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Finding Time to Manage Time

“The bad news is time flies. The good news is you're the pilot."

― Michael Altshuler

Overview

• Define Time Management

• Access Your Time Management Skills

•  Identify Methods of Tracking Time Management

•  Finding the Right Technique

What is Time Management?

•  The ability to plan and control how you spend the hours in your day to effectively accomplish your goals. (Psychology Today)

•  The analysis of how working hours are spent and the prioritization of tasks in order to maximize personal efficiency in the workplace. (Dictionary.com)

•  The act of taking conscious control over the amount of time spent on specific activities. (Fluent-Time-Management.com)

•  Systematic, priority-based structuring of time allocation and distribution among competing demands. (Business Dictionary.com)

Access Your Time Management

Take 7 minutes to complete the Time Management Assessment

Main Areas Associated with Time Management

Time Management

Goal Setting

Prioritization

Managing Interruptions Procrastination

Scheduling

Goal Setting Setting goals gives you long-term vision and short-term motivation. (MindTools)

Career • Education • Financial

Family

• Marital Status

• Kids

Pleasure

• Hobbies • Personal

Enjoyment

Prioritization Work on the most important, highest value tasks.

Task Priority Level (H/M/L)

Managing Interruptions Interruption is a natural and necessary part of life.

Important Goals

Critical Activities

Distractions Interruptions

High

High Low

Low

IMP

OR

TA

NC

E

URGENCY

Procrastination Too many “laters” pile up to tasks that seem unmanageable

Admit It

• Do you fill the day with low priority items • When you start a high priority item you get up and do

something else.

Figure Out “Why?”

• Do you find the task unpleasant? • The task is overwhelming just thinking about it • Problem with decision-decision making skills

Anti-Procrastination

• Rewards Program • Accountability Partner (Friend, Family, Coworker) • Write a list of consequences if you do not complete the task

Scheduling Create a schedule of balance. Understand the factors that affect the time you have available.

•  Identify the “Big Rocks”

•  Priorities (School, Family, Work, etc.)

•  Fill your jar with “Big Rocks” first

•  Identify the “Marbles”

•  Important Activities

•  Add the “Marbles” to your jar

•  Identify the “Pebbles”

•  Enjoy them, but they do not make or break you

•  Add the “Pebbles” to your jar

Myths About Time Management

•  Myth: My life is completely controlled by external events.

•  Fact: You can have some control but you have to initiate control. Learn to identify what you CAN and CAN’T control before making choices.

•  Myth: I should meet everyone’s expectation.

•  Fact: The needs and demands of others may be inappropriate for you and your lifestyle. Poor timing, questionable, unattainable.

•  Myth: I should have no limits

•  Fact: We all have limits. Perfectionist are prone to procrastination because the perfection they demand is impossible

Finding What Works For You

•  Biological Rhythms: Do you have energy in the morning or the evening?

•  Environment: Is it conducive to study/work or made for comfort?

•  Safeguard Your Time: Learn to say “no” to interruptions, request, people

•  Turn Your Back: Find a space that is not facing a door, open area where traffic is visible.

•  Get Disconnected: Put your phone on silent and put it away.