Managing Time More Effectively—5 Tips

Managing Time is a misconception. When we conceptualize time as something to be managed we are putting time in control and disempowering ourselves. We can not control that which is outside us, but we can mange ourselves more effectively. Time is a constant, thus time just is and not something to manage.

There are one thousand four hundred and forty minutes in every day. The question is—What are you doing with yours?

We have a plethora of clichés about time—time flies, real time, down time, just-in-time, in the nick of time, all the time, none of the time, bide time, for the time being, father time, kill time, pass the time, the whole time, day light savings time (I do not understand this time concept), fast-paced world, etc. These clichés imply that time is in control and we are at the mercy of time.

1. Time is a concept to identify night from day, MPH, and quantifying our effectiveness.

2. Avoid scheduling more than is reasonable and doable given there are exactly one thousand four hundred forty minutes in every day. How will you allocate your energy and focus?

3. Create a well-honed to-do list. Prioritize each item, based on Importance and Urgency.

• Urgent and Important; (This item needs to be done by ____).

• Urgent and Not Important, (If you want to have this item completed, it is urgent now, but if you are behind schedule this item can be dropped as it is not important now).

• Important and Not Urgent, (This item is important, but not urgent now—if need be, this item can be rescheduled).

• Not Urgent and Not Important (This item is a wish to do some time—it can be rescheduled or taken off the to-do list).

The key to keeping a well-honed to-do list is crossing off each item as it is completed and ‘reprioritize’ the remaining items for each day. Develop the following day/week’s to-do list at the end of each day or the first order of business each day.

4. Believe in your abilities. Approach each task as though you have the requisite skills, knowledge and talent. If you approach the task from a sense of scarcity or fear of failing, that is what you will manifest and that is what you will experience. If you believe in yourself you will accomplish things more quickly and effectively with less stress. If you have difficulty in believing in yourself, you can enhance your self-esteem by attending workshops or engaging with a Life Coach. www.gen-assist.com

5. Include ‘play’ on your to-do list. “All work and no play makes for a dull Jack/Jill,” is an axiom—well worth heeding. Schedule in fun/play time—lounging in the tub, taking a nap, talking with a friend or taking a class, enjoying fun activities. Embrace your play/fun activities as important as your work items, and stick to it as a non-negotiable item!