Time management not your thing?
Are you one of those people who show up ten minutes late to class or work with assignments either missing or disorganized? Do you feel stressed because you can't seem to figure out time management and are always spending extra money buying meals on the run or re-purchasing things you can't find in your cluttered house? Are you feeling guilty for not fitting in the gym, time with your kids, spouse, or friends?
Time management is key to working efficiently. If you use the following steps, they'll help get you to a place where you feel less stressed and can be more productive, no matter what your venture!
- Conquer Time Management Step #1:
Figure out where your time goes. Print two copies of the "Where Do I Spend My Time" spreadsheet pdf at the bottom of this page and fill out one of the charts with your typical weekly routine – be honest! - Conquer Time Management Step #2:
Reconsider the time drains. Time drains are useless portions of the day where you're spinning your wheels and accomplishing next to nothing. After completing your chart did you find that you spend three hours watching TV at night? Or messing with Facebook or Twitter? Did you find that your commute to and from work/errands/school is taking up a lengthy portion of your week?
Consider changing your routine to maximize those hours, and begin a new schedule on the other chart. Instead of plopping in front of the TV, schedule a couple nights a week for the brain drain and leave those extra hours open for productivity, leisure and setbacks. - Conquer Time Management Step #3:
Schedule productivity. After you've freed up some time by banishing or rescheduling the time drains, mark some "productivity" time into your schedule. Physically set an appointment with yourself every day to manage your life, and things won't pile up all at once. If you gain an extra hour in the evening by cutting back your Facebook time, then spend it catching up with what you've been leaving out – plan some meals at home, manage your bills, reorganize the closet, fix the leaky faucet, go through the mail. - Conquer Time Management Step #4:
Schedule leisure. It might sound silly to plan free time, but if you don't do it, you'll take it anyway, putting off the productivity time and pushing yourself back into poor time management. So plan some fun, relaxing things to do in your week. Make them a priority by moving things around and getting rid of time drains to do it. Schedule a weekly date with your significant other, time with your kids, a game of golf or basketball, or a lunch with your friends. Make time to take a nap on the weekend, try a new Pilates class, or read a book. You'll be surprised how truly relaxing it feels to have scheduled leisure time because there's no guilt; you've taken care of everything else you needed to do, so you've earned it! - Conquer Time Management Step #5:
Plan for setbacks. You'll never be able to stop that railroad crossing from pushing you off schedule. Your kids will inevitably throw a temper tantrum as you're trying to get them off to school. Your plumber will arrive two hours late, you'll forget your wallet at home, and yes, you'll have to take a driving course online for rear-ending the person stopping fifty feet from the light. It happens. But if you plan for the occasional disastrous day, it's easy to recover.
Leave several hours open during your week for "setback recovery." These are the hours you can spend writing thank-you notes, shopping for a last-minute gift, rescheduling missed appointments, etc. If you have the time scheduled in your week, those disastrous moments won't leave you asking yourself, "Where am I going to find the time to fix that blown tire?" You'll already have it scheduled. And having that extra time is imperative to time management.
See? Time management isn't so hard; it just requires a little bit of planning. And yes, you can do it. Take the time right now – RIGHT NOW – and print the charts. Put them in your purse or pocket and get organized tonight. Your sanity, wallet, and loved ones are counting on it!
