“I Do Not Have Time for That…” The Art of Time Management

Do you feel like you do not have time to accomplish all the things you have on your “to-do list”? Or, are you one of those people who love to leave things for later and in the end, those things never get done making you feel unaccomplished? It probably means that you need to work on improving your time management skills.

Time management is a set of skills, techniques, or tools used to manage or take control of your time with the purpose of successfully achieving a goal or a specific task. Two of the most common causes of poor time management are procrastination and disorganization. According to Merriam-Webster (2010), procrastination means to put off intentionally the doing of something that should be done.

When people procrastinate, they not only prevent themselves from achieving X or Y task; they also prevent themselves and those around them from moving forward in the completion of their goals, creating a sense of distress and disappointment. Disorganization is also considered one of the major causes of poor time management. Gloria Reyes considers herself a procrastinator. “I try to manage my time, but I always find excuses to leave things for later” Gloria said when I interviewed her.

Not having a clear agenda, an effective time management system, or a simple “to do list” can prevent you from organizing yourself to be able to accomplish your tasks in hand.

Some of the advantages of having excellent time management skills are:

1) It helps you reduce stress and anxiety.
2) Helps you work with a purpose.
3) Helps you reduce avoidance.
4) And, last but not least, helps you maintain enthusiasm and motivation toward your tasks in hand.

You may be thinking, “That sounds great, but how can I become a time management guru?" The answer to that question is simple: create a good time management system and stick to it.

Some good time management tips are:

1) Plan your day the day before: Create a to do list before you leave your work or house that way when you get out of the house the next day, you already know which tasks need to be completed and in which order.
2) Prioritize your to do list.
3) Identify bad habits and get rid of them.
4) And, learn to say NO to those things that do not require immediate attention but make sure you do not procrastinate.

By creating a good time management system and sticking to it, you will be able to maintain your focus and stay organize and at the same time will be preventing unnecessary stress or anxiety while working toward the completion of your goals.