Byline: HEALTH NOTES SARAH STACEY
[bar] ew women I know have enough time to do everything they have to, plus some for themselves. (Working mothers probably count me-time in minutes per week rather than hours per day.) The resulting 'worry hurry sickness', as psychologist Professor Cary Cooper terms it, can affect our health. Most doctors agree that stress is a significant factor in problems ranging from insomnia to heart disease.
But a new book by personal development expert Michael Heppell, who coaches Davina McCall and Chris Evans, might just help. How to Save an Hour Every Day, which covers pretty well your whole life, starts by advising 'Please don't read this entire book'. His first tip is that we can sift through huge amounts of information in minutes and decide what's important and what's not: 'Trust your intuition and you'll quickly see where you need to start.' Then the clincher: 'Actually start.' My intuition whizzed to a section called 'Cut the clutter'. For years, I'd filed anything 'pending' on my office floor. Yes, I lost things. Yes, I spent hours every week moving stuff from one pile to another. And yes, I had plenty of drawers - but they were full of winter bedding. Within five minutes, I'd ordered eight storage bags - for next-day delivery - which enabled me to put the bedding in the attic (labelled, as Heppell instructs, so I know what's in which bag) and move everything off the floor.
Hallelujah! Daily life feels more under control. I've now cleared the car, handbags - and some kitchen cupboards. It may not sound significant but, as Heppell points out, an hour a day is four blocks of 15 minutes, and the time and energy I save adds up to one hour. Other simple practical ideas ? Divide your time into blocks (from ten minutes to two hours or more), and allocate tasks you know you can complete realistically in that block.
Exercise needn't involve hours at the gym: visit Heppell's website, saveanhour.co.uk, for a link to fitness expert Paul Mort's tips, including a four-minute 'hotel room work-out' (under the Resources section).
Only check your email at set times, allocate significant ones to sub-folders headed 'do it now', 'good read' and 'maybe', then delete the rest.
Don't make long 'to do' lists - you never complete them. Instead, the night before, write down five important things to do - and do them.
Buy a roll of bin bags, then have a monumental clear-out. Take it all to the local charity shop.
After your wardrobe clear-out, re-hang your clothes by colour.
Switch to internet banking. ? Streamline daily activities - eg, keep a scissors and recycling bag beside where you open your post; sort post into three 'to do' trays (labelled action, file and live, the last for things you need to put your hands on quickly).
Find a 'no message' card you like and buy a stash. On the first day of every month, write all the cards you need for that month, eg, for birthdays and anniversaries, put stamps on them, then file in your action tray ready to post.
Carry a small notebook and pen at all times, and make a note of ideas and things to do as they come to mind.
How to Save an Hour Every Day by Michael Heppell, Prentice Hall Life,[euro]14.50
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