How is it that some people manage to accomplish so much more in one day than what others manage to? All of us have the same 24 hours each day, within which we need to manage; yet there are those who manage their time much better. While energy levels and personal ability are big determinants in personal productivity levels, time management can also play a big part. Are you managing your time effectively? This time management ready reckoner will help:
It isn't just shopping that needs lists. The number of tasks that need to be done in a day should also be in a list. This is important because if you know what all needs doing, you can schedule each task, and tick it off the list when done, and move on. It’s a logical, workable, effective way to work.
Everything is not urgent. Some things cannot wait while some can. Get to things that need your attention first. Once you’ve got the most important things out of the way, you will feel a significant lessening of the tension; that burdensome feeling that there is so much to be done.
It is instinctive – we don’t want to do the difficult, the onerous tasks. So we find reasons to not to do them now; to put them off for as long as possible. The downside to procrastination is that if one keeps putting things off, there will come a time when the thing simply has to be done and then one ends up doing a poor job. Meanwhile, there is always the tension about the task that has to be done – not doing it won’t make it go away!
That is the next thing to do – if you say that a task has to be done in a particular amount of time, you have set yourself a measurable, achievable goal. This becomes motivation in itself when you know that something can and must be done in a specific amount of time.
With all the many pressures on their time – at home and at work; from family, kids, friends, neighbours – and the many expectations people have of them, this is particularly difficult for women to do. And yet it is important to say ‘no’ sometimes and to stand up for yourself…quite simply because no one can manage everything all of the time. Say no and don’t feel guilty about it!
You're waiting for someone to see you. You have a dental appointment and are waiting for that. You commute by public transport each day. You're waiting while your child is in a class of some sort. All these are times that you can use effectively – some lucky ones can have a short, refreshing nap. You can do some breathing or relaxation exercises, check your email, catch up on phone calls (check if its suitable to do this where you are), do some puzzles to ‘exercise’ your brain, or simply count your blessings and give thanks for them!
You don’t have to do everything yourself. Delegate tasks by breaking them up into segments and choosing wisely, the person(s) that you delegate jobs to.
Apportion fixed amounts of time in a day for checking Facebook, watching TV, following a link to some funny YouTube video. It is easy to get distracted and before you know it, you’ve wasted a significant amount of your valuable time!
It may sound counterproductive to take breaks, but this is important to rejuvenate and refresh the mind and body. It can help one proceed with work more effectively and also give rise to new ideas.
Again this may sound counterintuitive, but sleep and physical activity are vitally important to remain alert, productive and in a good mood. Quality rest keeps you energised and well prepared for the day. Regular exercise keeps you fitter, healthier and happier.
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