Making time for Time Management

In our work, most of us have to make choices about how we use our time. We often find that we cannot achieve everything in the time we have to do it. So how can we

Make Time for Time Management

The underlying issue of time management is not about controlling time, because time ticks away regardless of whatever we do. Time Management is about personal decision making that will help us to manage what we do with our time more effectively.

Firefighting can be fun, but it isn't a good time management style unless you work for the fire service. When it happens, use these top tips to avoid being swept away:

Don't avoid the important things

Important things really are important. If you aren't doing the IMPORTANT things on your to-do list you probably

* are not sure HOW to do them
* are worried about FAILING at them
* are BORED by them (because they've been hanging around so long)
* don't really believe they are IMPORTANT

Find out HOW

If you aren't sure HOW to do something make it a priority to find out how to do it! This might mean that the first thing you actually have to do, is to go and talk to someone about what it involves.

Deal with WORRY

If you are worried about FAILING, you need to find a coach who can help you address the issues. If you are a habitual worrier, get coaching about how to deal with worry. If you don't normally worry, but this particular issue is causing you a problem, find a coach with the appropriate expertise who can help you mitigate any risks in the project.

Beat the BOREDOM

If you are BORED with something see if you can find someone else to delegate it to (who might be interested). Lacking that alternative, set yourself a time limit with the promise of a treat on completion.

Priorities

If you don't really believe it's IMPORTANT take it off your list. If you are responding to someone else's important agenda, discuss it with them and try to get it removed.

Strictly speaking, none of the above is time management and most time management programmes will not address these issues (except TIMEPOWER). But it is this kind of approach that actually helps you make the most of the time you have available.