Being in retail during the run up to Christmas is always exhausting and exhilarating.  You are proud of the products you sell and buzzing with ideas for what you can do to make it a successful season.  You also have more work to fit into your day than you think is possible.  As the Lion King sums up pretty well:  ‘more to do than can ever be done’. 

However, every human being only has 24 hours a day in which to work and a fair portion of that is done eating and sleeping (if you’re me, that is).  So why are some people so much more successful than others?  How do some people seem to get so much done in the same 24 hours that we all have.

The answer is not less sleep (thank goodness).

I recently went on a Time Management course run by an external coaching service which helped open my eyes to principles and tactics that can be used to help you be more efficient with your time.  After writing a to-do list we were made to understand our ‘Why’s’. During the course of the session this was one of the principles that connected with me the most was.  Finding out goes something like this:

Why do you want to be more efficient at work?   So I get more things done.
Why do you want to get more things done?  So that I can complete tasks and move onto the goals I have in my personal development plan.
Why do you want to complete those PDP goals?  So that I can offer my skills and ideas to the Retail office and help contribute to the success of the team.
Why do you want to contribute to the success of the team?  So I have successes and experience that I can add to my CV and bring into any future job.
Why do you want successes and experience on your CV?  To show that I can apply to jobs I want and get them. 
Why do you want to be successful in applying for jobs you want?  Because that would make me happy!

Happiness.  That is why you are working your way down that to-do list. That is why you work so hard.  The things on your to do list are to help you in achieving your goal of making yourself happy or making someone else happy.   When you understand why you are doing something, when you remind yourself of your reasons, there is no better motivator.

I plan on writing more about Time Management (and the secrets to getting more done) in this blog so if you fancy picking up some small tips to help your home and work life less hectic, then feel free to follow along!

Until then, happy list writing!

Amelia 

-Retail Intern 2014-2015