SIX WAYS TO FAST TRACK ON TIME MANAGEMENT

Image by Destiny Obiakoeze

Running behind time is soooooooo easy.

One minute you have all the time in the world and the next you realize you barely have an hour or more to the moment you have been waiting for.

It’s kind of frustrating to be late or not meet up. Especially, when it’s something very important. On top of that, imagine knowing that you are going to be late on your project or even a presentation. That would be some hell of a big deal. Add to that the fact that a lot of people do not take it lightly to let you be the deciding factor on time, more so at those vital big budget projects or executive meetings and you have a picture in your mind’s eye that brings a scowl on your face. Now imagine if that were a reality. Of course that will be way below par with the picture you would love.

There is something about poor time management that rubs us all the wrong way. For one, it makes you feel like a looser. I have not yet met anyone who is comfortable to know that they are turning up late at an extremely important schedule that does not feel horrible. In fact, in most cases, ‘horrible’ will be an understatement.

So how about we discuss s how to manage your time better?

Here we go. Let us find out some ways to meet up with your time:

Have a draft:

What do you want to do? Sit down and start drafting. Have an outline that guides you. Summarize in a small short form the structure of what you wish to do. If you itemize them like this, it will make it easier for you to highlight fully or expatiate later.  Usually it is a way of trying to get you and your mind to start working. Instead of just living in your imagination, by doing a short draft you have successfully moved your Project into reality. You must note that this is different from having an action plan.


Have an action plan:

 Use a calendar to plan a chart. What do you want to do at a specific point and when. State how long it should last and allot a time frame on it. This will guide you towards how and when each target should be implemented. I personally use this a lot and it helps me a great deal. You might prefer to use a post it. They are very colourful. Colours have a way of calling your attention. Especially, when they contrast perfectly from the background. Strategically place it at a place you will always look or go to: In front of your computer or laptop; on your fridge; on your bathroom door or door to your loo (That is if you live alone. Of course you do know it will be crazy to plaster everyone’s faces with your activity right?).

Keep a reminder:

Use your phone. It is called a mobile phone and usually you take it everywhere you go. I love it when my phone beeps to remind me about something I need to do in the next few minutes, next hour or so depending on how I set it up. I would recommend that you give yourself at least thirty minutes ahead of each agenda so that you have more time. Also, depending on where you will be at a certain point in time you should be able to assess whether your time could be extended further to accommodate a preparation. For instance if what you need to do demands that you get home to pick up something or change gears, you should set your alert for perhaps an hour to give you enough room to do just that. It is a great asset for the work of an assistant and you do not have to pay an assistant’s salary at all. Just log into the calendar your reminder for when you want the alert and the rest is history.

Be disciplined:

It’s important that you understand how needful it should be that you be disciplined. Take for instance the scenario that your phone starts beeping; you take a look at it, read what its saying and stick it back into your pocket without doing anything about it. Of course that would mean that you are not disciplined enough to be committed to your own success. So yes, you must be disciplined to ensure you work according to plan and push yourself to follow through with what is necessary.

Find the time you work best:

 If you are wondering how this can impact on your time management, consider the fact that you do more work at those times that you find it easier and motivated enough to put in some work. For instance if you prefer a serene atmosphere and find it more pleasurable to work at night without much disturbances and distractions, you will notice that the energy to do more at those times means that you get more done. So reiteratively, the outcome is that whenever you work at night you turnover more; than during the day. Maybe you might have a pile of work that ends up disappearing after you put in a decent duration of night time. By all means use that knowledge to your advantage and leverage on it. Finding the time you work best and leveraging on it will save you tons of hours. By the time you quantify the hours you have saved for yourself you will realize how far you have come with effective time management. Clap for yourself later (don’t forget me too…now am smiling).

Check up on yourself:

Implementing all of the above requires that you keep an eye on yourself at every stage. What you feel are as important. The negative emotions you feel when you fail or the positive emotions you feel when you are succeeding are equally as important on this checker. Your emotion towards your progress will be your touchstone every time you accomplish something in a timely manner. Often, you will feel empowered and happier knowing you succeeded. Keep in touch by rewarding yourself at the end of every completed goal or achievement you are committed to. Keeping in touch with yourself is a great way of keeping the motivation up. Aside from that, the quick deliveries on your time line will add some zest to your purposeful living. Need I say you will be living your own ideal?...*wink*.

You want to be that person who has everything planned accordingly and implemented successfully and on time. I trust that this will go a long way to making you that person. Obviously this list is not an exhaustive one. Feel free to share your insights too. Good luck on becoming that pro with time management


NB: This post is originally written for Projectsxtra.com and published on Linkedin. Take a look.