We all know that learning and applying time management activities can improve our quality of life. But, which time management approaches work best? How do you choose from all the time management systems out there?
And there are indeed a lot. A quick search online or in any bookstore will return scores of offerings.
In my work as a professional coach, I have found the most powerful results come from integrating three of the major systems of time management.
Each of these systems brings strengths, but each system practiced alone is not sufficient for truly successful time and life management. Combined, however, they form a powerful integrated approach to help you weave a balanced, productive, and fulfilling life.
The major tenets of each approach are as follows.
1. Managing your energy. Begin first by focusing on managing your energy, not your time. Exercising, eating right, and regular periods of rest and renewal will help your body recover from periods of stress. Moreover, these positive practices and habits provide you with greater energy and focus for engaging in work and play. (This approach is based upon the book, "The Power of Full Engagement").
2. Managing your priorities. Identifying your highest values and priorities provides a powerful North Start for crafting a fulfilling life. With a firm understanding of what's most important, weekly and daily planning becomes a powerful way to create a life you love, instead of a survival mechanism for simply getting by. (This approach draws upon the works of Stephen Covey.)
3. Managing to-do items. Build a system for triaging and executing on the incessant barrage of incoming stuff - email, phone calls, to-do items. With a solid system to catch all of your incoming stuff and nagging to-do items, you can use your brain to focus on more important things. (This approach comes from "Getting Things Done," by David Allen.)
Each of these approaches, if practiced alone, provides some success, but will also leave some holes. Without managing energy, you will quickly burn out. Without managing your priorities, you will feel you're working hard, but getting nowhere important. Without managing to-do items, you will soon succumb to the incessant stream of "stuff" coming at you.
But, combining these three approaches provides a powerful toolkit for moving beyond simply managing your time. Together they will help you proactively design a balanced and fulfilling life that fully aligns with what you value most.
