Time is a critical factor that causes us to direct our actions more appropriately toward optimizing our set plans, objectives, goals, purposes, and targets. Every success or performance is measured by time; good relationship is built with time; and you can achieve whatever you want with time, especially when you put the right attitude to it.
Time management is viewed as the process of planning and exercising conscious control over the amount of time spent on specific activities. The focus here is to increase effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity.
But note that failure to manage your time effectively can have very undesirable consequences such as missed deadline, inefficient workflow, higher stress level, among others. Thus, the ability to manage your time effectively is particularly important. Enjoyable time management always saves the day and leads to improved efficiency and productivity, less stress, ability to realize goals and more success in life. Always prepare adequately just like the 5 Virgins in the Bible who came prepared with extra jars of oil (good timing).
To achieve an effective time management, we need to prioritize the following:
Set goal correctly and ensure the goal is SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely)
Prioritize tasks based on importance and urgency. The ones that are important and urgent we should do them right away, but the ones that are important but not urgent should be done as at when due.
Set a time limit to complete a task. Making the small extra effort to decide on how time you need to allot for each task can also help you recognize potential problems before they arise. That way, you can make plans for dealing with them.
Take a break between tasks. Where are my workaholics? Yes! You heard me right. Take a break whenever you are managing a task so as to remain focused and motivated. Allow downtime between tasks to clear your head and refresh yourself. Consider engaging in a meaningful conversation, cracking of jokes, grabbing a brief nap, going for a short walk, or meditating.
Plan. It is said that when you fail to plan, then you have planned to fail. Therefore, ensure you start every day with a clear idea of what you need to do – what needs to get done THAT DAY. Consider making it a habit to, at the end of each day, going ahead and writing out your “to do” list for the next day. That way you can hit the ground running the next morning.
Just like Peter Drucker said, “Until we can manage time, we can manage nothing else.” Therefore, as leading lights, time management should be one of our core values because people who manage their time well are more productive, more efficient, and more likely to meet deadline. Enjoyable time management requires daily practice of prioritizing tasks and organizing them in a way that can save time while achieving more. That thing we want to achieve, it can be achievable. Just get started in time by setting your goals in a SMART way.
