When it comes to time management you may think that there are techniques, and gadgets
that can help you focus better and get things done. The fact of the matter is time management has very little to do with time. It does however have a lot to do with self-awareness.
The more you know yourself the more you can improve your performance when working to achieve your goals and tasks. Here are some tips you can use that will help you manage
YOU better.
Consider when you are the most/least productive
This is a common oversight when scheduling your goals and tasks. If you schedule a task that you truly dislike during a time when you are least productive it’s unlikely the task will ever get done. You will be sluggish, make more mistakes and you will begin to further dislike the task. But schedule that task when you are the most productive and you will be sure to get it done quickly, with less mistakes and a better attitude.
Know your limit
All of us, at one time or another, have over extended ourselves to get a task done because we just want to get it over with. However, putting this pressure on ourselves can make the task much more difficult, we can end up making many more mistakes, and the task could become an even bigger problem. The best thing to do is to stop working on a task when you still have energy and have hit your peak. Forcing yourself to get through it will cause you to dislike the task even more. You will associate your stress with the completion of the project and possibly never get back to finishing it. If you stop when you are still energized it will be much more enjoyable to come back to at a later date. You will associate that energy with the project and be motivated to finish.
Focus ONLY on three tasks per day
Make it a habit to focus on no more than three items on your to do list a day. This habit will provide you with a lot more wiggle room in your schedule because you’ll be able to focus on other things that may pop up unexpectedly. You will also stress less because you’ll know each day you will have the ability to get those three tasks done. And each day you’ll be able to get three more done. You’re maintaining a more balanced life style rather than an erratic schedule of tasks that leave you exhausted and overwhelmed.
Identify your strengths and weaknesses
Make a list of all your strengths and weaknesses. Take all the weaknesses you listed and start delegating as many tasks as you can. It is far more worth it to pay someone else to do a task. It will stop you from chronic procrastination, which will form feelings of inadequacy,
stress and guilt. If you aren’t convinced it’s worth it, calculate your hourly rate and compare it to the person/company you would outsource it to. Be sure to consider emotional and physical demands the tasks may cause. Also consider the profit you would generate if the task was done in a more timely manner. You may be shocked to find out how much you are worth and how valuable it is to pay someone else to do the job.
Find out if you have a learning disability
If you think it may be possible that you have a learning disability, get tested and do what you can to learn more about the disorder you may have. Knowing the obstacles you face can make a huge difference in your performance. You can begin to see patterns in your behavior and learn ways to cope with your disability. Go to www.ldcouncil.org, or www.chadd.org to find out where you can get tested and learn more about learning disabilities.
Sara Bereika, president of NEAT, has lived her life making order out of chaos. She has always found joy in developing ways to make things easier, and more efficient.
Sara studied graphic design at the University of Hartford Art School and received a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic/Information Design from Central Connecticut State University. Starting out as a Graphic Designer, she enjoyed organizing information. However, Sara found her true passion in Project Management, a career that tasked Sara with responsibility for keeping projects in-line and completed on time. From this, Sara developed a bigger passion for time management and how others perceived time. Now, Sara focuses exclusively on helping others manage their time and achieve their goals. By teaching and consulting, Sara helps others remove clutter and stress from their lives so they can focus on what's truly important.
Sara is a proud member of The National Association of Professional
Organizers (NAPO) and is Vice President of the NAPO Richmond Chapter. Through this organization, she helped form Project GO - a team of organizers with a mission to donate time and services to non-profit organizations to get them organized so they can better serve the community. Sara is also a member of The National Study Group for Chronic Disorganization (NSGCD), and is a CD Specialist and has a Certificate of Study in Basic ADD Issues with the Chronically Disorganized Client. Through her coursework with the NSGCD, she is also an ADD Specialist and working toward becoming a certified Professional Organizer. Sara has taught time management as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Richmond. She has been quoted in Welcome Magazine, Richmond Magazine's guide to relocation in Richmond and in Richmond Magazine. Organize Magazine has her listed as Organizer of the Week in October 2007 and has quoted her in their November/December 2007 issue. You may have seen her in the Metro Business Section of the Richmond Times Dispatch in December 2006, Richmond.com and in Innsbrook today in January 2006. She has also made a guest appearance on Radio 103.7 with Jack and Jen in the morning in August of 2007 and March 2008.