The New Year is about to start, so what better time to plan your time management. If you have a plan, you will achieve far more than if you just roll with the punches.
The first thing you need is a goal. How can you plan where you are going if you do not have a goal?
You will probably find you have several goals. Start with one and work through the steps before you plan your next. Start with the most important goal and work your way down to the least.
It is a good idea when making a time management plan to write down your goals, the steps you need to take to reach each goal, and the period you intend to work within.
The next tool that is useful is a large yearly planner. You write down the steps you hope to achieve in the date section on your planner. This helps you see whether you are on track. It gives you an easy-to-see chart that lets you know how quickly you need to move to complete the next step in your time management plan.
When you add the steps to your next goal, and next, etc., you will see where you have over-booked your time. You may need to make adjustments in some areas.
Be realistic about your expectations and allow for unplanned distractions. Allow for rest breaks, holidays and illnesses. Do not make your schedule too rigid - this is poor time management and will result in you getting far behind.
Next, you will need a daily planner. There will be tasks you do every day. It is a good idea to pencil these in to show you where you are spending your time. If there is anything, like watching television, that takes up time but is unproductive, you may want to schedule other activities for these times.
You do not need to be a robot but you will be surprised at how much time is wasted in unproductive, unnecessary tasks. If you can make better use of some of this time, you will be ahead of most of the population. The benefits of a time management plan can really add up over the space of a year. You can complete more without actually sacrificing anything.
