The Value of Time Management
Our society is becoming faster paced with every passing year. Everybody is looking for ways to help us complete the tasks that we need to do in the shortest time possible so that we can have additional time for ourselves. This gets us into trouble if doing things fast means making mistakes. When this happens we spend additional time correcting mistakes. This creates a vicious cycle. There are times when we simply need to slow things down.
One of the best ways to help ourselves is to become more organized. Organization skills can help us manage our time better. We can be more productive as well as more efficient. When we’re more efficient we save time and money. Other benefits of time management involve helping the company you work for save money. This creates a happy employer and when this reflects back to you, it may mean additional compensation in money or perks.
Everyone realizes the benefit of time management, but implementing the skills might be something new to us. I have found that lists work well for me. When I make lists at the beginning of each day I find I am more apt to get the things done that are needed. My routine each morning is to write down the things that I would like to do as well as need to accomplish that day. Then I prioritize the list in order of what is most important to accomplish. Once this is done I look at any related tasks that can be done in conjunction with each other. For example if I need to meet with a co-worker on a different floor and also deliver reports to another department I will do this at the same time. This way I am away from my desk for one period of time thus cutting down on the amount of running around I need to do. I also do as much correspondence at one time as possible to limit the number of trips to the printer, copier and mail room. Multiple trips uses up time. Also I find when I am out and about away from my office I spend time greeting co-worker and doing other things that can eat away at my time.
Once my list is written and prioritized I start with the top item and begin working my way down. If I’m on a tight schedule I limit the number of interruptions by putting my calls through to voice mail to answer later and also shut my office door. What ever is ‘nt completed on my list by the end of the day gets added to the list for the next day. Some of these techniques might seem rigid, however the benefits of this time management pay off by getting things done and creating more time by the end of the week. Since I have been doing my work following these methods I find that I am often able to leave early at the end of the week.