Time is the key thing to both success and failure. Those who have achieved many things in life and are famous are not given extra time, neither those who fail have lesser time. Everybody is given 24 hrs per day! So why the difference? The answer is time management. The following skills are crucial to effective time management:
1. Optimizing time usage:
This can be done if you engage yourself only in those activities that will either increase your productivity or your reputation. Vice versa is simply wasting time!
2. The 'To Do' List:
This is one of the best ways to manage, not only time, but also your discipline. By writing down a 'To 'Do' list everyday and crossing out one by one of the finished tasks you declare that you are a systematic person. This will indirectly help you to build up on your confidence. You can also do a little analysis at the end of the day with the list.
3. Prioritizing:
While writing a 'To Do' list don't forget to rank all the items. Do things first that really need to be done. There are always certain things that can wait- but don't postpone them to the next day. That's a bad habit.
4. Multi-tasking is not always good:
Many people now-a-days perform more than one tasks simultaneously. There are some tasks that can be combined, for example, listening to music while walking, reading your emails and responding while waiting to meet someone, watching a video while exercising and so on. But this does not work always. Everybody knows!
5. Use your mobile on travel:
Instead of calling back your friends and engaging in long conversations during work hours, use your travel time to return calls. You can use your travel time efficiently by this way. In this way, you can avoid sitting idle during your travel. You can also analyze on your time usage during your travel time.
6. Learn to say NO:
Never say 'Yes' when you should say 'No'. I hope that's enough and everybody knows!
7. Plan Ahead:
Don't do anything in a haste! Doing so will consume your time. By planning something ahead you always have control over the situation and you have almost everything ready for that occasion.
8. Know your capabilities:
Do not overload yourself with non-stop appointments or tasks. Do not also expect too much from yourself. Know your limits, and plan accordingly!
9. Organize:
Make best use of your mobile phone appointment applications and PDAs. Do everything in an organized manner. Take decision on junk immediately. Do not stuff your table up with unnecessary files, papers etc. Decide and file those needed and dump those that need to be dumped.
10. Take note of only those things that you think are extremely needed:
Do not waste your time in jotting down stuff that you will never take a look at later. Most people never know where they lost their notes, some people will forget right away after putting the piece of paper in their file. Wasting time in gathering such unwanted information will also make you ineffective at time management.
