Time Management: Six Easy Steps

Like most individuals, I have trouble keeping track of my time. Time seems to fly by every day, and I often wonder exactly what I have accomplished. It always seems like I underestimate how long it will take me to finish a project or reach a given goal. Is this a problem you’re also facing? Recently, I was asked to develop a S.I.M.P.L.E. Formula for Time Management, so I set out to do just that. The following is the formula I have designed to help me better use my time. Yes, it is for your use as well. Please report back on the results.

Get the Day’s Schedule Set Before From what I’ve read; this is often considered the first step toward better time management. Spend some time before bedtime doing some planning for the next day. Don’t limit yourself to include only work-related or only personal items. When I take the time to do this, it appears to help. I prepare for tomorrow by writing down everything that needs to be done. They are written in no particular order by me. I jot them down whenever I remember something I should get done. You can arrange them later. This is something I do right before I hit the hay. My mind isn’t racing about what needs to be done or how I will get it done, which makes it simpler for me to fall asleep.

Get Started by Making a List After brainstorming, I write down ideas and organize them differently. I prioritize my to-do list by deciding which tasks are most critical and must be completed first. How long will it take to complete the task I’ve outlined? If so, I break down the work into its parts and set a deadline for completion. In my experience, setting a deadline motivates me to work diligently toward its completion. That lets me zero in on the task at hand and finish it. At any rate, I’ve found that making a prioritized list of chores and fitting them into a predetermined time limit helps me stay focused on what I need to do.

M – Force Yourself to Maintain Regularity This is a particularly challenging step. There will always be something to divert our attention when we launch into our schedule of events, especially if we are collaborating with others. As a sales manager, I always tried to make time for my employees. I didn’t want to be the boss who doesn’t care about his or her employees or who doesn’t encourage accessible communication. At the same time, I realized that not every situation they were experiencing was an emergency that required my immediate attention. I found that if I strictly adhere to the tasks I set for myself, I can do them and still have time left over. People around us must take responsibility for themselves and their work responsibilities more often. When we treat ourselves and our time respectfully, we model good behavior for others and show them how to do the same. Maintaining our schedule’s rigor will prove beneficial to all parties involved.

Do It: Get Used To Delegating Responsibility A good time manager understands that there are some activities in which we are wasting our time. There are some things that other people could do for us, freeing us up to concentrate on what matters. Our kids may help around the house by washing dishes or folding laundry. By delegating tasks to those in the office who are best suited to complete them, productivity at work could increase. We strengthen their moral fiber by putting faith in someone else to execute what we would typically do ourselves. There will always be people who see this as an attempt to shift responsibility or increase their burden. When treated with dignity and respect, people are more likely to volunteer their services for the greater good. Is there anything you do at work or home that could be delegated to someone else? Is it possible to teach someone else to do what we usually do? Why not take into account splitting the responsibilities?

L – Keep a hopeful perspective on the outcome. When we have a pessimistic outlook on work, we may hesitate even to begin it, let alone see it through to completion. However, if we shift our perspective and view the outcome with optimism and a sense of success, we are more likely to not only finish the task but to finish it sooner than planned and with a higher quality of work. When we dislike doing our job, it shows how long it takes us to get started, how long it takes us to finish, and the quality of our work. However, when we adopt a more positive outlook on tasks and visualize the final product, we can complete them quickly and successfully. Furthermore, a cheerful disposition can spread to others and help create a warmer home or workplace.

A – Acquire the Aztec Symbol. What’s the best way to chow down on a massive elephant? The solution is as easy as taking a bite at a time. There are times when there seems to be too much food on the table for us to eat. However, if we accept that things take time and work on them accordingly, we will eventually reach our goal. Avoid taking a comprehensive view of the work at hand. Instead, break down the overall process into its parts and work to complete each one. The saying goes that Rome wasn’t built in a day, and that’s true. Things that require a lot of time, energy, willpower, determination, study, etc., can be accomplished if we break them down into their parts and work on those in isolation. Avoid staring at the elephant in the room. Take small, manageable steps toward your goal; eventually, you will have devoured the elephant.

Everyone is trying to find a more efficient method to accomplish things. There are several recommendations on how to organize our time better. If an activity is not high enough on our priority list, we may have to abandon it. However, I will add that we must also make time to unwind and enjoy ourselves. Life is not worth living if there is no mental and physical support.

Please find some S.I.M.P.L.E. advice below. Please share your thoughts and pick up a copy of my book, Success Is S.I.M.P.L.E., which can be found here: http://www.carrollemerson.com/marketingpage.html.

Please keep it simple, and have a wonderful day!

Carroll R. Emerson is a successful businessman and investor in Atlanta, Georgia. He also works as a success coach/consultant and writes and speaks about motivation. Click the link to the author’s website and read more about him.

Read also: How to Get Your Motivation.