Time Management Tips

Dear friend, did you ever stop to realize that we each have?

24 hours per day?
168 hours per week?
720 hours per month?
8,760 hours per year?

What a bank account! And it is up to each one of us how we choose to spend or waste it.

The first step in learning how to better manage time is to learn how to analyze how it is used.

When analyzing the use of time, it is important to ask these questions:

Am I doing it in a way to get what I think is the best?

Am I using the time to get what I think are the best results?

Should I change?

If yes, how should I change?

To facilitate analysis of the use of time, it is suggested that a log of daily activities, noting time spent doing them, be maintained. A time and activity log is essential because it can be reviewed and evaluated in relation to objectives, standards, and priorities.

Time management is basically about being focused. The Pareto Principle also known as the ’80:20 Rule’ states that 80% of efforts that are not time managed or are unfocused generate only 20% of the desired output. However, 80% of the desired output can be generated using only 20% of a good time managed effort. Although the ratio ’80:20’ is only arbitrary, it is used to put emphasis on how much is lost or how much can be gained with time management.

Some people view time management as a list of rules that involves scheduling of appointments, goal setting, thorough planning, creating things to do lists and prioritizing.

These are the core basics of time management that should be understood to develop an efficient personal time management skill. These basic skills can be fine tuned further to include the finer points of each skill that can give you that extra reserve to achieve the results you desire.

But there are more skills involved in time management than the core basics. Skills such as decision making, inherent abilities such as emotional intelligence and critical thinking are also essential to your personal growth.

Personal time management involves everything you do. No matter how big and no matter how small, everything counts. The new knowledge you acquire, the new advice you consider, each new skill you develop should be taken into consideration.

Having a balanced life-style should be the key result of having good personal time management. This is the main aspect that many practitioners of personal time management fail to grasp.

Time management is about getting results, not about being busy.

Until next time, keep living your life to the fullest.

With appreciation and gratituder
Nigel St.Hill