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How can I improve my Time Management?
Home » Careers » Time Management » How can I improve my Time Management?Posted by Your Guide on October 31, 2005 11:09 AM
You’re not doomed to perpetually feeling behind. You may be simply a few time management adjustments away from reduced stress and improved productivity.
Take some time to analyze yourself and then set up a schedule that fits you. Do you work better in the morning, afternoon, or evening? Do you work better from home or the office? Try to discover when and how you work best.
Then, use a calendar, a palm pilot, a simple list, or some other kind of organizational tool that helps you keep track of your responsibilities. Jot down deadlines and meetings, as well as miscellaneous items (e.g. “Have the oil changed in the car”) that will be avoided indefinitely (or simply forgotten) unless you assign them to a specific time. Make these responsibility lists doable; don’t overload yourself, but rather, give yourself more time than you think you need, so that you will have time left over later.
As you are organizing your responsibilities, keep your priorities in mind. In your workplace, think as a team what jobs have the highest payoff and/or the most imminent deadline. Focus yourself on these responsibilities. You will not get everything done at once, so decide what needs to be done first.
Once you begin your work, consider ways to maximize your effectiveness. For example, take a break from time to time so that you can return to work re-energized. Even though this is time away from work, your increased productivity over time will outweigh the brief absence of productivity. In addition, look for opportunities to fit in small jobs where you can. Take something to read with you to the mechanic’s shop or dentist’s office. Filling in all these small gaps will eliminate your wasted time.
Rather than trying to do a little bit of everything, focus on a few responsibilities and tasks and do them extremely well. Eliminate some responsibilities if you have to, so that you can do a better job on the things you continue doing.
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