Time Management

Time Management - Many people spend their days in a frenzy of activity, but achieve very little because they are not concentrating on the right things. People who use time management techinques routinely are the highest achievers in all walks of life, from business to sport to public service. If you use these skills well, then you will be able to function effectively, even under intense pressure. General Tips and Techniques

1. Clear your desk and plan your activities for the next day.

2. First list your ‘time specific items, e.g. meetings and then write down the tasks you have to complete.

3. Once you have prioritised your tasks, make a ‘to do’ list and work through the items in priority order.

4. Ensure that you have given yourself sufficient time to complete your ‘to do’ list, taking into account your daily interruptions.

5. Do difficult jobs first, when you are at your best. Look after minor jobs when you are tired.

6. Fix deadlines for all jobs and stick to them. A task should only take the time set aside for it.

7. Do not postpone important matters that are unpleasant. Jobs rarely get more pleasant by being postponed. Do it now!

8. Try to arrange set times for jobs such as going through the mail, talking with your manager or staff, computer input, etc.

9. Try to fix definite times when you would not like to be disturbed, and make the system work except for genuine emergencies.

10. Plan your telephone calls. Make a brief note of what you want to say and what you want to find out. It saves time later.

11. If you have several phone calls to make, do them all in a burst.

12. When you start a piece of work, try to finish it without interruptions. If you have to finish it later, you will lose time picking up where you left off.

13. Arrange your breaks at times when you cannot work effectively.

14. Plan some time for discussing routine matters with your colleagues. Then you avoid interrupting each other all the time.

15. Learn to say ‘No’. Get used to asking yourself ‘Am I the right person for this job?’

16. Monitor how you use your time, and make conscious changes to your behaviour.

17. Stress and fatigue are rarely caused by the things you have done, but by the thought of what you haven’t done!

18. Make a habit of finishing the main job of the day before you go home.

19. Order your personal Idea Organizer to maximize your time with less effort!

20. Hire a PurposeBuilder coach to keep you focused on major goals you plan to accomplish.