Make Time Management Effective

Managing time for college students is such a tough thing to do. College life is full of challenges and burdens that should be dealt with properly and systematically. There are many things college students must accomplish for them to reach their dreams.

Every college student should balance all the aspects of his or her life. It is important to give attention to these aspects of living for if not, the equilibrium of living will change.

Every college student should balance his or her academic and social life. Proper time management is necessary in order to perform all the responsibilities and tasks that are in their shoulders.

Practicing proper time management is difficult and it entails a lot of adjustments and preparations. It is along process.

However, with advices and tips on how to make it effective, surely, it would be easy to realize. The following are some advices and tips on how to make time management effective and proper.

• One of the most important aspects of time management is goal setting. Goal setting is one of the keys to success. In here, you should determine the things that you really want to accomplish.

These are the things that you want to accomplish for short period and long period of time like things you want to be done in a day, a week, a month or months, semester or even for years.

In setting goal, it should be remembered that set only those that are realistic and achievable. Do not set goals that are impossible to realize. This will only make you frustrated.

• Organization is equal to the importance of setting goal in making time management effective. When you are organized, it ensures and helps you achieve the goals you have set in a timely manner.

Through proper organization of tasks, you are informed constantly about the things, which need to be accomplished, and when they should be done. One way of organization is by making calendar. Make calendars that maybe of daily, weekly or monthly basis.

This calendar should include classes, study time, club meetings, social events, and many other things and activities that should be accomplished and should be done to make the calendar more effective, you should include assignment due dates so missing a deadline will be impossible.

You should always follow the calendar you have with you. This will help you develop a routine in regular basis and you are learning how to manage time properly.

• Prioritization is also an important thing in time management. It is important to prioritize the tasks and the things that you need to accomplish.

Prioritization entails figuring it out if what among the tasks are the most important and the least important and what tasks should be done first and what should be done later. It necessary to stay focused on the tasks and things that are most important.

It is also important to accomplish one fist before moving to the next ones. Doing things and tasks together at one point in time might be more of a burden for you. This kind of tasking will frustrate and make you feel tired and lazy.

• Avoid procrastination. The main downfall in trying to achieve effective time management is procrastination. Procrastination is putting off the things that you should be doing or accomplishing now.

The reasons for procrastination is the lack of clear goals, underestimating the difficulty of the tasks, underestimating the time required to complete the tasks, unclear standards for the task outcomes, feeling as the tasks are imposed on you from outside, and having indefinite tasks.

This should be avoided in order for you to mange time properly. You can avoid procrastination by setting predetermined goals and by prioritizing them.

• Utilization of spare minutes is a big thing in effective time management. Spare minutes should be utilized in things that are worthy and useful.

Do not waste even single minute. For example if you are waiting for your professor for not arriving at time, instead of waiting and doing nothing, consider reading assignments from other classes and begin thinking about the topic for other subjects.

When you accomplish small tasks with your spare time, you will notice that you have extra time to complete the large tasks when you actually start on them.

Following advices and tips on how to make time management effective and proper is quite tough, but dedication is present, nothing is impossible.

Top 10 Time Management Tips That Will Change Your Life

If you want to make real changes in your life, you must first start by learning how to efficiently manage your time. Anyone who knows how to manage time will also know how to manage life. Good time management is on the right priorities, just after it is created to the proper management of your life. The quality of your life depends on intelligent management of your time and not by the amount of energy you consume on what you are doing.

Do you always feel out of time and you can not do what is scheduled?

Do you always feel that you do not have enough time for yourself?

Do you feel that you are living and working in stressful environment without any positive results?

If the answer to either of the above questions is yes, then it is time to change your life and start spending your time wisely and efficiently. You have to promise yourself that you will be more organized and focused on your goals and that you will use for your own good time.

1. Mastering the list of things you have to do (to-do lists)
To-do lists are a good and efficient should include the tasks and activities you today and tasks that must be completed in the near future. For each item in the list, you have to determine when and how much time you need to complete. Repetitive tasks can be scheduled for specific days where you have a great time to complete.

You should not underestimate the importance of planning your duties. A good plan and can accurately give you greater control of your time. You have to realize what is important to you and place it in the top order in your list.

2. Create a plan of SMART (Specific-Measurable-Achievable-Reasonable-Timeline)
Plan the most difficult task at the beginning of each week so that you will be more relaxed towards the end of the week and before the weekend. A difficult task better scheduled at the beginning of the week (Monday or Tuesday), while the tasks that are more mechanical or routine around mid-week, and the approaching end of the week (Thursday and Friday) when you could be a little more free and relaxed because on both days this has piled up fatigue and stress as a result of work in the previous days.

3. Learn to set your priorities
You must learn how to efficiently organize your priorities. The most important task should be ranked higher in the list. Try to apply the Pareto principle in which 80% of your achievement produced by 20% of your business. In other words, try to work smart and simple. Do not overlook your important tasks to achieve significant results.

4. The key to successful time management is delegation
The key to successful time management is delegation. Do not try to complete all the tasks alone. Know which tasks can be completed by others and delegate the work to them. This is the only way in which you can have the time needed to handle the tasks that are really important to you. At the same time, what you choose to do, do it right the first time to save time because doing repetitive work. Experience has shown that the time you need to redo your work will be spent more time than you need to do the job right from the start. Delegation is an art that can provide many benefits for people who have to do a lot of activities.

5. Do not be afraid to say 'NO'
You must learn to occasionally say NO and refuse tasks that you can not do. If you run out of time and feel stressed, then it is better to decline the invitation to go lunch or a family dinner. You must realize that you are not under obligation to shorten everything in an instant. You must learn to choose the tasks that you really want to do or that need to be resolved.

6. Divide a long stint in smaller events
Another technique that will help you in time management is to break up long tasks that you normally do not want to do or are too difficult to be some activities that are smaller and more manageable. It will manage both stress and your time. You, for example, can spend 10 minutes each day to work on a task that is not pleasant or long. By using this approach, gradually you will have some progress, you will feel better and eventually you will be able to complete activities quickly rather than continuously postpone it.

7. Perfectionism takes time
You should try to avoid perfection. Struggling without end in seeking perfection for trivial things is a waste of time and will not give you enough time to handle the tasks that are more useful and perhaps more fun.

8. Know where your time more productively
It is normal that your performance is not the same all the time. There are times when you are more productive while at other times your productivity declined for various reasons. This phase can occur on the same day. Assuming that you work 8 hours a day, it gives you about 1,800 hours per year. Discover the period of time that you are more productive and at that time try to handle the most difficult tasks.

9. Try not to delay matters for later
You need to learn to cope with any task and problem when it needs to be addressed. Try not to delay action for another time, because under time pressure you are more likely to make a mistake and make the wrong decision.

10. Avoid things that can distract you
During business hours, try to find moments where no one can interfere with your activities. If you have an open door policy, you may have to shut it down occasionally. If someone comes into your office when you have a task that must be completed, gently resist his request and schedule another time to meet with them.

Time management is a skill that takes time to master so start working with it! In the end, time management will give you the extra time you need to be able to enjoy what is most important to you and change your life for the better. 

How To Teach Students On Time Management

When you were a child, you never give importance to time. You were idle most of the time, reclining in bed, watch TV programs for so many hours, and sometimes amuse yourself with video games. As you become older, you will be remembering the things that you have accomplished. And you realized that you have not really achieved anything worthwhile.

One of our most priceless resources is Time. It is something that you can no longer reclaim, once you lost it. You should make use of your time intelligently. The reason is for your growth and improvement as a person. You always take a look for the wonderful memories and actions, which you have fulfilled. Remember that a well spent time is more precious than gold. Hence, the need for time management.

Do you consider time management a basic concern for your students? What are some of the obstacles which them to finish their assignments from school? Time management is indeed a problem for students.

Usually, it is due to their hectic schedules and social obligations from their peers. There are still very few people who could master this skill of time management. However, it a general need for everyone especially if you are aspiring to achieve something in school, work and other personal endeavors.

Students are supposed to manage their schedule properly. They are expected to attend their classes, perform their homework at home. Students should not postpone and entertain some distractions and interruptions. Otherwise, they will not be able to accomplish their academic obligations. Most of the time, these are difficult to fulfill them.

However, do not feel bad about it. It is not the end of everything. You are not alone in this situation. Don’t you know that majority of adults have the same problems on how to manage their time? There is still room for improvement. What is necessary now is to reevaluate how you have been coming up with your daily activities and to modify them.

The students cannot do it alone. There is a need for somebody to teach and guide them. Based from the regular class schedule, there are some activities for time management, which are integrated to the subject itself. One example is the “beat the clock lessons.” We have the lesson called “time monsters”
The students will work in teams for two minutes so as to see in their lives the time monsters (time wasters) in a sheet of paper. Aside from that, they will learn the acronym “CHOICE”.

· Compare all your activities you would like to achieve
· How you will be affected by your choice later on.
· Order all your priorities in life.
· Inscribe in your planner your desired schedule.
· Carry out whatever desired plan you have formulated.
· Enjoy every moment of your life as you manage your time.

There are some questions for discussion, like for example, the meaning of the word “procrastination” Some tips for time management are also provided according to whatever category you belong.

We have several essential principles of Time Management wherein students can use.

· List down all the things you are supposed to do everyday.
· You should know what is the most conducive time for you to study.
· The difficult subjects must be studied first.
· Make use of your spare time.
· There should be proper distribution of learning and practice.
· The surroundings must be favorable for studying.
· Do not be afraid to say no to somebody if it affects your schedule.
· You should combine some activities so as to save time.
· Allot some time for relaxation and entertainment.
· You should have the required number of hours for sleeping and eat your food properly.
· You should know your body clock so as to identify the best time for you to work.
· Make it a habit to review your notes daily.
· You should inform your friends about your schedule in order to avoid distractions.
· Always be a taskmaster as you schedule your activities properly.
· Do not waste your time by worrying about something that you are expected to be doing, just do it.
· You should always keep things in their proper perspective.
· You can entrust a responsibility when it is proper.
· Relax and be calm always
· Avoid being a perfectionist.
· You are supposed to question everything that is included in your schedule.
· Be a fast reader and be selective with what you read.
· Make use of a calendar.

Seven Suggestions for Effectively Managing Your Time

1. Be Organized

• Use time saving tools: appointment calendars, "to do" lists, e-mail, answering machines, file folders, etc.
• Have an organized workplace (don't waste time constantly looking for your work).
• Use your appointment calendar for everything, including listing study time.
• Use "to do" lists for both long-term and for each day/week.

2. Plan Ahead (Schedule it and it will happen!)

• Determine how long your tasks will take (do this before agreeing to take on a task!)
• Consider whether any activities can be combined.
• Determine if big tasks can be broken down into smaller tasks that may be easier to schedule (such as studying for exams and visiting the library as part of an assignment to write a term paper).

3. Prioritize Your Tasks

• Use an A-B-C rating system for items on your "to do" lists with A items being highest priority.
• Set goals for both the short term and long term as to what you want to accomplish.
• Look at all of your "to do"s to gauge the time requirement and whether additional resources will be needed to accomplish them (if yes, schedule time to obtain those resources). Don't postpone the small tasks (a sense of accomplishment is good and overlooked small tasks can become larger tasks.)

4. Avoid Overload

• Include time for rest, relaxation, sleep, eating, exercise, and socializing in your schedule.
• Take short breaks during study and work periods.
• Don't put everything off until the last minute (for example, don't cram for exams).
• Learn to say "no" when appropriate and to negotiate better deadlines when appropriate.

5. Practice Effective Study Techniques

• Have an appropriate study environment.
• Split large tasks into more manageable tasks.
• Read for comprehension, rather than just to get to the end of the chapter.
• Be prepared to ask questions as they come up during study, rather than waiting until just before an exam.
• Do the most difficult work first, perhaps breaking it up with some easier tasks.
• Don't wait until the last minute to complete your projects.
• Read the syllabus as soon as you get it and note all due dates (and "milestone" times) on your calendar.
• Be a model student! (be attentive and participative in class, and punctual, prepared, and eager to learn)

6. Be Able to be Flexible

• The unexpected happens (sickness, car troubles, etc.); you need to be able to fit it into your schedule.
• Know how to rearrange your schedule when necessary (so it doesn't manage you - you manage it).
• Know who to ask for help when needed.

7. Have a Vision (why are you doing all of this?)

• Don't forget the "big picture" - why are you doing the task - is it important to your long-term personal goals?
• Have and follow a personal mission statement (personal and career). (Are your activities ultimately helping you achieve your goals?)
• Know what is important to you. (What do you value most?)

Have a positive attitude!

Source

The Consequences of Inefficient Time Management on the Work of the Average Office Employee

The present days globalized high stakes society requires us to do a lot more. It requires us to generate continuously better overall results.

If you are to be able to deliver more you may either spend a longer time or maybe you could study time management skills and boost your effectiveness.

The Way I Doubled My Effectiveness

Several years ago I'd been granted the honor to start a new office for my employer.

I went from a common manager role to finding myself in charge of advertising, hiring, sales and all of the fun administrational duties that is included in it.

I know what you're thinking, delegate!

I started working my regular 8 to 5 but recognized I simply couldn't keep up.I had no choice but to work for longer and longer, very quickly I worked from 7:30 to 10 every single day (On weekends it was enough with 9-17).

I spoke with my managers but the only thing they could do was offer some tips concerning how to work faster, I spoke with my friends who advised me to give up.

Luckily I got advice from one of my clients to read about time management.

I read books by Stephen Covey, Brian Tracy and David Allen. I began delivering better and better returns. I could start returning home earlier and earlier, in the beginning 9 pm then 8 pm, 7 and then finally at 5 pm like my associates.

The strategies listed below are those that rescued me. You could be using some right now, however, if you are not using all of them, test them out and you will start seeing an improvement in how much you can deliver.

Plan Your Weeks

Begin by writing down whatever you are aware of will have to be carried out throughout the week (this list can be stored, as the standard week looks largely the same), next, I plan it all out.

What do I do Monday, what Tuesday et cetera.

I have got a standard plan for what I do each day and can from there organize it to make me be as efficient as possible.

The ABC Method - Organizing Your Days

Prioritization is the bread and butter of time management. Choosing your most crucial job and staying with it until it is completely finished could help you save numerous of time.

There are 5 forms of jobs (in order of priority).

A - Tasks with severe long-term repercussions.

They're jobs that, if done, could have a great impact on your long run achievement.

B - Tasks with moderate long run consequences

C - Minor long-term consequences

D - Tasks that should be assigned to other people.

E - Tasks that must be eradicated.

They could actually have a damaging effect on your long term if completed.

Each morning check out the tasks you have planned for the day and allocate them a letter.

Begin with your most important task and work through the list

The Bottom line

You'll deliver better results which will help you progress forwards swiftly in your job.

Source

Time Management For The Hurried And The Harried Professional

PAPER + TIME = MONEY:

Are you doing more and enjoying it less? Are you missing a performance bonus opportunity? Are you risking a professional development or advancement opportunity? Do you work an extra 150-240 hours per year risking your health and quality of life? What is the REAL cost to YOU of wasted time?

Studies indicate that the average executive wastes thousands of dollars in productivity each year searching for lost information: Forbes Magazine: 150 hours/year = $3,750*, Wall Street Journal: 225 hours/year = $5,625*, National Association of Professional Organizers: 240 hours/year = $6,000*. (*based on 37.5 hour work week @ $50,000 annual salary)

Let's face it - in the workplace and in life in general, we often seem to be on a treadmill called hurry, worry and bury. Sound familiar? The one constant in our life is change: changing roles, new demands, multiple projects, more responsibility and constantly juggling priorities in the workplace. We are time-starved and work-hurried.

It all boils down to making the most effective use of our abilities and maximizing our time management skills. Key factors to consider in making the best use of our time are: 

·  understanding the concepts around time and its management, including time as a conservable (and costly) resource

·  identifying the habits and practices that result in wasted time

·  learning practical techniques that can be used to improve productivity and satisfaction

·  identifying specific skill areas and methods to make better use of time

·  making informed decisions about how you can manage your time and juggle priorities to your best advantage.

Just think, if you can show management how time is consumed, the value of your time and the cost of wasted time, do you think they would pay closer attention to providing you with tools that will make you even more effective? You will grab and hold their attention if you can find ways to show them how their time management practices (or lack thereof) impact the bottom line.

Learning how to get organized and prioritize the priorities, how to handle interruptions and distractions, and how to say "no" will make sure there's time left in the day for you. Proven techniques to help you control time and make it work for you will make you more efficient....and a lot less stressed!

"It Is Not The Number Of Hours We Have That Counts, 
But Rather, The Use We Make Of Them." (unknown)

Article Source: EzineArticles

Time Management May Well Create Or Crack Your Career

Time is an odd thing -- intangible, but inflexible. Time just isn't something you can make more of. You cannot save minutes or hours either for later use. This is precisely why many wonder why bother managing time to start with? Nevertheless, it is your most important resource, for that very reason. You cannot make 24 hours go to 27 hours so you can finish off those things you need done, but you can increase your productivity so that you get more tasks completed on those hours that you do have. You can not recoup time you've lost if you fail to be productive. The number of tasks you accomplish isn't the only way of measuring your productivity. Your productivity is measured by how much time you spent finishing a task.

There are many vital components which can make or break the success of your career. Oddly, one of the easiest can be one of the toughest to grasp -- time management. It's natural to pay attention to what you do, and how well you do it; you may not give as much thought to when you do it. With good time management, you can have a schedule that's more manageable and a life that's way less stressful.

For many individuals, working more quickly is the answer to getting more done quicker. Definitely that will raise output, but it will also decrease quality of work, not to mention wear you out. If you become good in managing your time, you'll not need to work double time just so you can make up for the time you've lost. Time management isn't really about dashing to get things done faster. Instead, it's doing things better so there wouldn't be any need for you to hurry in the first place.

It's not possible to separate time management and efficiency. There are numerous time wasters in the workplace, but inefficient time scheduling and disorganized work spaces are two top time wasters. Your professional reputation and credibility are considerably affected by these two. Don't expect your colleagues to be impressed if you keep fumbling for your pen or ruffling through your notes while you're doing a business presentation. On the other hand, if you always appear to be unruffled, that you have things together, you'll impress people.

You may have a crazy schedule, and it may seem like a huge task to try to make sense of it. Nonetheless, your career will benefit from getting it organized. If you plan your schedule effectively, it will not be long until you see the benefits, including saving time. In addition, you can expect to hone your planning skills. Many of us are very good at making a plan, but not always so good at following through on it. To efficiently manage your time involves setting realistic goals, giving yourself work deadlines, and meeting them. When you have to learn and accept your own boundaries, as well as learn how to stretch them, you'll find these skills quite easily applied in other places. You are going to form the habit of correctly assessing a situation, and making reasonable decisions based on achievable solutions.

All successful businesses practice good resource management. And in business, you should be able to manage your time effectively since it is one of your most precious resources. Learning to manage your time effectively might seem difficult initially to implement, but think of the long term gains you're certain to have. Wasting time is something the successful individuals don't do. You will need to perfect your time management abilities if you wish to succeed.

Article sources: GoArticles

Time Management - To Live a Superiority Life

Time management is a very useful skill necessary to live a superiority life. Now in our society, people are continually under pressure to attend to their duties and odd jobs and find time for free time, family and yourself. In order to handle the demands of life without going crazy, one should learn the ability of management.

There are some elements that comprise the time management definition; this is surly significance to know how these elements can influence individuals overall quality of life. These days, most of the company wants to make their employee efficient and effective the scheduled work. That’s why the companies are providing free corporate workshop to worker. Basically time is one of the skills that and individual has to learn to be productive.

Basically, personal productivity itself a factor of a skill set that one has to perfect to achieve these desired results. And these skills are things that are inherent in us but which need to be fine turned. Our main perception is to learn new things and the prosperity to handle stress and control our mind. Good organizational skills, sound decision making and the secret elements to stellar personal productivity and personal favorite time management.

Personals productivity is measured on how much he can do and achieve a goal at a given period of time. And this is true that personal productivity is one of the vital elements of life management. If one can master life management, one can live life to its fullest. Now the relationship of time management, personal productivity and life management is made clear. Now its time to move on some elements of the management definition.

Managing goals and objectives:

Goals are surly important in a personal life. Without goals, one will wander aimlessly through life, hunted by the feeling of not accomplishing anything. So personal goals and objectives will steer an individual in the proper direction and will help this reason focus his strengths in archiving the goal. Thus at the end of the day, that person will have a feeling of self-accomplishment.

Managing different task:

Every person tackles important tasks every day. And managing these tasks is really imperative to make sure that an individual do not forget any important errands or miss any deadlines.

Works prioritize:

Learning to prioritize is also a good skill to complement managing different tasks. Since time is very limited and this is very important that a person completes his priorities first before anything else. So in that way a person gets consider to accomplishing his goals and objectives every single day. So prioritizing is simply knowing what is necessary to finish a goal and knowing what to do next.

There are two more skill sets that are crucial to nailing time management. These are managing procrastination which we all know all too well and having a follow up system to ensure that every activity we undertook came to conclusion regardless of the eventual outcome of the said subject.

Article Source: GoArticles

The Benefits Of Time Management

The benefits of time management go much farther then just being more effective at getting your work done. With proper time management one can begin to be proactive and work toward achieving their goals rather then being reactive. People who follow through on the goals that they set for themselves will most likely be successful in their lives.

Elements of Effective Time Management Part I

Time goes by at the same rate no matter what one does. One can not speed it up or slow it down. Unlike the other resources that one manages, there is no way to control time. The best one can do is take charge of oneself in the framework of time, investing oneself in those things that matter most in one’s life.

Understanding Time Management

Figure out about understanding time management is important to every people who want success in they're life. Why!? Because every individual on earth has the same amount of time - 60 seconds in a minute; 60 minutes in an hour; 1,440 minutes in a day; and 525,600 minutes in a year. While a vast majority of people confesses faltering to come to grips with it, extremely few can claim to have made the most of it. How is it that they have got it all done? It’s because they have managed a way to figure out how to manage their time effectively.

Discovering Time Management in the Office

An important skill to master, effective time management will help you manage your priorities and accomplish more with limited amount of time. The success and failure of a business also lies in the ability of employees to manage their time well.

What is Time Management!?

What is time management!? So probably about questions that arise in your mind, especially for those of you who are not familiar with time management. Here I extracted from reliable sources. 

Time Management is usually defined as the management of time in order to use your time wisely and get the most out of it. Time Management is referred to as the practices that individuals follow to make better use of their time. There are a few ways that individuals can manage their time and they include such things as: personal electronic devices (PDAs), time and motion study, self-awareness, and also self motivation. Time Management can be divided into many different topics such as: task lists, resistors, drivers, software applications, and techniques for setting priorities.

Task Lists

One way to manage your time wisely is by making a task list. A task list can be very useful because with a list you will remember to do what it is you planned to do and in what order you planned to do them. As mentioned before these task lists can b prioritized or they can just be a random list of tasks that need to be completed. These task lists can be used for things such as: homework assignments, grocery lists, or a general to-do list.

Resistors

Resistors are people that are scared of change. The reason they have issues with time management is because they sometimes do not want to invest the time initially to save time in the long run.

Drivers

For those people who do get more responsibility and still the same amount of time to complete those tasks the approach to time management has to change.

Software Applications

Software Applications to manage time are becoming more popular with the developments of new technology. These applications developed for computers, PDAs, and cell phones have caused many people to become more efficient and have better time management skills. These software applications have built in reminders, calendars, and other features that allow people to remember to complete activities on time.

Techniques for Setting Priorities

There are many ways to set priorities to complete tasks in a timely manner. Some of these techniques include: ABC analysis, Pareto analysis, Fit, and POSEC method.

Pareto Analysis is the idea that 80% of the tasks can be completed in 20% of the disposable time. There should with this method be a higher priority assigned to the 80% of tasks that can be completed in 20% of the disposable time.

Fit is the method where some tasks can be constrained by certain requirements and therefore only those tasks where the requirements are available will be completed first. These requirements can be such things as location, financial investment, time, etc. For example, if you had a one hour period in your day where you could work on a task it is typically more productive to do a task that would take an hour then to start a task that would take a few weeks or a task that would take 20 minutes.

POSEC method is an acronym that stands for Prioritize by Organizing, Streamlining, Economizing and Contributing. This method of time management is a hierarchy of self-realization which mirrors Abraham Maslow's "Hierarchy of needs".

1. PRIORITIZE - Your time and define your life by goals. 
2. ORGANIZING - Things you have to accomplish regularly to be successful. (Family and Finances) 
3. STREAMLINING - Things you may not like to do, but must do. (Work and Chores) 
4. ECONOMIZING - Things you should do or may even like to do, but they're not pressingly urgent. (Past-times and Socializing) 
5. CONTRIBUTING - By paying attention to the few remaining things that make a difference (Social Obligations). 

Article Source: Ezine Articles