Time Management

Time management is a skill that many of us seem to learn through necessity. Those who are smart, prosper from learning through necessity. However, learning through necessity needs to become a habit or else it is easy to slip back into bad habits. Good time management can have productive and useful long term ramifications for your career and future and they all point in the positive direction. In the end, most people find that they have more time on their hands.

Making lists, for most, is a great motivator. You see the items on a list. When you start checking them off you feel a sense of accomplishment. It is important to avoid a list that reaches outrageous length and is overwhelming to even look at. Try to make use of waiting time or down time to set goals and plan. Good times for this would be while you are driving, showering, or waiting for an appointment. Prioritize. Which goals are the most important? Whenever you accomplish something, especially the important things, make sure to take the time to reward yourself.

Do not fall into the trap of thinking more can be accomplished by multitasking. Focus on one thing at a time. You will find the completion of that task more efficient.

Procrastination should be avoided like the “plague”. People who procrastinate find themselves struggling to catch up before they have even started. Develop a mindset that if something needs to be done it needs to be done as soon as possible. The mindset, “I’ll think about it tomorrow.” is “gone with the wind”. Set deadlines. A guaranteed way to alleviate some of this stress is to set your own earlier deadlines.

People who exhibit good time management skills understand the necessity of delegating. It is not uncommon for people to take on more than they can handle. The overestimation of one’s abilities, though not necessarily a bad thing, can often result in stress and more work for an individual. People who do not delegate sometimes indicate they are “control-freaks” or have trust issues. Identify those who are trustworthy and delegate. This is good for everyone involved in the long run. It is always good for everyone to take ownership in a task.

Long range goals are important. Goal setters see it and then strive to achieve it. Thinking about what can be accomplished leads to successful achievement of goals. Setting up a long term planner will help you envision your long term goals and rationalize your current objectives.

Source: “Time Management.” Mind Tools New Articles RSS. Web. 16 Apr. 2013.