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Simplify Your Time: Stop Running and Start Living!
A thirty day approach to finding more time to do the things you want by learning how to trade time wasters for time savers.
- GenresSelf HelpNonfiction
220 pages, Paperback
First published August 29, 2006
21 people are currently reading
140 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 21, 2022
I really enjoyed reading this book. It is written in 30 short chapters to be read each day for a month (I just read it as I wanted!). Each "chapter" explains a time saving tip, strategy, or tool... the author uses stories and other examples. A very practical and helpful book. Definitely one that I will re-read again in parts.
December 12, 2019
It’s Time For a Change
Marcia Ramsland’s self-help book Simplify Your Time is a great resource to reference for all your time-saving needs. The book goes through various chapters in the format of a 30 day plan. Each week focuses on a separate part of the time-saving process and each day holds its own small time-saving tip. I found this format very welcoming as someone who, at the time, was worried about seeking organizational help. The book opens with a brief introduction, in which the format and skills that will be covered are noted.
This introduction, while minor, set a strong and determined pace for the rest of the book, which I found to be a good way to focus the reader's attention. Once the introduction concludes the reader has time only to take a deep breath before jumping right in. Each chapter follows a similar format that includes an opening quote, information on the daily topic, and a closing quote. There are also time-saving tips, 101 to be exact, scattered throughout the entire book.
Finally, at the end of each week's reading, there is a brief checklist on how the newly learned information can be put into immediate action. For example, one of the points after chapter 30 reads “[l]ife is made up of ‘have-tos’ and ‘want-tos.’ Choose to complete some of each every day” (Ramsland 196). These simple, minor summaries help to tie the chapters together and prepare the reader for the next upcoming. Though I, personally, did not find any aspect of the book that I dislike, certain parts may be thought of differently by others.
According to Phillippa Lally, a health psychology researcher at University College in London, it takes at least 18 days for a new habit to become automatic. If the format of the book is meant to be one chapter a day, the total then becomes 30 days. Certain individuals may find learning time management at this pace to be tedious after the 18 day mark. Other than this specific format, negative thoughts on the book would most likely be made by a smaller audience.
Overall, I found the book Simplify Your Time to be an interesting read. It provided a clear vision, attainable goals, was supportive of the difficult journey that is time-management. I would rate this book a 8/10 and would recommend it to anyone who struggles or would like to better their time-management skills. So to those out there who want to improve in this area, I say to you take a seat, pick up the book, and “stop running and start living.”
Marcia Ramsland’s self-help book Simplify Your Time is a great resource to reference for all your time-saving needs. The book goes through various chapters in the format of a 30 day plan. Each week focuses on a separate part of the time-saving process and each day holds its own small time-saving tip. I found this format very welcoming as someone who, at the time, was worried about seeking organizational help. The book opens with a brief introduction, in which the format and skills that will be covered are noted.
This introduction, while minor, set a strong and determined pace for the rest of the book, which I found to be a good way to focus the reader's attention. Once the introduction concludes the reader has time only to take a deep breath before jumping right in. Each chapter follows a similar format that includes an opening quote, information on the daily topic, and a closing quote. There are also time-saving tips, 101 to be exact, scattered throughout the entire book.
Finally, at the end of each week's reading, there is a brief checklist on how the newly learned information can be put into immediate action. For example, one of the points after chapter 30 reads “[l]ife is made up of ‘have-tos’ and ‘want-tos.’ Choose to complete some of each every day” (Ramsland 196). These simple, minor summaries help to tie the chapters together and prepare the reader for the next upcoming. Though I, personally, did not find any aspect of the book that I dislike, certain parts may be thought of differently by others.
According to Phillippa Lally, a health psychology researcher at University College in London, it takes at least 18 days for a new habit to become automatic. If the format of the book is meant to be one chapter a day, the total then becomes 30 days. Certain individuals may find learning time management at this pace to be tedious after the 18 day mark. Other than this specific format, negative thoughts on the book would most likely be made by a smaller audience.
Overall, I found the book Simplify Your Time to be an interesting read. It provided a clear vision, attainable goals, was supportive of the difficult journey that is time-management. I would rate this book a 8/10 and would recommend it to anyone who struggles or would like to better their time-management skills. So to those out there who want to improve in this area, I say to you take a seat, pick up the book, and “stop running and start living.”
February 9, 2019
Being Practical to simply time
The author has very nicely shared practical tools to organise your life by sharing her client experiences
This book covers organizing every section of your life and the examples shared are very practical
I would really recommend this book for every one adults child people from all walks of life and can get good tips and use it ....
The author has very nicely shared practical tools to organise your life by sharing her client experiences
This book covers organizing every section of your life and the examples shared are very practical
I would really recommend this book for every one adults child people from all walks of life and can get good tips and use it ....
June 21, 2019
Practical with good application steps. The book is dated (file folders, photo boxes & Blackberry PDA are suggested) but the ideas are timeless. This would be a good book to use as a continued project with consistent steps.
July 10, 2019
This book gave a lot of tips on saving time and organizing so you can get more of the things accomplished that you want to do.
November 7, 2023
This book changed how I spend my time. I'm very glad I read it.
September 9, 2008
I've given up reading this as a waste of time. Ironic, really - since it's supposedly about time management.
I finished reading half of it. I simply don't see how making my bed each morning in any way helps me manage my time better, it just gives me yet another 2-minute project to do in a day :-S. Making lists and prioritizing tasks and breaking tasks into component bits are all good things to do - but I get paid to do them, so it's not exactly skills that are new to me or that I find helpful.
I finished reading half of it. I simply don't see how making my bed each morning in any way helps me manage my time better, it just gives me yet another 2-minute project to do in a day :-S. Making lists and prioritizing tasks and breaking tasks into component bits are all good things to do - but I get paid to do them, so it's not exactly skills that are new to me or that I find helpful.
July 26, 2011
I highly recommend this book to anyone with a busy, chaotic life. It is wonderful at getting you more organized in every area of your life and helping you to see what's really the most important things to you. It also shows you how to turn your dreams into goals with dates and start to take action steps that allow you to turn your dreams into reality to let you live the life you have been wanting. Such great tips for simplifying everything in your life!
August 5, 2016
Simplify Your Time seems to be "Part Two" of Simplify Your Life, but it centers more on reaching your goals. Denise Waitley says, "A goal is a dream with a date attached." Without attention to your personal goals, you will never find the time to do the things you really want to do. With personal deadlines written into my calendar, an overwhelming project became do-able. And dreams that are always on the back burner start to happen. Very helpful.
November 11, 2012
There really wasn't anything new in this book but it was a nice reminder and inspiration. This book is broken down into 30 days of activities. It also has little blocks off to the side giving quick tips to summarize the section - that is very helpful for breezing through the book or looking for something specific.
March 9, 2008
I have read a lot of organization books and I found this book easy to read with tips that are easy to implement and very helpful. I read it through once and am now working my way back through it implementing the suggestions. It's very common sense and keeps things simple.
May 30, 2012
LOVED this book! It gives you insightful tips on how to save time (obviously). It has different tables throughout the book that show you how much time you save by being organzied and doing things at the present time instead of last minute. A must read!
December 20, 2013
Very easy to read with useful tips in saving time. Although many of these skills were common sense, it was a good reminder to actually implement them in our lives. This book expands on these everyday common sense tips which was helpful.
June 25, 2015
I think there were some good tips in here, but nothing I hadn't really heard before. It was still worth reading through to get me thinking of habits I need to change and ways I could manage my time better.
May 30, 2008
Very interesting with lots of good advice, although I haven't had much luck implementing many of the suggestions yet.
July 23, 2008
I read this book at the beginning of 2008 to try and simplify my time. I am still working on the simplify part. It is a great book with many wonderful ideas!
February 11, 2009
About half is common sense stuff the rest has actually helped me as much as anything can! haha.
April 28, 2009
Awesome book.
Easy read.
Great time saving tips!
Read 1 page before bed to wake up in the morning ready to go!
Easy read.
Great time saving tips!
Read 1 page before bed to wake up in the morning ready to go!
Read
February 9, 2012Really helpful. The first suggestion was to think about getting places five minutes early as being on time. That has really helped me to break the cycle of "one more thing before I go..."
April 6, 2014
Marcia Ramsland explains how to get control of your hectic schedule in 30 days or less by swapping out time-wasters for time-savers.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews