Some of the reasons people use time management can be counter productive to achieving sustainable change that delivers consistent results.
Part of the problem is that the phrase can be misleading. Here's why:
Time doesn't need managing. It's YOU that needs managing!
The problem is that you are diverting attention from resolving underlying problems permanently that would create lasting solutions that would then no longer require managing.
The problem with time management strategies is that they are often used inappropriately - and that is what concerns me. What we are often doing is using time management to manage ineffective behaviour patterns and bad habits instead of using them for improving productiveness and effectiveness. An important distinction.
So instead, I chose to focus on, what I call, self management.
Focussing on self management is about finding lasting changes to ineffective behaviour patterns and bad habits. Whereas time management often is about managing these problems. Self management deals with real change that delivers tangible results. Hence my preference for focussing on self management, not time management. You are going to dramatically increase your effectiveness if your remove problem areas totally rather than putting things in place to manage them.
Now, don't get me wrong, I am not suggesting you throw out the current methods you use to get things done or that time managment tools don't have a place. What I am suggesting is this......
Focusing on self management is more likely to give real solutions, lasting change and effective habits that naturally produce results.
A good starting point is to look at the mindset you go into when something comes up that you feel falls into a "time management" issue.
If every time a bad habit or behaviour pattern surfaces your immediate mindset is to put a time management technique or tool in place to manage it, you are going to be forever in managing issues mode, not creating lasting solutions mode.
The key is to create a mindset that looks inside yourself to the source and solution first and techniques to manage issues second.
A good rule to follow with this sort of thing is to remember to always look inside before you look outside!
The key to real change always starts on the inside, with you and your mindset.
