Simplify Your Time: Stop Running and Start Living!

Simplify Your Time is an accurate title for a book that is well written, simple yet effective. The chapters are short enough to be read in an entire sitting but have great ideas on how to simplify your life. My personal favorite is the "Two Minute Pickup". This tip alone has saved me many hours of work and frustration in the past few days alone. As a reader of several self-help books on time management, I was skeptical about "Simplify Your Time" but this is a must-read for anyone struggling to juggle one too many items on your to-do list, work, family and personal agenda! I highly recommend it!

I've read a lot of time management books, and this is probably the best so far, as far as readability, good teaching techniques, and useful suggestions. It's written simply but effectively, easy to follow and good suggestions. She starts at the most basic level and explains things that those of us who are time-challenged don't naturally understand, such as when you're doing one thing, you're choosing not to do another, or to get somewhere on time, you have to allow travel time, not leave at the time you're supposed to arrive. There are also a number of other entry-level suggestions such as posting your goals where you will see them. I was very impressed with how well she simplified the concepts and built from the fundamental practices which would give immediate benefits for a small investment of effort, to the details that add polish to a life. In every chapter she gave simultaneous illustrations of how to apply the principles to both office and home to get both under control and save time, and covered everyone from mothers overwhelmed with several preschoolers to both male and female executives. I found that it inspired me to get my desk and files in better order, and I'm picking up on several organizing and planning suggestions.

Marcia Ramsland is a true cheerleader for those of us who want to use time effectively and live life well. As I skimmed her book, I found myself saying, "Yes, I've done that but she has fine-tuned how to do it better" or "Her suggestion will help me in this other needy area." One strength of Simplify Your Time is how it addresses the need of both home and workplace, recognizing that what happens in one venue affects the other. Her illustrations of people who found help through her tips make the book warm and genuine. Another plus of the book is how Marcia has organized it into quickly read chapters, in recognition that people struggling with time issues simply do not have the time to read much at one sitting. She's divided her subject into four groups of "seven habits" or "seven tips" for saving time, time management, lifestyle issues, and planning for the future. In addition, 101 mini time-saving hints are scattered through the pages. As one illustration of how she simplifies time management to mini-goals, read the first chapter on punctuality and see how just deliberately changing a habit of being late will make an overall difference in lifestyle. As one with a magnet-and-memo slathered refrigerator, I need to adapt the five file folders suggestions she gives on page 29. I care for an older parent with memory loss, plus fight my own mid-life "forgetful" issues--yet was encouraged by Marcia's statement (p. 61) that our short-term memory can only hold seven items before it starts pushing things out. Hence, her excellent suggestions for making lists. I was also grateful that she included nurturing relationships (chapter 16) and suggested striving for five friendly encounters a week. When I first read her book, I didn't know that just a day later I would need the reminder of chapter 28's comments on time management during life's crises. My life changed abruptly when I slipped on ice and broke my ankle--not a good thing for someone maintaining a home business, keeping a family going, and care-giving an older parent. Any of us who want to reduce or handle better the stress that life serves up would benefit greatly from Marcia's book. The heart of her book might be her quote on p. 175: "When we're happiest, we manage time better and life is simpler." I'm all for that! Even if you feel you have a fair handle on time management, get this book to brush up your skills and then to share with someone who simply needs practical advice and encouragement.

You've done it again, Marcia! Simplify Your Time is an excellent resource for people who need to stop running around in circles and wasting time and start mastering their time wisely. Love all those tips. Thanks for all you do to help us become better individuals.

I read Marcia Ramsland's "Simplify Your Time" with a pen & highlighter in hand. She has so many great, practical ideas jam-packed into an easily digestible 30-day plan. After the first week of taking her ideas and implementing them into a workable plan, my husband says he'd like to personally thank Marcia for starting us on the road to actually getting household projects done (versus the "I'll get to it someday" syndrome). I've also used many of her tips with my executive clients ~ who always have challenges juggling their time! Thanks Marcia for another great book!