Effortless Time Management

We must first realize that time itself cannot be managed to manage time effectively! It's a given that we each have seven days and 168 hours in those seven days. In any event, this cannot be increased or altered whatsoever. What we can control, however, is our own behavior. In other words, true-time management is now "self-management!"

In light of this knowledge, we can conclude that it is not the amount of time that matters but rather the quality of our utilization. Each of us has the same amount of time in the day as a successful person does. There is only one difference: They use their time more efficiently.

"I don't have the time to learn some time management skills" is a common excuse. Do you really believe that you have the time to do everything you want to? Learning time management principles and techniques is usually a straightforward process. A high I.Q. or a lot of preparation is not required. A simple search on the internet using the term “time management resources” will bring up dozens of websites that offer advice, tips, and tricks on better organizing your time.

It's important to ask yourself two questions to get a handle on time management.

Are there enough hours in the day for me to complete all of the tasks that I have been assigned? There is only so much time in the day. It's physically impossible to include everything all the time. The only way to reclaim some of your lost time is to set priorities and eliminate some low-priority tasks and activities.

The answer to this question is a resounding "no." Time management principles and techniques could be useful if your answer is no.

I use these techniques and tips in my life coaching sessions to help my clients better manage their time. You may benefit from some of them. They are not arranged in any specific order.

• Find out what time of day (or night) you are most productive.

• Determine what you want to accomplish and prioritize your tasks accordingly. Identify the most important tasks and activities, and eliminate those that aren't.

Allow more time than you think you'll need to complete a task. This allows for unexpected events to be accommodated in your schedule.

Make the most of your spare time by making the most of your odd five minutes here and there. Just because it's only five minutes doesn't mean it's not worth it!

Rather than completing a slew of unimportant tasks, focus on a few important ones. •

Keep a diary or calendar. Make a list of all your upcoming events and tasks.

It's important to keep a list of "To Do" items and cross them off when they are done.

Make a to-do list for the next day every day.

• Prioritize unpleasant tasks first whenever possible.

Make your life easier and less stressful by keeping things tidy.

Do nothing for a few minutes at a time to recharge and refresh yourself.

Keep some wiggle room in your schedule for unforeseen events.

Identify your strengths and weaknesses.

Think about what you do that someone else could do for you. Delegate!

Avoid being afraid to ask for assistance.

Reduce clutter by tossing things away as soon as possible (junk mail, newspapers and spam email, etc.).

• Break down large, overwhelming tasks into smaller, manageable chunks, and tackle each one at a time. 

•If you don't like doing it, do it at least once a day. 

• Become aware of how much time you are wasting by checking your email, surfing the internet, and engaging in other forms of procrastination.

• Cut back on the amount of time you spend watching television. If you begin watching three hours of television a day at the age of five, you will have watched six years and three months of television by the time you are fifty-five. If you only watch two hours of TV a day, you'll have gained two years back in just one hour.