subject: Practical Time Management Skills [print this page] Effectively managing time is an ability that everyone can learn. It's only a question of shedding unproductive habits and taking on more efficient ones. Reading about this, of course, is not enough. Developing new habits can be quite challenging. You should realize up front that becoming better at time management will not happen immediately. You don't have to be perfect, so just try to recover quickly from your mistakes and learn from them. The following are some helpful principles to guide you along in your efforts to upgrade your time management skills.
When it comes to planning your day and sticking to a schedule, a certain amount of flexibility is healthy. Life seldom accommodates a perfect schedule, and when you try to fit into one, you will only stress yourself out. Stress does not help you get more done; on the contrary, it hampers your productivity. To keep a clear head, you sometimes have to put certain things off until tomorrow. You can do this and still stay focused on your important objectives. It only means that when you are compelled to make adjustments to your predetermined schedule, don't let it upset you. Make the best of it. If you are too much of a control freak, you will only drive yourself (and others) crazy!
Everyone has an internal clock, and you should follow yours as much as you can. "Night people" will tend to get more accomplished later in the day. Mornings are the most productive time for lots of other people. Lots of other people, meanwhile, are somewhere in the middle and work best in the afternoon. You can be more productive by paying attention to your own internal clock. Identify when you are most productive, and use this time to attack your most difficult tasks. Then you have the advantage of working in harmony with your own body rather than against it. Since you'll be obeying your natural inclinations, you will also feel better about your work!
Naturally, you want to do as many things as you can, but you also want to make sure they are getting done the right way. Don't rush something just to get it done if it means that it won't be done properly. There is no point in being on time if the quality of your work suffers for it. Very often, people don't finish assignments on time because they were unrealistic about how long it would take when they scheduled it. You should always allow for unexpected hindrances, so give yourself a little extra time for every task on your list. You are better off having too much time than too little for important tasks.
Anyone who puts their mind to it can improve in the time management department. If you get into the habit of practicing the time management tips we've covered here, you'll find that you are getting more done in less time. When you figure out how to create a schedule that's ambitious yet realistic and also flexible, you'll be on your way to mastering time management. You will find that you gradually get better at time management the more you focus on it.
