A Publication of Lighthouse Consulting Services
Time management is a
tough thing to do. Finding a balance between having enough time for
yourself, and getting important responsibilities completed can be very
difficult. So, where to start? Looking at where the time goes is a good
place to begin.
Time Assessment
To improve your time management skills, first do a time assessment:
1. For three days, keep a log of everything you do and how much time it takes, including both work
and non-work activities. You can break your day into sections or track activities on an hour-by-hour basis.
2. After three days, add up the time spent on each activity. When
complete, the results should give you a good indication of which tasks
you spend the most time on.
Setting Goals
Goals help us to stay focused and make successful changes. After your time assessment
is completed, think about what goals would be of personal and professional value to you.
On a regular basis, set concrete, realistic short and long term goals, perhaps once a month.
Break each goal down to incremental steps. Set deadlines for each step.
Time Management
Techniques
Once you have assessed your use of time and set some goals, you can
implement some techniques to improve your time management skills.
Prioritize: Each day, organize your tasks on a “To Do” list
in order of importance. Concentrate first on essential and high
priority tasks, and then later on low priority tasks. Incorporate your
goals and deadlines into your “To Do” lists. At the end of
the day, evaluate any incomplete items and see if any can be eliminated
from your list. It’s important to be realistic when creating a
“To Do” list. Don’t try to do more then
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Lighthouse Consulting
Services
3130 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 550, Santa Monica, CA 90403 (310)
453-6556