Time Wasters - A List of Choices

absenteeism
absentmindedness
accidents
administrative tasks
always reacting
arguments
attempting too much
avoidance
being overwhelmed
being tied to the phone
breakdowns
burnout
calls to friends
changing priorities
children
clutter
conflict
conflicting priorities
continuous open door policy
crises from lack of planning
defective software and equipment
disorganized boss or partner
disorganized office or workplace
distractions
doing other people's jobs
doing too many things
doubt
drop-in visitors
eating/snacking
emergencies
equipment failure
excessive daydreaming
television
excuses
failure to delegate
failure to listen
fatigue
fire fighting
getting stuck in emotions
gossip
headaches
housework
inability to act
inability to say "no"
inbox
indecision
ineffective software
ineffective tools and equipment
inefficiency
inefficiency of others
inefficient equipment
inefficient filing
interoffice travel
interruptions
junk mail and e-mail
lack of authority
lack of deadlines
lack of direction and objectives
lack of internal support
lack of knowledge
lack of priorities
lack of response
lack of self-discipline
leaving tasks unfinished
long coffee breaks
long-winded callers

looking for things
losing things
low company morale
meetings - ineffective
meetings - too long
meetings - too many, unnecessary
menial tasks
messy environment
mistakes
negative thinking
newspapers
no-shows
not enough time
not learning lessons
outside activities
over-analysis
over-planning
paper shuffling
paperwork
peer/staff demands
perfectionism
personal disorganization
pets
poor attitude
poor communication
poor decision making
poor delegation
poor filing system
poor focus and concentration
poor information management
poor planning
poor skills, training
poor time management
postponed decisions
prefer to "do it myself"
preoccupation
procrastination
reading rather than skimming
reading unnecessary material
red tape
redoing something
reluctance to delegate
repeated handling of correspondence
revised deadlines
running errands
scattered mind
scattered resources
shopping
sickness
slow reading
socializing
spreading yourself too thin
staffing issues
stress
telephone interruptions
too much work to do
travel time
unclear job description
unclear purpose
unnecessary meetings
unplanned projects
unprotected prime time
untrained staff
writer's block
writing minutes