Time management

The two most powerful warriors are patience and time

                                                                                               L.Tolstoy

Time management… What is it? Wikipedia indicates that time management “is the act or process of planning and exercising conscious control over the amount of time spent on specific activities, especially to increase effectiveness, efficiency or productivity”. Undoubtedly, we find this kind of problem all over the place (especially, students and teachers). But how can we fight against this problem? Having searched out all the facts, I came across the time management study of Kent University. They have identified ways in which we can improve the management of our time.  So, let’s canvass the following pieces of advice.

1. Keeping a to-do list.

Carry a pen and paper or organizer wherever you go. At the simplest level your reminder system could simply be to use your diary to write down the things you need to do, including appointments and deadlines. Prioritise items on the list into important/not important and urgent/non-urgent. 

                                                    

                                                            Advantages of using a to do list

• Focuses your mind on important objectives
• You are less likely to forget to do tasks
• Writing a list helps order your thoughts
• It helps show the bigger picture
• You don't need to hold everything in your head.
• It saves time
• It helps you decide on priorities: the most important and the most urgent
• You are less likely to become sidetracked
• You get the reward of ticking off your achievements
• You feel more in control
• You have a record of what you've done
• You always have something to work on

      I think it’s the best way to remember everything you have to do. I want to give you the benefit of my experience. In order to stay on schedule I devised a timetable which I had to stick to. I used as electronic calendar. Believe me, this was a very useful tool and it is one that I have used continuously to manage my time effectively.

2. Setting goals

Set yourself specific and clearly defined goals, and make sure that these are realistic and achievable. To do this, you first need to examine your present situation and assess what goals are important to you and what action you need to take to achieve your target. 

I agree that setting goals can help to break tasks down into steps and do one task at a time. Now my goal is getting a Master’s degree and I apportion my time between various occupations. 

3. Using a time log

You need to make up a chart for the next seven days divided into half hour intervals starting at the time you get up and finishing at the time you go to bed. Write down what you did in each half hour of the day for the next seven days. Choose a typical week.

Indeed, one useful way to eliminate wasted time is to use a time log. I tried to make up a chart, sometimes it worked well, but also I went off in a tangent.  A good example for my day is given below.

Monday

8.30 Get up

9.00 Breakfast

9.30 Read home-reading

11.00 Do homework

13.00 Dinner

13.30 Lecture

15.00 Seminar

16.30 Lecture

18.00 Walk with friends

20.00 Listening to music at home

20.30 Watching TV

22.00 Reading

23.00 Bed

Thus, you may identify the most appropriate way in which you can manage your time more efficiently, and know some techniques to allow to do this. Take actions if you wish to get results!