Time Management

“Manage your time or your time will manage you”

Time, there never seems to be enough of it despite the long list of labour saving devices at our disposal. In fact we all seem busier than ever before, desperately trying to cram more and more into our lives but somehow feeling less and less fulfilled. So what is so important that it needs to be done right now? Why do we feel like a failure or incapable if things roll over to tomorrow? With the pace and demands of work and life everything seems to feel important, and by getting caught up in the energy of feeling busy, stressed and trying to prove we are super human we lose site that things can wait, and that achieving everything on the list today only creates more space for another long list tomorrow.

So what are the key things to do when you are looking for more time?

1. Identify where your time goes – for a short period of time keep a time diary listing the activities, the time you spend and the importance /priority you place on them. This should show you how you are spending your time and what changes you need to make, especially if you are spending your time doing things that aren’t worthwhile.
2. Learn to manage your priorities – not everything in life has the same importance or value. There are 3 categories of activities in life; the things you like and want to do, the things you don’t want to do and the things you have to do to keep life ticking over. The key is recognizing which activities in each of these categories have a priority and need to be done, and which can wait.
3. . Find out what you want to spend more time doing. On a sheet of paper write down the activities that you would like to do more of, these should be the things that bring you pleasure and satisfaction. By identifying them you can start to think how you can include them in your week.
4. Find out what you want to spend less time going. Again on a sheet of paper repeat the above exercise and think about how you can reduce, delegate or even get rid of them and free your time for the things you really want to do and that make you happy.
5. Create a realistic daily to do list, prioritize the items and keep it on or near you at all times, allowing you to track your progress. If by the early afternoon there are things that are not going to get done after all, re-prioritize and decide which activities can wait or be delegated. The key is staying on top of this list and making it work for you.
6. Learn to delegate tasks and responsibilities effectively. If you have an issue with trust or extremely high standards remember people can be taught and guided with the investment of time, tools and the right information. If you take on too much your own standards will slip and could cause you rework anyway.
7. Look at how you can group activities together to save you time. E.g. set time aside to run errands together, make phone calls in groups, make meals in bulk and ahead of time if time is going to be short during the week.
8. Minimise your television watching, record for 1 week what you watched and how long you spent sat down. There are many great programmes on the TV but think also about how much rubbish you watch and how you could be better using that time.
9. Why not try getting up a bit earlier in the mornings, another 30 mins each day could make the world of difference.
10. Recognize and tackle the main time robber and cause of stress – PROCRASTINATION. Everyone is guilty of putting off the things they either don’t want to do, or worse the things they don’t know how to do. If you find yourself avoiding a task, stop and ask yourself why I am avoiding doing this? “What am I fearful of and how much time am I wasting by leaving it. The best way to tackle it and reduce the stress attached to it is to get on with it and move on.
    If you feel a lack of time is causing you stress, ask us how we can help you.