Time Management - What is Time Management (TM)? Is it meeting deadlines or making flexible deadlines! We often come across this funda in our day-to-day professional and personal lives. We all try very hard to master the Art of Time Management.
Here are some tips on Time Management:
1. Take 6 - 8 hours of sleep daily: Sounds crazy, but its true. Research has showed that a good nights sleep is very important to keep your mind and body going all day long. If you strech your body it will stretch but rememeber that its like a rubber band. You don't want it to break off. One might be able to take 3 - 4 hours sleep one night and the following night. But on the 3rd day onwards it starts to show its effect. It will set you back even further and you would find it difficult to do TM.
2. Multi-Tasking: What is multi-tasking? Is it talking with a colleague at work and thinking of your Wife/Husband? Well, if that helps you then by all means it is multi-tasking. Try making yourself less a puppet of technology. The human brain works better for reminders then do our blackberry and i-phone's. When you set a deadline in your brain your body and your energy works harder in getting things done. It doesn't have to wait for the reminders to spring across your screen.
3. Play Sports/Exercise: Make it a point to play sports - indoor or outdoor - or exercise atleast 3 times a week. Set targets each week and try beating them. May it be in your gym or on Wii - Fit. If you feel that you don't have time to do that then consider this. When going for groceries, don't park in the nearest spot at the store. Rather take the one at the end and walk the path. Do the same when going in to pick up mail or when parking at your office. Take public transit when possible.
4. Listen to Radio: Catch on what's happening around the world on the go. Listen to the radio and keep abreast with National and International Politics, Movies and Sports.... You can do it when you are shaving, taking a bath, driving... and the list is endless.
5. Break up your month in weeks: Every month try and break up your month in weeks. When you have 4 weeks to get the work done it looks less time than thinking that you have 1 whole month to achieve it. Think about this way if you count the no. of hours in 1 month (30 days) it comes to just 1,800 hours. Knowing 1800 hours, you would rather speed up than thinking that you got 30 days to go.
6. Treat yourself: Can anyone recall as to when was the last time you treated yourself for getting a job well done. We always buy stuff for our loved ones, but when we achieve something do we buy ourselves an ice-cream, chocolate or a drink? Try and recognize your own efforts. We say thanks to someone who helps us on our way of achieving TM goals, but when do we thank ourselves?
7. Break-up daily tasks in time lines: Have your day broken up in time lines for each ADL's - Activities of Daily Living. Like shower - 10 minutes, shaving - 5 mins., breakfast - 10 mins. etc. When you try and stick to these basic things first thing in the morning, you know that you are right on the track to achieve the goals for the day.
Finally, I would say that discipline is the key to Time Management. One may come across Management Guru's professing about TM skills. But at the end of the day, you know what to do with yourself. True goes the old adage - You can take the horse to the well, but you can't make it drink water. Have fun, passing the notes around. I just penned down my way of TM. This came as a request from a very close person to me so thought that let me share it will all. Those who know me, know me well. Hahaha Njoy
