12 Time Management Tips You Can Use Today
Whether you're the poor slob grounded at the airport, where
time is punctuated by the rhythm of the flights, or a busy
lawyer with places to go and people to see, you have the
same 168 hours each week that everyone else has. How you
manage that valuable commodity determines the quality of
your life.
Think about it: Why is it that some people are able to
accomplish more in one day than others can in a week? Other
than possibly the difference in energy levels, it must be
that one person is able to manage time more effectively than
the other. This doesn't mean that one person works harder.
Rather, the person who accomplishes more in less time has
figured out how to work smarter. Here are 12 time management
tips you can begin using today (wherever you are):
1. PLAN TO BE ORGANIZED. Using time to think and plan is
time well spent. In fact, if you fail to take time for
planning, you are, in effect, planning to fail. The next
time you're waiting around somewhere, don't just sit there.
Plan.
2. SET REALISTIC GOALS. Goals give your life and career
direction. Make sure your goals are specific, measurable,
realistic and achievable. Handling five client conferences
in a single morning may be too much, even for you. Your
optimum goals are those that cause you to "stretch" but not
"break" as you strive for achievement.
3. CREATE A TO-DO LIST. Try maintaining a daily list of
clients you have to meet, clerks you need to greet, etc. Try
writing it the end of the previous day, or first thing in
the morning. You may want to combine your to-do list with a
calendar or schedule. Whatever method works best for you.
4. PRIORITIZE. When you prioritize your to-dos, isolate and
identify those valuable "must do's" (representing about 20
percent of your entire to-do list). Then prioritize time to
concentrate your work on those items with the greatest
reward.
5. BE FLEXIBLE. Allow time for interruptions and
distractions. Time management experts often suggest planning
for just 50 percent of one's time. This will provide you the
flexibility to handle interruptions and the unplanned, 8
a.m. "emergency" call from your favorite client. When you
expect to be interrupted, schedule routine tasks. Create
larger blocks of time for your priorities.
6. TUNE IN DURING BIOLOGICAL PRIME TIME. That's the time of
day when you are at your best. Are you a "morning person,"
a
"night owl," or a late-afternoon bloomer? Knowing when your
best time is and planning to use that time of day for your
priorities is effective time management.
7. DO THE RIGHT THING RIGHT. When you do the right thing,
that's effectiveness; when you do things right, you're
efficient. Focus first on effectiveness (identifying what is
the right thing to do), then concentrate on efficiency
(doing it right).
8. URGENT SHMURGENT. Urgent tasks have short-term
consequences. (Remember that frantic client on the phone?
She got over it.) Important tasks are those with long-term,
goal-related implications. Work towards reducing the urgent
things you must do so you'll have time for your top
priorities. Try assigning a deadline to each item on your
to-do list. This may help keep important items from becoming
urgent emergencies.
9. LEARN TO NEGLECT MATTERS INTELLIGENTLY. Let's face it:
it's the trivial or short-term things that often keep us
from organizing our time. Try delegating these tasks to your
legal assistant, or eliminating them from your to-do list.
Focus on those important tasks that you alone can do.
10. DON'T TRY TO BE PERFECT. It's a standard motion. It's
just a conference call. Sure, some things need to be closer
to perfect than others. But paying unnecessary attention to
detail can be a form of procrastination.
11. DON'T PROCRASTINATE. When you are avoiding something try
breaking it into smaller tasks and do just one of the
smaller tasks, or set a timer and work on the big task for
just 15 minutes. By doing a little at a time, eventually
you'll reach a point where you'll want to finish.
12. REWARD YOURSELF. When you achieve a goal, big or small,
pop the proverbial cork. Promise yourself a small reward for
completing each task, and a trip to Bloomingdale's (or the
duty-free shop) when you finish the total job. Indulge in
your reward! What is work -- and life -- all about, anyway?
Oh, you're still going to spend a lot of time stuck at the
airport and generally "waiting." Manage your precious time
more effectively, though, and you'll find you can accomplish
a lot in life with the time you've got.
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BE CAUTIOUS WHEN CITING INTERNET SITES IN LEGAL DOCUMENTS
Federal and state courts are embracing electronic filing, online
research has become second nature, and the Internet is indispensable.
Now what?
There are many aspects to using the Internet in legal practice, but
criminal defense lawyers need to know more than the latest source of
slip opinions or how to Google someone's background...
(more)
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CHARITABLE FUNDS INC., UPCOMING EVENTS
NSBA's 8th Annual Golf Scramble - Sponsorship
Information - Golfer
Registration
Friday, August 27, 2004
Shotgun Start - 12:30 p.m.
Wilderness Ridge Golf Club, Lincoln
Proceeds to benefit the Volunteer Lawyers Project
which is the NSBA's statewide volunteer legal services project and
referral network founded on the belief that all citizens should have
access to the legal system, regardless of ability to pay.
THANK
YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!
CFI's Barristers' Ball
The First Annual Barristers’ Ball "Starry Starry Night
" is scheduled for April 30, 2005 in Omaha. Dance the night
away under the stars with the bank Galaxy as they wheel through the
heavens. Swirl with the galaxies, flash with meteors and soar with
comets.
The evening promises to be an event to remember, so mark your calendar
and be prepared for a festive night of fun and entertainment.
Proceeds to benefit the Volunteer Lawyers Project
which is the NSBA's statewide volunteer legal services project and
referral network founded on the belief that all citizens should have
access to the legal system, regardless of ability to pay.
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IBA FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM AT THE ICTY
The International Bar Association (IBA) has been awarded a grant to
support the recruitment and placement of four Fellows to work at the
International Criminal Tribunal of the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) at The
Hague, the Netherlands, during the next year.
The Fellows will assist Judges and staff of the Appeals Chambers in
researching and drafting opinions that are necessary to adjudicate cases
pending on the Appeals Chambers docket. They will work under the supervision
of the President of the ICTY and senior legal officers of the Appeals
Chamber. Preference will be given to applicants who are currently working
or have experience as law clerks at the national level. Fellows must
be fluent in written and spoken English or French. A detailed job description
is attached.
We would like to ensure that this opportunity is made known to as many
individuals as possible, and would be tremendously grateful if you would
distribute the job description through suitable channels available to
you. Please feel free to contact Wendelien
Brada for further details.
Job Description
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NEW LOCAL RULES FOR THE U.S. DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEBRASKA
The new rules will become effective Friday, August 6, 2004, the 30th
day following the Circuit's approval.
General
Order 2004-08 - Adoption of Local Rules
Nebraska
General Rules (“NEGenR”)
Nebraska
Civil Rules (“NECivR”)
Nebraska
Criminal Rules (NECrimR”)
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NEW MEMBER BENEFIT WITH THE OMAHA SHERATON HOTEL
The Sheraton Omaha Hotel welcomes members and guest of the Nebraska
State Bar Association and are pleased to offer the following discounted
room rate:
$79.00 - Standard Room
· Conveniently located one block adjacent to the Douglas County
Courthouse.
· Offering complimentary shuttle service to and from the Old
Market and Airport.
· The Sheraton Omaha Hotel is a proud member of the prestigious
Historic Hotels of America in addition to a Three Diamond rating from
the AAA organization.
For reservations call 1-866-902-1015.
This line is dedicated to the Nebraska Bar Association and its visitors.
www.sheraton.com/omaha
Reservations Contact: Vernetta Boston
Ph: 402-231-6009
Fax: 402-341-2383
vernetta.boston@starwoodhotels.com
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ARE YOU STRESSED?
Stress, substance abuse and depression directly affect your practice
and pose a significant statistical factor in creating malpractice claims.
Knowing your level of stress can provide an indication of what action
you may need to take to avoid making errors in your representation of
clients. Take the legal practice stress inventory and see your stress
level...
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PRACTICE TIP: THE MOUSE IS YOUR FRIEND!
If you are learning a new software application or program and seem
to be stuck, try right-mouse clicking to view additional options. You
may find short cuts to some very useful parts of the application, plus
find a quick way to do some everday things like cutting and pasting.
And best of all, if the right-mouse menu doesn't contain what you need,
you can easily click out of the menu via a normal left-mouse click.
So regardless of what program you are working in, stop now and right-mouse
click! (Note for left-handed individuals: You can configure your mouse
so that your right-mouse click is really a left-mouse click under the
buttons tab in start/settings/control panel/mouse.)
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PRACTICE TIP: DOCUMENTATION
When you make changes to software or hardware on any individual
computer or your server(s), including installation of any upgrades or
patches, be sure to document what you've done. This makes it much easier
to troubleshoot any difficulties later or to recreate your system if
it crashes. It's a great idea to create a master log on the network
(make it read-only, with only authorized people making changes) so everyone
can access the information. Be sure to print a copy every time you make
a change and keep it in a notebook or file, since if your computer crashes
you don't want to also lose the documentation on your tweaks to the
system.
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