Time Management - In A Nutshell...

When it comes to effectively managing your time, and the activities you need to do, there are a number of key ideas that will inspire and propel you to work towards completion. If you master these major considerations you will have empowered yourself to do great things, and to free up a sizeable chunk of your valuable time in the process.

So here are the Ten Commandments of effective time management that will teach you how to be the best manager of time you possibly can be.

1. State your intention – Without firstly admitting to yourself that you have a problem with managing your time effectively you will be unable to identify solutions. Stating intention – out loud, in a journal, to a colleague or family member etc – will allow you to clear a path. Once you acknowledge the problem you will be able to focus on ways of improving the situation and planning objectives.

2. Minimise pressure – Having too much distraction, responsibility or general stuff going on around you means there is a very good chance that you will simply use this as an excuse. By swiftly limiting the amount of things that require your full attention you will be freeing up time to get creative with all the tasks and chores that are of high priority.

3. Learn to prioritise – If you want to create a big difference in the way you work, and the results you achieve, mastering how to prioritise is of the utmost importance. Unless you can understand why one task is far more urgent than another you will be unable to organise yourself in a way that enables you to be efficient and productive. Getting into the habit of arranging tasks and activities in priority order should therefore be top of your To-Do-List.

4. Think like a pro – Believing you are a competent, capable individual will undoubtedly make you start acting and thinking like a efficient, productive time management expert. Boosting your inner confidence in this way will also make you feel more motivated to give things a go. Plus, if you imagine yourself being a pro-active task-master before you know it you will become one.

5. Say No – When you are feeling overwhelmed it is very easy to let other people take advantage of your easy-going nature. If you actually want to get things done however you will need to toughen up and start saying No. Declining to take on more responsibilities allows you to concentrate on managing the projects you already have to complete. It also makes you feel empowered and efficient.

6. Use Tools – Learn to use creative tools that enable you to organise yourself and to free up time. Whether it is the latest high-tech PDA, a classic retro style Filofax or a flipchart and markers, whatever works for you does so because it helps you organise yourself far better than you can do on your own. Using visualise aids like a timetable, To-Do-List or mind map will also increase your time management skills, as these provide the information you require at a glance. Whilst a bad workman blames his/her tools a good time manager is thankful for theirs.

7. Set Goals – Without something to aim for you are half-heartedly working your way through a pile of tasks or projects. With a goal firmly in place you become a dynamic creator who is focused on achieving the desired results. Goal setting not only gives you clarity of objectives but also enables you to plan with purpose.

8. Communicate – Don’t be shy about letting others know what your intention is. Delegating responsibilities and tasks to competent colleagues or friends is a highly effective method of increasing the amount of personal time you have available. Managing time, by communicating your needs and requirements, is essential if you want to make continued progress. Communicate and delegate, and then go and do something else instead.

9. Review and reward – If you were brewing up some heady potion you would be checking on progress from time to time, so reviewing the current state of play is a sensible option. Not only will you be able to introduce inspired changes, whenever they are needed, or make necessary improvements, but you will also be able to identify any time-consuming problems. Keeping an eye on the ball will also help you work towards finishing tasks on time, so that you can earn the reward you have smartly set aside for yourself. Rewarding your endeavours will also keep your interest, in the task at hand, fresh.

10. Accept yourself – Quite simply, if you are a born procrastinator or enjoy the adrenaline rush that comes from leaving things to the very last minute then nothing on Earth is going to persuade you to change your ways. Accepting your flaws and faults will help you identify the best ways of working WITH your natural skills and talents, instead of trying to change yourself in order to get stuff done.