 |
A Guide To Time Management
So where do you begin? Our guide to time management is a great place to get started.
Chances are that you’ve learned a certain way of organizing your time and have stuck to that way for a very long time. Changing your habits will require a lot of hard work as well as patience. Read steps one to five of our guide to time management: 1) You need to examine how you work best. Are you a time-chunker? (Do you need work well only when you have a chunk of time to work?) or are you a bits and pieces type of worker? (Can you squeeze in some work throughout the day?).
Knowing this allows you to schedule work time according to your preferences. If you only work well in chunks of time, then schedule two-three hours of solid, uninterrupted work for yourself. Schedule a break for lunch, an errand, etc. Then schedule another chunk of time. This may not be possible each day, but perhaps you can schedule which days of the week you can set this time aside.
2) Learn how to say no. In one of the best self-improvement books we ever read was Cheryl Richardson’s, “Take Time For Your Life,” Where she talks about the importance of protecting your time. If you’re asked to attend something you don’t want to attend, simply send your regards. It really is that easy.
We’ve heard time and time again, people complaining about having to do things that they dread. When we’ve told them not to go, they’ve looked at us as though we are crazy. It’s amazing that people are more afraid of offending near-strangers by not attending social events than what the long-term damage they do to themselves by not protecting their time. This is probably the most important step in our guide to time management. You must respect and protect your time.
You will see how much time you’ve spent doing things you haven’t really wanted to do. It will be more time than you may realize. You’ve now given yourself more time to really do what you want to be doing. Don’t worry about offending people. You have a right to say no. You have a right to change your mind, even after you’ve said yes. Guard your time. Protect it. You must only spend time doing what you truly want to be doing.
It’s also important to note that you should not be lying or making up excuses as to why you are not able to attend things you’re invited to. Being dishonest will not help you with your self improvement. You must keep your integrity by simply stating that you can’t make it. That’s it.
This might seem impossible to you depending on how many social obligations you have, but try it anyway. Say no at least once (providing you don’t want to go to whatever you’re invited to) and you’ll be amazed at how free you’ll be.
3) Take ten minutes during your work day to make a personal phone call or send a personal email that will move you forward somehow. For example, you can schedule a dentist appointment, ask for a lower-interest credit card rate, etc. Everyone gets a break at work, so make the most out of one of yours. By the end of the week, you can have five errands done and you’ll feel a load off rather than carrying them into the evening and/or weekend.
4)If you really have to do something and you really don’t want to, but really have to, then do that first. Get it out of the way. You’ll free up a lot of energy by simply not worrying about getting it done.
5) Allow yourself time to do absolutely nothing. Sounds impossible? It isn’t. You don’t want to go through life making and crossing off a bunch of to-do lists. Allow some spontaneity to come into your life.
A guide to time management would not be complete without urging you to challenge yourself to commit to one of the above steps.
Afraid of getting started?
Review the advantages of time management.
|
