Have you ever noticed that the things that matter most are often put aside for less important concerns? Sometimes it seems that everyone and everything conspires against us and prevents us from achieving what we really want. Events we never anticipate catch us on the blind side, demand our attention, and distract us from what matters most. These events control us, and when that happens our productivity drops and so does our self-esteem. Because these events divert us from what we really should be doing, they are very expensive.

The following list of time thieves is not exhaustive, but it may help protect you against the influences that can steal your most precious asset, time. Not all of these time thieves are avoidable. Some, like team failures and meetings, may be out of our control. But most of them just infiltrate our lives and steal from us without us noticing. Suddenly our time is up, we have spent our daily allowance and we don’t know where it went. We could easily say that the opportunity cost of these time thieves is very high, especially in terms of event control, personal productivity and self-esteem. As you read the list, identify the time thieves that are the most difficult for you. Give them a rank, from one to ten, and then carefully consider how you can eliminate them.

The thieves of time impose on us

_____ Interruptions

_____ Waiting for answers

_____ Unclear job definition

_____ Too much work

_____ Bad communication

_____ Changing priorities

_____ Equipment failure

_____ Red ribbon

_____ Conflicting priorities

_____ Low morale company

_____ Untrained personnel

_____ Demands from colleagues / staff

_____ Lack of authority

_____ Error of others

_____ Revised deadlines

Self-inflicted time thieves

_____ Do not delegate

_____ Meetings

_____ Personal disorganization

_____ distraction

_____ No listening

_____ Indecision

_____ Socialize

_____ Tired

_____ Lack of self-discipline

_____ Leave homework unfinished

_____ Paper drag

_____ Delay

_____ Cultural workplace

_____ Unclear personal goals

_____ Perfectionism

_____ Poor planning