Chapter 10 – Time Management
The Key to a Better Life
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 unfocused generates only 20% of the desired output. However, 80% of the desired output can be generated using only 20% of a well 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 settings, 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 make 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. Each new knowledge you acquire, each new advice you consider, each new skill you develop should be taken into consideration.
Having a balanced life-style should be the key result in having 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. The six areas that personal time management seeks to improve in anyone's life are physical, intellectual, social, career, emotional and spiritual.
The physical aspect involves having a healthy body, less stress and fatigue.
The intellectual aspect involves learning and other mental growth activities.
The social aspect involves developing personal or intimate relations and being an active contributor to society.
The career aspect involves school and work.
The emotional aspect involves appropriate feelings and desires and manifesting them.
The spiritual aspect involves a personal quest for meaning. Thoroughly planning and having a set of things to do list for each of the key areas may not be very practical, but determining which area in your life is not being giving enough attention is part of time management. Each area creates the whole you, if you are ignoring one area then you are ignoring an important part of yourself.
Personal time management should not be so daunting a task. It is a very sensible and reasonable approach in solving problems big or small.
A great way of learning time management and improving your personal life is to follow several basic activities.
One of them is to review your goals whether it be immediate or long-term goals often.
A way to do this is to keep a list that is always accessible to you. Always determine which task is necessary or not necessary in achieving your goals and which activities are helping you maintain a balanced life style.
Each and every one of us has a peek time and a time when we slow down, these are our natural cycles. We should be able to tell when to do the difficult tasks when we are the sharpest.
Learning to say "No". You actually see this advice often. Heed it even if it involves saying the word to family or friends.
Pat yourself at the back or just reward yourself in any manner for an effective time management result.
Try and get the cooperation from people around you who are actually benefiting from your efforts of time management.
Don't procrastinate. Attend to necessary things immediately. Have a positive attitude and set yourself up for success. But berealistic in your approach in achieving your goals.
Have a record or journal of all your activities. This will help you get things in their proper perspective.
These are the few steps you initially take in becoming a well rounded individual.
As they say personal time management is the art and science of building a better life.
From the moment you integrate into your life time management skills, you have opened several options that can provide a broad spectrum of solutions to your personal growth. It also creates more doors for opportunities to knock on.
Use Your Time Wisely!
When I was small, I have never considered the importance of time. I would just laze around, watch TV, lie in bed, and play video games. As I grew older, I thought about the things that I have achieved.
To my surprise, I have accomplished quite a lot, only because I resolved to myself that I will do things that will contribute to the benefit of others.
I studied very hard and learned a lot of lessons from my experience. I used to lack self-confidence, so I want to help other people overcome this predicament. I want to help anyone in need because it feels so good to solve other people's problems.
I urge you now to make the most use of your time. It may be joining a fundraising organization. You may also learn new skills or crafts. Create a goal and go for it!
Don't be a couch potato. Don't just sit around and be contented with the monotonous patterns of your daily activities.
Do something nice and give all your best to the fulfilment of a worthwhile endeavour. It will give you a very deep sense of happiness and satisfaction.
Some people complain that they don't have enough time to take action on their goals. They have to go to their 9 to 5 job, then when they go home they feel so tired all they can think about is watch TV, relax, and sleep.
I'm not saying that leisure is a no-no. In fact, everyone should take time out once in a while to recharge and revitalize their energy.
The key is to have a balanced life. Set aside a fraction of your time to carry out your dreams and ambitions. Reserve some time to establish healthy relationships.
Ok, I hear you. You're saying that you really just can't budget your time?
Don't panic. Here are some time management tips.
1) If possible, do more than one thing at the same time. Exercise while watching your favourite TV show. Listen to
educational tapes while waiting for the bus.
Be forewarned! Never do this if it puts you at risk or in danger; for example, don't text while driving.
2) Don't do something later if it can be done concurrently with an activity at present.
If you're going to the market to buy some eggs, think of the other things that you have to purchase so that you don't have to return again.
If you have an appointment with the dentist today and you also have to go to the bank (which is near the dentist's clinic) at any day, schedule the two activities on the same day.
3) Be organized in everything that you do.
Put similar files on one folder. Make a list of things you have to do for the day.
Don’t start your day until you’ve finished it – either on paper or in your head, then you know what to expect from the day and your are more focused.
You can also use your mind to organize things you have to remember. Studies have shown that you could only retain information that fit between 5 to 9 categories at a time. This is the
7+-2 rule of Neurolinguistic Programming.
If you have many things to do, try to group related things together. You can combine activities such as reading books, listening to educational tapes, and watching training videos into a category such as “Education.”
Then you can group swimming, playing basketball, and paying fees for the gym in a category called “Fitness.” Get the picture?
Time is one of our most valuable resources. Once lost, it can never be reclaimed. We must use time wisely for our development and advancement; so that when we are old, we can look back and recollect the pleasant memories and deeds that we have achieved.
Time well spent is worth much more than gold.
More details “Super Tactics of Time Management” available from www.What-is-time-management.com