Time management is the act of scheduling out how time is spent to increase efficacy and efficiency. Work, school, and life at home can often present itself with many tasks that must be accomplished. Many of those tasks involve a specific deadline. As most of you already know, recently my sister and I have launched a new online business called Graceful Med Boutique. However, I am still currently maintaining my three other jobs. Balancing my clinical bedside job in Same Day Surgery, Adjunct Faculty roles at two Universities, and an online business can leaving me feeling like 24 hours in a day isn’t enough. Therefore, it has been important to be able to incorporate time management into my everyday life because it allows me to accomplish more work by having planned outcomes.
Time management requires a variety of tools and skills set to accomplish tasks within that specific time-frame. There are three main themes in time management, which is to set the atmosphere, prioritize, and to act based on priorities.
Setting the atmosphere of productiveness is essential to time management. For me, my bedroom is my safe place when it comes to work productivity. This might not be the case for most due to the sleep distraction but find out what works best for you. Designate a place that is conducive to the work required, whether it is studying or work. Eliminate distractions that can inhibit effectiveness.
The second theme is to prioritize important tasks starting with the most difficult tasks. Doing so provides the most difficult tasks with more energy to reduce the risk of not completing tasks. When prioritizing, keep in mind the level of importance of the task to you. Too often we spend our valuable time on things of little value to us. The prioritized tasks should also have goals and a timeframe for completion. Remember to keep your time frames arranged realistically.
The last theme in time management is to act based on priorities using the planned outcomes that were set during prioritization. Acting on priorities includes completing assigned tasks, meeting deadlines, and reviewing outcomes. Ask yourself were the methods used effective? Consider alternate approaches that could have made this process smoother.
As a new business owner, I’ve realized that effective time management occurs with proper organization. Although all themes are critical to efficacy, prioritization is the main theme that ensures important tasks are completed. There are many ways to organize activities such as creating a task list, grouping similar tasks, and evaluating outcomes. When many complex tasks are presented in a work environment, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. Managing time wisely can give you a sense of control over what needs to be done. Proper time management can reduce stress, enhance performance, and improve your overall quality of life.
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