A520.2.6.RB - Time
Management
What
if I were to tell you it is possible to eliminate unneeded stress, have more
time, and be able to tell people no to things you do not really want to do?
Would it sound crazy, in the fast pace world we live in to slow down and manage
personal time? How does time management reflect who we are as individuals, our
attitude which controls our personal destinies (Whetten, Cameron, 2011), what areas
can we improve, and how do we develop a plan to incorporate time management
into our lives?
There
are 24 hours, 1440 minutes, 86,400 seconds in a day and it is a constant
struggle to manage time and make the most of every day. How is it possible? In
order to maximize the day, it is important to make ourselves aware of where our
time spent and evaluate if we are putting the most important priorities first;
or do non-urgent activities come first to cause more stress in our daily lives.
The top priority is to put first things first, as Stephen Covey would encourage
using “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” (Covey), and prioritize necessary assignments at work,
home, and school; this can be done by learning to say no to things that are not
the most important or we do not want to do. By prioritizing necessary goals, assignments,
and work that need completing, the action will eliminate unnecessary stress in
everyday life. I have found that I can control the outcome of my day by using calendars,
notes, and digital reminders to prioritize what requires immediate attention.
Time management at work is extremely essential because deadlines must be met in
order for our department to stay on track; one method to meet the deadline at
work and manage time is by discussing with a supervisor the highest priority tasks
that need to be completed first and move forward from there (Whetten, Cameron,
2011). This prevents any confusion and potential discipline, which will
increase stress, from higher ups because we manage our time effectively to
complete the most important tasks first.
Time
management can always be improved to help us achieve daily goals. One potential
way of improving time management, is being proactive (Covey). Our life is in
our own control, we must take responsibility for how our time is spent and
managed; it is vital to be proactive (Covey) daily by having an agenda to
complete, meeting’s if necessary, and notes for all meetings because it is easy
to forget or lose focus in our busy lives (Whetten, Cameron, 2011). Second,
write down goals or tasks that must be finished each day but do not over task
where life become overwhelming. There is a fine line between accomplishing tasks
on time and not overwhelming one’s self with unattainable goals. In our
personal lives we must be able to say no to other’s in order to prevent
overbooking days; and most important ask for help when needed. By doing both of
these, it is feasible to achieve our daily tasks and not overwhelm ourselves. Finally,
sharpen your saw (Covey) or schedule down time (Whetten, Cameron, 2011) in
order to relive stress; according to research people are less productive when
over stressed (Whetten, Cameron, 2011).
By
taking small steps to improve time management, we take back control of our
lives, eliminate unnecessary stress, and accomplish daily goal work, home, and
school. Time management may be difficult to change at first but small baby
steps make it possible and will allow individuals to be more productive
leaders.
Covey,
S. R. (n.d.). THE 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE. Retrieved June 13, 2015,
from TheCommunity Empowering your Greatness website: https://www.stephencovey.com/7habits/7habits-habit3.php
Whetten, D. A., & Cameron, K. S. (2011). Developing Self-Awareness. In Developing Management Skills (Eighth ed., p. 78). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.
Whetten, D. A., & Cameron, K. S. (2011). Managing Personal Stress. In Developing Management Skills (Eighth ed., pp. 116-128). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.
