Make Time Management Work for You!
It is hard work to establish your time management system. And
it as a great challenge effectively managing it. Managing a system
means you have to monitor, analyze and revise it until it works.
Requirements for a working time management system are:
Be patience to yourself
One of the most important things to keep in mind if you're struggling with time management is that effective planning is a skill that takes time to acquire, to practice, and to polish. One of the most common reasons people give up trying to manage time is that they assume that once a time plan has been drawn up, the process is complete. Some frustration is inevitable and even to be expected. At first it may seem that you're getting less done than before because planning and monitoring are time-consuming and distracting. The trial and error approach of trying out strategies, seeing them fail, and then trying something else are essential parts of the process. If you can endure the first few weeks, later you'll reap the benefits when you need them the most.
Analyze what works and what can you do better
Another difficult aspect of time management is the fact that
you have no one but yourself to monitor how effectively you are
using your time. Self-monitoring is essential; you must be your
own watchdog. No skill can improve without feedback, so set aside
a few minutes each day to evaluate how your time plan is working.
Whether tasks have been accomplished or not, figure out why. Have
you simply over or underestimated how much can be done in a day?
Your thoughtful analysis of the reasons why your time plan works
or does not work is the key to the continuous improvement of your
skills. If you have difficulties then get a coach!
Be flexible
Your time plan will be doomed if you assume that it is written
in stone. People are subject to diseases, disasters and distractions,
so cultivate the sensitivity to know when you're being productive
and when you're beating your head against the wall, and take appropriate
action. Don't stop a task when you are well motivated because
you only scheduled an hour for it. Learn effective (or good) procrastination
- recognize when putting a task off and doing something else is
an intelligent, conscious decision and when it is just procrastinating.
Be gentle with yourself if you fall short of your expectations,
but monitor any negative patterns that emerge and analyze their
source. By expecting the unexpected and building flexibility into
your time plan, you'll have a better chance of achieving your
goals.
Be aware
To be successful at the time management, it is necessary to be
strategic. This involves several steps. First, you plan - in this
instance how you will use your time. Second, you monitor - is
this working? Are you achieving what you planned to do? How are
you enjoying this? How difficult is it? Third, you analyze - why
did or didn't this plan work? If it did work, you look at where
or how else effective strategies can be used. If the plan didn't
work, you develop new strategies and try them out. The common
denominator of all these steps is awareness - of the importance
of time management, of how you are using your time, of what works
or doesn't work for you. Again a coach can help you!
Collect information
Learning to manage time is an ongoing process. The more aware you are of how other people use their time, the more quickly you will see and pick up new strategies. The bigger your repertoire of time management strategies, the easier it will be to adapt to new challenges, such as the time management situations a full-time job and family life may bring. The moral here is keep your eyes open, listen when people talk about how time is used, and keep trying out new methods and techniques. The ability to manage time effectively is a very valuable asset to have in the working world.
Resources:
ToDo Monday
ToDo Thursday
ToDo Wednesday
ToDo Tuesday
ToDo Friday
ToDo Saturday
ToDo Sunday
Source:
University of Miami Counseling Center
