How to Manage My Time

Effective time management on the routine daily tasks that everyone faces -- whether they are a college student, stay-at-home mom or office worker -- leads to a less stressful life. Additionally, effective time management allows for more time to be spent on pastimes and with loved ones.

Things You'll Need

• Determination
• Notepad
• pen
• Calendar
• Positive attitude

Instructions

1. Employ the "three-list method" to set priorities. Create a daily to-do list, a weekly calendar and a list of long-term goals. Create a daily list of tasks you want or need to accomplish, beginning with the most important. Establish a weekly calendar to track cumulative tasks. For example, if you want to spend five hours per week cleaning the house, add it to your daily to-do list each day and when you've reached five hours for the week, mark it off the weekly calendar. On your long-term goals list should be commitments that may take awhile to complete, such as saving for a big ticket item.

2. Create a situation that is doable. Many have said "there aren't enough hours in the day ..." By creating to-do lists that you can't complete, you'll be saying the same thing and your time management efforts will fail. Be realistic about daily, weekly or long-term goals.

3. Stay focused. Avoiding distractions is one of the keys to effective time management. Turn off the cell phone or the TV. Tackle the most important tasks on your to-do list first, rather than putting them off until later when it is easier to think "I'm tired, maybe I should save that task for tomorrow when I'm more alert."

References

• College of Marin; How to Manage Time and Set Priorities; Donald Martin; 1991