How To Implement A Time Management Strategy For Better Productivity
September 7, 2008
Ive often been asked why my life seems so organised. When this question was first put to me I didnt know how to respond. My first impression was...gee, am I so obviously anal?
When I sat down and thought about it I realised it had nothing to do with being anal. More to do with good time management and its something I learnt very early in life. You see, having a good time management strategy is not rocket science. Its about implementing a routine in your day to day life that is flexible. Thats important. Its when you become inflexible that frustration and stress sets in and strategy flies out the window.
Today, as a web publisher, my time management strategy continues to serve me well in fact, on most occasions Im not even aware I have one. Does that make sense? Sure it does!
Breaking my day up into parts has had a profound impact on my productivity levels. I approach each day with a plan and barring a natural disaster, I stick to that plan. Is it rigid? No its not and I can choose to make changes to it at a minutes notice if I choose to. So lets examine my daily time management strategy.
The 3:30 Experience!
1. I identify what has a deadline and what hasnt. This is important because it prevents me from haphazzardly jumping from one task to another.
2. As a web publisher, distinguishing between work and relaxation time is vital. You need to create a good balance. My work time is from 9:00am to 3:30pm. This is the time of the day when Im working on projects. Its my productive time and unnecessary distractions are eliminated.
3. I reward myself every time I complete a task. So whats the reward? Anything you want it to be as long as its within reason and doesnt eat up too much valuable productive time.
4. This is my coup de grace! This is where I use mind over matter and it works most of the time. I love being in a positive mood.
Before I start each day, I imagine what Im going to be doing at 3:30pm after I finish work. It may be sitting down and watching my favorite movie or sporting event; it could be heading down to the beach for a swim or it could be going down to my favorite local cafe for a caffe latte or two.
The trick is not to just simply think about what youll be enjoying when you finish but to think about how satisfied you are that youve completed what you set out to do at the beginning of the day.
It sounds pretty simple doesnt it but its a time management strategy Ive used since my school days. And the reason its so powerful is the fact that when I project a thought of satisfaction and accomplishment like this, the motivation is so strong that it can act as a driving force throughout my entire day. If I begin to ease off, which happens quite frequently, I think about my 3:30 experience.
Finally, implementing a time management strategy will only be successful if you are prepared to follow it. Dont over commit yourself and be a little flexible: in time, it will become second nature, without appearing to be anal!
netinfoseek.com | edit