| You have most probably heard of this | | | | millions of people all over the world, often |
| quotation that goes something like, "If you | | | | get not only good ideas - but brilliant ones |
| want to know the value of one second, ask the | | | | - when in the shower? Do yourself a favour. |
| athlete who came in second place; If you want | | | | Get a cassette and tape recorder, place it |
| to know the value of one minute, ask the | | | | somewhere in your bathroom where water cannot |
| worker who missed his train to work." I have | | | | touch it, and press 'Record' as you begin to |
| not the memory nor the space nor the time to | | | | shower. Make sure the microphone is sensitive |
| quote it here fully, but I wish to | | | | enough to detect your voice while showering. |
| acknowledge the fact that we do get that | | | | When you get any brilliant ideas (about your |
| occasional amount of precious free time, | | | | business, schoolwork, a song, a story idea, |
| ranging from a few seconds to a few minutes | | | | whatever), just shout it out into the |
| (depending upon your level of productivity | | | | recorder. You'll find that your most useful |
| and efficiency in whatever it is that mostly | | | | tool is your notebook, tape recorder, PDA or |
| occupies your day). While we're waiting for | | | | other idea-recording devices. Find those |
| the bus, train or taxi, we get some free | | | | which are portable and convenient to carry |
| waiting time. Whether we're singing or | | | | around, even to the bathroom. You never know |
| cursing as we're trapped in heavy traffic, we | | | | when a great idea strikes you or when you |
| get free time. When we queue to pay for those | | | | just need to think on paper (tape or tablet). |
| Aspirin (Panadol) tablets at the pharmacy, we | | | | In the queue? Have a conversation with your |
| get free time. Hey, even when we're answering | | | | IRD (idea-recording device)! If you don't |
| nature's call in the bathroom, we get some | | | | know what to write, record or type, just |
| free time (some people may prefer to spend it | | | | write, record or type anything. In the lift? |
| reading magazines or practising | | | | Fish out your IRD! This will be more |
| breath-holding exercises)! If the phrase | | | | productive than trying to guess who was |
| "time is money" is literally true, we'd all | | | | responsible for the sudden change of smell in |
| be billionaires by age 72; that is, if we | | | | the lift. Waiting for the movie to start |
| save the time-money in the first place and | | | | while in the theatre? Take out your IRD! Just |
| invest it in what-have-you's and profit from | | | | make sure to stop when the movie begins. Here |
| compound interests or other Buffetological | | | | are some Effective Questions you can apply |
| what-not's. What is time optimisation? It is | | | | with regards to optimising time: Before you |
| the best possible use of the time - whatever | | | | take on the day, you may want to ask, "What |
| amount it is - that we have been accorded. In | | | | are the best ways for me to spend the small |
| other words, time optimisation is the most | | | | amounts of free time that I will have for |
| effective use of time, no matter how short or | | | | this day?" "How can I best use the large |
| long that duration is. You see, there are | | | | amounts of free time that I will have today?" |
| several ways, an infinite myriad of ways, we | | | | "What are the best, most productive, short |
| can spend the time that is given to us. The | | | | activities that I can engage in during the |
| number of ways and what we can do itself are | | | | free time that I will have today?" "How can I |
| both determined by the length of free time | | | | spend the little free time I will get today |
| accorded to us. This article concerns tiny | | | | in order to help me move forward, no matter |
| little fragments of free time. I'm dealing | | | | how little, towards achieving my targets for |
| with anywhere from a few seconds to a few | | | | the day?" "How can I further exercise the |
| minutes. It's usually not productive to | | | | faculties of my mind during the short periods |
| battle your procrastination problem by | | | | of free time that I will get for the day?" |
| getting started on - or continuing with - | | | | "What are the best ways I can relax my mind |
| that enterprise you're intending to | | | | and body during the short span of free time |
| accomplish within a window of only a few | | | | I'll have today?" "How can I further optimise |
| seconds or minutes. What I mean to say is | | | | the time that I have today than yesterday?" |
| that you can do nothing much in only a few | | | | Then, every night, before you retire, get |
| seconds or minutes of free time - you can do | | | | your journal, or your IRD, and start asking |
| nothing physical much, that is. But what you | | | | and answering these questions: "How have I |
| can do is some constructive mind work. Some | | | | best used the free time that I've gotten |
| thinking. Some reflecting. Some mental | | | | today?" "How has optimising the free time |
| sharpening. Since thoughts are the seeds of | | | | that I've had today contribute to my |
| actions; actions the seeds of effectiveness, | | | | advancement towards my daily goals?" This is |
| if we positively affect our thoughts, we are | | | | assuming that you have targets, objectives or |
| actually contributing to the effectiveness of | | | | goals for the day in the first place. "How |
| our actions later, even if but a little bit. | | | | can I further optimise the time that I have |
| If you have a few seconds of free time, say, | | | | tomorrow than today?" Think up some more |
| while you're waiting for a very | | | | questions of your own. That's the beauty of |
| resource-intensive computer application to | | | | this Effective Questioning technique. You |
| load (especially on a slow system), you can | | | | have the power and the independence to create |
| mentally determine what it is you want to do | | | | your own Meta-Questions, rather than be |
| with that application beforehand; that is, if | | | | spoon-fed by a "guru" or motivational |
| it involves your work-related stuff. If you | | | | "expert" who might not practise what he's |
| have a window of a few minutes of free time, | | | | preaching in the first place. Next time, if |
| for instance, while you're in the bathroom | | | | you catch yourself or your friends saying |
| (under the shower or on the toilet seat), you | | | | something along the lines of, "So much to do, |
| can do some mental relaxation and focusing | | | | so little time!", stop, and ask (aloud or to |
| exercises to un-clutter your thoughts and | | | | yourself), "Oh really?" However, you may need |
| clear your mind for that day. Believe it or | | | | to balance this new habit of time |
| not, the bathroom is one of the best places | | | | optimisation from time to time. If you find |
| to relax yourself both physically and | | | | that you're being increasingly stressed out |
| mentally (not spiritually), next to your bed! | | | | by the piles upon piles of tasks, things and |
| The key here is to find a way - always find a | | | | activities that you have for a day, stop and |
| way - to productively and fruitfully spend | | | | give yourself a breather or two. Even the act |
| the few seconds or minutes of spare time that | | | | of pausing and giving yourself a break is in |
| we get - no matter how short it is. If you're | | | | itself an act of optimising the time that you |
| in the middle of a mental re-programming | | | | have. But, like on the other hand, don't do |
| routine; perhaps using affirmations, | | | | this (relaxing) too much either! |
| self-talk, or best, Meta-Questions, you may | | | | |
| find that a brief session of self-talk, | | | | Amazing! FREE e-Book Reveals How You Can Wipe |
| affirmations or Effective Meta-Questioning | | | | Out All Your Limits & Achieve Your Inherent |
| during that period is very useful. Squeeze | | | | Unlimited Potential For Wealth & Success In |
| that in. Do you, like thousands, or perhaps, | | | | Only 60 Seconds! |