Succeeding With Simple Time Management Work Principles
So what exactly is time management? How do you manage time and more importantly
, can time actually be addressed? Well, I'm here to tell you time management is real; implement it right and it doesn't matter what field of work you are in, you'll attain both short and long term goals and lift productivity to a whole new level. And the best part is, it will seem as when you expend very little extra energy doing it.Over Commitment in the Work Environment
One of the biggest ravages of a person's productive time schedules is over committing. Why people do it remains somewhat of a mystery. Maybe it is the old story of not wanting to say no; trying to please everyone yet realising there is just no way you'll perform every task you've set yourself in the allotted time. This then leads to half-finished projects and a reputation in some eyes that you are unreliable. In the end, it in the end leads to tension and diminished feelings of achievement. Know the feeling?
Set Your Time Management at Work Priorities
Prioritising is such a crucial aspect of effective time management it can't be understated. I can relate my story which will tenably "strike a chord" with many where I had a habit of trying to get everything done yesterday. You know what I mean. Whenever it gets done today then I will not have to do it tomorrow. But do you know what? I worked myself into a state of mind where my sub conscious used to take over and I found myself buried under a mountain of work one day and walking aimlessly roughly the office the next trying to look busy. My reasoning then was when it is completed today, I can relax tomorrow, incorrect attitude.
This gradually led to a distinct dislike for my job, unnecessary stress and believe it or not, laziness. How? Well, while I initially liked the idea of going to work and having nothing to do, I developed an over zealousness which saw me becomes agitated and frustrated when extra work was dumped on my desk. "How dare they? Don't they know this is my free time that I earnt since I put in all that additional effort early in the week to get things completed?" I soon became unpopular. And the reality was yes, while I had completed all my work in a couple of days, you couldn't blame people for noticing when I wasn't busy. I had to change and I did!
Prioritising my work commitments virtually gave me a new lifeline. I implemented strict time management principles and followed them to the letter. Soon, it became second nature. Here's what I did:
- I contrived my day the night before. I got myself a diary. Yes, I know, how could I have lived without one!
- I listed tasks in order of importance. Sounds simple and straight forward but you will not believe how many souls get this wrong!
- I didn't over-commit myself and learned to politely say no. There was no grey area here. It was yes or no and do you know I started to get some long awaited respect as a decision-maker.
- if I started a project, I would tackle the more hard areas first. This makes adept time management sense because a fresh mind gives you sharper judgement and you are less tenably to make mistakes.
- I set short term goals, sometimes every hour and would give myself some sort of reward every time I achieved them. Rewards can be whatever you like, it's up to you.
It didn't take me long to climb "out of the rut" I had worked myself into. Applying time management at work principles virtually saved my career, gave me new found confidence and more importantly, I started revelling it again. You can too!
by: Uchenna Ani-Okoye