This post will publish at 9am today. I’m writing it at 6:08am. I’ve been up since 4:30.

This isn’t how the Brogan 100 project was supposed to work. I started with two weeks worth of posts written on a Saturday. Then I spent another Saturday on another week’s worth. Then Halloween happened, and I really needed to finish proofing the book I’m publishing later this month, but I still wanted to watch Dracula online…

But, there will still be a Brogan 100 post every day this week. I didn’t find the the time- I made the time.

Here are some time-making tips. I try to do all of them. I am not perfect.

Back Yourself into a Corner

If you announce to the world that you will accomplish something on a regular schedule, it’s much harder to sleep in or flake out. We have all managed to get things done on a hard deadline- remember school? If you create hard deadlines when you’re motivated and thinking strategically, you’ll follow through even when you’re tired and thinking you want to go back to bed.

Lists

From my friends in the personal development world:
Write down the five most important things you need to do today, in the order of how important they are. Start at the top.

Also, if you can do that the night before, that works even better. I find items 3-5 keep rolling onto the next day.

Limit Input and Batch Tasks

I learned/adapted this from Tim Ferris and the Four Hour Work Week.

Check email, blogs, twitter, facebook, and all that other stuff at set intervals throughout the day. I don’t do the “only twice at set times” like Tim does- I insert those items into my to-do list. So it’s, “I get to read blogs as soon as I’ve finished updating the copy on this site.” This provides the efficiency of batching with the motivational power of a reward system.

Don’t Be An Early Adopter

Unless your livelihood depends on it (you’re a tech Thought Leader or a Social Media blogger) you don’t need to run around trying every cool new toy, gadget, or service that comes along. You will waste a lot of time. Wait until the early adopters have fiddled with it and told the rest of us how to use it.

Create Workflows

If you have something you do every day, have a procedure for doing it. A system for naming folders, a system for creating passwords, a process for making your PB&J sandwiches. You do not need to rethink, every day, how you are going to complete a routine task.

Watch less TV

Seriously.
And stupid viral videos, too.
And LOLcats.
There’s just no reason to waste your life consuming media.

Get Motivated

If you have a vision of where you’re heading- of why you’re getting up at 4:30 to write blogs or do a podcast- it’s much easier to get excited about. And, by the way, ROI isn’t very exciting for most people.

Hope that helps some of you.
Please share your time saving / time making tips in the comments.