All You Need To Know About Time Management
May 2nd, 2018
Q: There are so many time management tips, apps, and tools. Where do I start? How can I uncomplicate time management?
A: The answer is simpler than you think. Better yet, the effects are immediate. Even better still, it will take your time management and productivity to new heights.
When it comes to time management and getting things done, would you say that you are:
- Rarely productive?
- Sometimes productive? Or
- Always productive?
Now, here is the cold, hard truth about your answer, no matter which it may be: You can be BETTER.
But how?
In today’s hectic world, demands on your time fly about you like mosquitoes on a hot Southern summer night. It’s too bad that there’s not a to-do-repellent, bottled up and ready for purchase at your nearest Container Store!
But while there may not be a “protective spray” for busyness, there is a solution – and it’s simpler than you think.
Better yet, the effects are immediate.
Even better still, it is a rinse-and-repeat system that will take your time management and productivity to new heights. I promise!
The Biggest Time Management Mistake You Are Making Right Now
In life, there are those individuals who are goal-setters and those who are goal-getters.
A goal-setter is someone who likes the idea of setting goals, but doesn’t put the necessary actions behind them. On the other hand, a goal-getter doesn’t just set and believe in goals, but also has the follow-through to achieve them.
Dr. Stephen R. Covey described the secret of goal-getters in his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: “The key is not to prioritize your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.”
Aha! Much of what comes into your day – emails, text messages, phone calls, meetings, snail mail, conversations, interruptions – they are all just vehicles for other people’s priorities in your life.
If you always schedule in “all that stuff” first, then there will always be little to no room for your own values, priorities, goals, and dreams.
This is the very reason why you should:
- Trust your priorities to help you make decisions about how to use your time wisely,
- Infuse your priorities into your daily routines so that you focus on what’s important, and
- Stick to your priorities, no matter what.
Sounds good, right? Yeah, but it’s often really hard to do.
That’s why time management and productivity are such hot topics. It can be challenging to say “no,” which is what sticking to your priorities makes you do – a lot.
How To Manage Time Like A Highly Productive Person
So let’s set you up for success by making time management easier for you. Here are three guidelines to becoming a goal-getter who is the envy of everyone around you:
- Deep down, you are driven by a set of core values and principles like faith, family, or independence.
From the get-go, decide what these values are.
They will set the tone for your goal-getting success.
- Brainstorm the wish list of objectives that you would like to accomplish, either in the short-term or long-term.
Then, break this wish list down into manageable projects and tasks.
What is a good measuring stick for manageable? Take your original list and cut it in half – most people overestimate what is realistic.
- Calendar out the projects and tasks in order of importance and also set a date for project completion.
Don’t skip that last part!
Setting deadlines is a proven productivity tactic to keep you moving toward your ultimate goal(s).
Next: Rinse and repeat! The more you use this three-step time management system, the more you declutter your time and fine tune your schedule.
The bottom line is that your priorities act as your internal compass, helping you to stay focused, make clear decisions, and feel balanced and fulfilled. A highly productive person uses his or her values to guide every step, including how and where to spend time.
The One Time Management Tip To Always Remember If You Want To Save (Lots Of) Time
When organizing your time, act as the gatekeeper. Before putting anything on your schedule, ask if it will support your values and priorities fully, partially, or not at all.
- If the answer is “fully,” then you’ve got a green light to add it to your calendar.
- If the answer is “partially,” then it’s a yellow light, and you should only add it to your calendar after thoughtful consideration.
- If the answer is “not at all,” then it’s a red light, and you should not let it near your calendar.
While there will be surprises and unavoidable hiccups here and there – that’s life – stick to your priorities as much as possible.
If you truly want to start finding more time in your life for the things that really matter, download The FREE Ultimate Productivity Planner™, and save 90 minutes (or more) every day simply by using this 3-minute trick…even if you think time management is a myth.
