From the Time Management pages at Zupatips

The goal of time management is to use your time more wisely.  As you become more proficient with time management, you will be able to accomplish daily tasks with ease and you will feel better about yourself. The problem usually arises, not because you have too much to do, but rather, because of the way you manage your time.  In today’s world, there are a lot of distractions out there that allow you to divert your attention to things that are more fun to do. 

There are many advantages to managing your time.  You can actually gain time, reduce avoidance, eliminate cramming and reduce your anxiety.  In order to manage your time successfully, having an awareness of what your goals are will assist you in prioritizing your activities.

In addition, there are steps that can be taken to organize your life and handle it more effectively. Start by creating a schedule or a task list.  Be sure to include deadlines that the tasks must be completed by. Be sure to accurately allot enough time for each task or event. You will need to consider and include things such as driving time, set up, breaks etc. 

If there are difficult or more challenging tasks you must accomplish, be sure to do those when you are most alert.  If you are alert, you are able to focus your attention more directly, therefore making it easier to accomplish the task.

Consider creating “me” time. Set the alarm, so that you get up a half an hour earlier or go to bed a half-hour later than normal.  Include in your schedule alone time with your spouse or friends. 

Prioritize what you need to accomplish during the day.  Focus your attention on the task or events with the greatest rewards.  If you see things getting done, you will feel better about yourself, leaving you to do more. 

Learn to say no.  Taking on more than you have time for can put a huge damper on your time management and leave you feeling drained.  If you know that you do not have the extra time, do not volunteer for an additional committee.  Sometimes, throughout your life, you will need to turn down invitations to events that you do not have enough time to attend. 

We all suffer from procrastination.  However, if you are able to overcome procrastination, managing your time will become much easier.  We are all familiar with the old saying, “don’t put off till tomorrow, what we can do today”.

Another pitfall to try to avoid is perfectionism.  Do not waste your time in obsessively perfecting a task when you could better spend the time on something else. 

Although it is easy to get into a rut and slack off from daily tasks, there is hope.  You can manage your time and accomplish the things you want, with little effort.  Just be sure to follow the simple steps to time management and remember to take it one day at a time.