|
It is
one of the important aspects of everyone’s life because
time keeps on going it plays it’s own part doesn’t stops
for anyone. So to achieve our targets it’s important
to manage our time through proper planning and scheduling.
It might take you a bit
of time to learn how to best use the following tools,
but once you do, you'll know what you're supposed to
be doing and where you're supposed to be at all times.If
you want to make sure you don't double-book appointments
and that you really use your time, instead of wasting
it away, consider bringing a fully loaded planner to
your life. The world is now divided into people who
stick to their old-style book planners and the newfangled
crowd who drool over handheld computer organizers. It
really is just a matter of personal taste. Buy whichever
one you think you'll really use.
SPEND TIME FOR PLANNING AND ORGANIZING :
Using time to think and plan is time well spent.
In fact, if you fail to take time for planning, you
are, in effect, planning to fail. Organize in a way
that makes sense to you. If you need color and pictures,
use a lot on your calendar or planning book. Some people
need to have papers filed away; others get their creative
energy from their piles. So forget the "shoulds" and
organize your way.
SET GOALS : Goals give your life,
and the way you spend your time, direction. When asked
the secret to amassing such a fortune, one of the famous
Hunt brothers from Texas replied: "First you've got
to decide what you want." Set goals, which are specific,
measurable, realistic and achievable. Your optimum goals
are those, which cause you to "stretch" but not "break"
as you strive for achievement. Goals can give creative
people a much-needed sense of direction.
PRIORITIZE : Use the 80-20 Rule
originally stated by the Italian economist Vilfredo
Pareto who noted that 80 percent of the reward comes
from 20 percent of the effort. The trick to prioritizing
is to isolate and identify that valuable 20 percent.
Once identified, prioritize time to concentrate your
work on those items with the greatest reward. Prioritize
by color, number or letter whichever method makes the
most sense to you. Flagging items with a deadline is
another idea for helping you stick to your priorities.
USE A TO DO LIST : Some people
thrive using a daily To Do list which they construct
either the last thing the previous day or first thing
in the morning. Such people may combine a To Do list
with a calendar or schedule. Others prefer a "running"
To Do list which is continuously being updated. Or,
you may prefer a combination of the two previously described
To Do lists. Whatever method works is best for you.
Don't be afraid to try a new system you just might find
one that works even better than your present one.
BE FLEXIBLE : Allow time for interruptions
and distractions. Time management experts often suggest
planning for just 50 percent or less of one's time.
With only 50 percent of your time planned, you will
have the flexibility to handle interruptions and the
unplanned "emergency." When you expect to be interrupted,
schedule routine tasks. Save (or make) larger blocks
of time for your priorities. When interrupted, ask Alan
Lakein's crucial question, "What is the most important
thing I can be doing with my time right now?" to help
you get back on track fast.
CONSIDER YOUR BIOLOGICAL PRIME TIME :
That's the time of day when you are at your best.
Are you a "morning person," a "night
owl," or a late afternoon "whiz" Knowing
when your best time is and planning to use that time
of day for your priorities (if possible) is effective
time management.
DO THE RIGHT THING RIGHT : Noted
management expert, Peter Drucker, says "doing the
right thing is more important than doing things right."
Doing the right thing is effectiveness; doing things
right is efficiency. Focus first on effectiveness (identifying
what is the right thing to do), then concentrate on
efficiency (doing it right).
ELIMINATE THE URGENT: Urgent tasks
have short-term consequences while important tasks are
those with long-term, goal-related implications. Work
towards reducing the urgent things you must do so you'll
have time for your important priorities. Flagging or
highlighting items on your To Do list or attaching a
deadline to each item may help keep important items
from becoming urgent emergencies.
PRACTICE THE ART OF INTELLIGENT NEGLECT :
Eliminate from your life trivial tasks or
those tasks, which do not have long-term consequences
for you. Can you delegate or eliminate any of your To
Do list? Work on those tasks, which you alone can do.
AVOID BEING A PERFECTIONIST : In
the Malaysian culture, only the gods are considered
capable of producing anything perfect. Whenever something
is made, a flaw is left on purpose so the gods will
not be offended. Yes, some things need to be closer
to perfect than others, but perfectionism, paying unnecessary
attention to detail, can be a form of procrastination.
CONQUER PROCRASTINATION : One technique
to try is the "Swiss cheese" method described
by Alan Lakein. When you are avoiding something, break
it into smaller tasks and do just one of the smaller
tasks or set a timer and work on the big task for just
15 minutes. By doing a little at a time, eventually
you'll reach a point where you'll want to finish.
LEARN TO SAY "NO" : Such
a small word — and so hard to say. Focusing on your
goals may help. Blocking time for important, but often
not scheduled, priorities such as family and friends
can also help. But first you must be convinced that
you and your priorities are important — that seems to
be the hardest part in learning to say "no."
Once convinced of their importance, saying "no"
to the unimportant in life gets easier.
REWARD YOURSELF : Even for small
successes, celebrate achievement of goals. Promise yourself
a reward for completing each task, or finishing the
total job. Then keep your promise to yourself and indulge
in your reward. Doing so will help you maintain the
necessary balance in life between work and play. As
Ann McGee-Cooper says, "If we learn to balance
excellence in work with excellence in play, fun, and
relaxation, our lives become happier, healthier, and
a great deal more creative."
TRY THE SIMPLE LIFE : Over the
last few years, many Americans have embraced "voluntary
simplicity." Voluntary simplicity "is about
discovering what is enough' in your life, and discarding
the rest." This isn't just about getting rid of
a few extra sweaters in your closet; it's about getting
rid of everything that's not truly meaningful to you.
You get to spend less time on the things that don't
matter and more times on those that do. Want to give
it a try? Start with Elaine St. James' book, "Simplify
Your Life: 100 Ways to Slow Down and Enjoy the Things
That Really Matter."
|