How We Can Manage Our Time

I was in a conference last week. The speaker was a university professor talking about how we can manage our time. I’m not really good at planning my time so that was very helpful for me. First, let’s define the term “time management.” It is the process of organizing and planning how to divide your time between specific activities. Good time management enables you to work better, so you can get more done in less time. Failing to manage your time damages your effectiveness and causes stress. It seems that there is never enough time in the day. But, since we all have the same 24 hours, why is it that some people achieve so much more with their time than others? The answer lies in good time management. What are some keys to good time management? First of all, you must understand the difference between urgent and important tasks. For example, answering the phone is urgent. If you don’t do it you won’t know why they called. However, that’s not important. Going to the dentist regularly is important. If you don’t, you may get gum disease, or other problems. But it’s not urgent. If you leave it too long, however, it may become urgent, because you may get toothache. Some things are both urgent and important. For example, picking your children up from school. If you are not there at the right time, they will be waiting in the playground or the classroom, worrying about where you are. Reading funny emails or checking Facebook is neither urgent nor important. So why is it the first thing that you do each day? Recognise and avoid other things that may distract you from getting your urgent and important tasks done. This distinction between urgent and important is the key to prioritising your time and your workload, whether at work or at home. Remember, too, that you and your health are important. Just because you have lots to do doesn’t mean that doing some exercise, going for a 10-minute walk or making time to eat properly is not important. You should not ignore your physical or mental health in favour of more ‘urgent’ activities. (Adapted from Skills you need website)