10 Valuable Tips For Mastering Time Management

February 26, 2010

Learn as much as you can about time management and put it into practice. All of us could be so much better off if we were more efficient and effective from this point of view and could lead much more enjoyable and productive lives.

1. While you are thinking about this, keep a close eye on everything that you do today, tomorrow and for the next few days. Get a large piece of paper and write each task down that you complete within a 15 minute period. Put it all down, walking the dog, watching TV, even taking a break to go to the bathroom; it has to be comprehensive. This will give you a good idea of where you start.

2. Don’t trust your memory. How often has something just “slipped” and almost been forgotten, putting additional stress on your daily life when you don’t need it? Keep a note of what you need to do by making a list and checking it twice!

3. Isn’t it true that almost everything that lands on your lap that is said to be vital is rarely so? Don’t think that you have to drop everything that you are doing to answer that call and be prepared to put your foot down, gently to start off, with whoever may be suggesting otherwise!

4. Schedule what you have to do well and make sure that you are scheduling your priorities and not the other way around. When you look at the tasks ahead of you, you would refer to a hierarchy of importance and while you should never procrastinate and put it off if it can be done now, you must also be wary of trying to rush any job due to completion, as this can work out to be a bad habit.

5. Delegate effectively. Find out who can do the job for you, trust them to do it and once you have given clear directions, let them do it. They will prioritise it according to their individual schedules.

6. Micromanaging is a bad move. This is a bad habit to have if you’re in management, although many of us exhibit this failure from time to time. If you have entrusted someone to do the job for you, let them do it.

7. Why do you procrastinate? There can be many different reasons – fear, the need for perfectionism, uncertainty or simply becoming overwhelmed. Once you have discovered the source of the problem, take appropriate steps to overcome.

8. Understand how important time management is. If you look at this from a financial point of view, you can work out how each minute of each hour is worth a certain amount of money and this will help you to focus, without wasting those valuable moments.

9. Do not be afraid to say no. This can be very difficult for some and the thought of actually turning down a money related project can appear to be crazy, especially in this stressful financial environment. Do not be tempted to take on more than you can chew, as while you might gain in the short term, you will almost certainly lose out in the longer run.

10. Find out everything you can about online time management, and keep in mind that time tracking software and time management software tools can be a fantastic investment in your future.

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Thanks so much!
Michelle

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