meeting with someone, so often we try to complete everything on the first try. Respect your time and the time of the other person you are meeting with; this consideration will go a long way in the relationship. If the meeting runs over the expected limit, mention you have another commitment and wrap up the meeting or schedule a second.

No one is not busy in today’s world, even retired people will say they are busier now than when they worked. It comes down to planning and listening to your needs to be affective in life. Take a moment, block out the outside noise and plan your day, week, month and year. It may seem like a daunting task but once you implement it in your life you can take your business Up One Level.