Use Time Management techniques to increase your effectiveness and productivity
time man·age·ment – (noun) the ability to use one’s time effectively or productively, especially at work. “time management is the key to efficient working”
Often times, it may seem that you’re too busy or feel overwhelmed with work. No matter how hard you work or how fast, it doesn’t seem to make a difference; you just can’t catch up or get ahead. However, the solution might not be to work longer hours or take work home that should be done in the office. The solution may be found in better time management.
Time management involves managing how you spend time on activities, in order to maximize personal efficiency. And, although the definition above mentions especially at work, this is a skill that can be applied in all aspects of your life.
Time management involves planning. It also involves thinking about how you spend your time, and learning to prioritize the things that are important or of the highest urgency. To be effective, you also should be able to clearly distinguish what’s not important. If a task or deliverable is important and urgent, then it should be your highest priority. If it is important, but not urgent, then it can be given less priority. Urgent but not important can be given the least priority. If it is unimportant and not urgent, then perhaps you shouldn’t spend the time to do it at all.
Now here are some tips on how to organize your work or activities.
- First of all, list all of your goals, or the items you need to accomplish.
- Rank each item for importance.
- Rank each item for urgency.
- Now organize your list according to your rankings.
There are other factors that can impact your ability and efficiency to carry out the work, such as workplace or personal distractions and unplanned things that just pop up. However, if you use this method of prioritization, you can ensure that you’re at least getting the most value for your time commitment. And, it’s not about working harder… but working smarter.
