How to Manage Your Time
At the beginning of the day, you thought you had an endless amount of time to accomplish all your errands. However, the gym took twice as long you expected, the grocery store was out of everything you needed, the line at the bank was a mile long and you forgot to pick up the dry cleaning. Now you’re behind on your work for tomorrow and you didn’t have time to make a healthy dinner like you planned. What happened to the day?
If your days are like this more often than you’d like them to be, you might want to take a closer look at what might be getting in the way of your careful planning. Here’s how to get started on managing your life, and your errands, more effectively:
Cut Out the Time Stealers
These are some of the common culprits that prevent you from getting everything done:
- Telephone and email
- Personal visitors
- Meetings and other interruptions in your routine
- Tasks you should have delegated
- Procrastination and indecision
- Acting with incomplete information
- Unclear communication with family and co-workers
- Unclear objectives and priorities at home and work
- Lack of planning
- Stress and fatigue
- Inability to say “No”
- Personal disorganization
If you feel like you might have seen or suffered from these time stealers, try to determine which ones are getting in your way. Below are some scenarios to give you an idea of how to push these obstacles aside:
You let the phone, email, visitors, television or any other source of distraction pull you away from your day.
There is nothing wrong with having good relationships with others or taking time to relax. However, in today’s world where communication and entertainment are literally in the palm of your hand, it is important not to let these tools take over your life. Save these activities as a reward for the end of a busy day instead of filling your day with them. Tell friends that you would be happy to see them for coffee after 8 p.m. or a chatty co-worker that you’ll be free on Friday for lunch if he or she would like to go. Doing this will let people know that you’re occupied without making them feel brushed off or ignored. If you are addicted to television or computer-based distractions, try to wean yourself away by listening to the radio or music while you work. This allows you to maintain visual focus without having to face total silence.
| 
Email this Article
Print this Article
