The first step towards writing an article about time management is to research various information sources to see what advice is available on the subject.  As it turns out, all of the articles say the same thing.  That basically means that time management is a skill based on solid principals that always produces results when applied. Sounds simple, doesn’t it?

So why do the majority of people struggle with this?  It’s because it’s against our nature.  Time management is a skill that demands self-discipline, which is something that is in short supply in our multitasking, fast paced world.  According to a study done at Harvard University only three percent of a graduating class wrote down their goals.  That three percent ended up earning more than the other 97% combined.

That type of success should be more than motivation enough to try and break out of the old habits that kill effective time management such as procrastination, lack of planning, taking on too much, etc.  Even if you’re not as successful as the Harvard students mentioned earlier, the peace of mind gained from having your time under control is very valuable in itself.  With that in mind, let’s review the principles:

• Write out your tasks - This step seems simple enough, and in reality it is simple.  At the beginning of the day (or the night before if it works better for you) simply write out everything you hope to accomplish. Having a list is a tremendous aid to staying focused and guarantees you won’t forget anything.
  
  
• Prioritize - This is very important!  Having a list of ten tasks doesn’t mean you’ll complete all ten.  Or even five.  So once you have your list written out the next step is to decide what items needs to be done right away and what items can possibly be moved to tomorrow's list if necessary.  One bit of advice that might be helpful is to place a high priority on the items on which you tend to procrastinate.  That way, once it’s out of the way, it can be crossed off and you won’t be nearly as stressed.
  
  
• Avoid interruptions or allow for them - There is always plenty of opportunity for distraction. The best way to handle them is to shut them out completely; turn on your answering machine, close your email program, and do whatever else it takes to shut yourself from the outside world for the couple hours of time you need to focus on your tasks.  Obviously, this isn’t always practical, particularly if you have a boss that stops by with more work on a regular basis.  In these instances, set aside some time to allow for interruptions or even the few minutes you talk to your coworkers about last night’s game.
  
  
• Keep a log of your time and review it regularly - We’ve become world-class experts at writing down our daily activities, especially those of us that work at places where this is required.  However, there’s a lot to be gained by periodically reviewing these daily logs.  Not only can you identify time wasters, you might also be able to plan for some of the “emergencies” that occur on a regular basis.  Many of us have become expert “fire fighters” at our workplaces, dealing with crises that appear out of nowhere on a seemingly daily basis.  Instead of frantically running to the store because the printer suddenly ran out of ink, wouldn’t it be better to make sure you have a spare cartridge ahead of time?

Keep this up long enough, and it becomes a habit.  Remember that a large success is often the result of a string of small successes.  Why not try writing out some major goals like the Harvard students did?  Use these goals to guide you in creating and prioritizing your daily tasks.  If your goal is to lose 20 pounds in six months, think about what you can do today to become one step closer to realizing your goal.  Whatever your goals are, may you have great success in achieving them!

Kenneth R. Horan