Time Management

Time Management

Time management is the process of planning and exercising conscious control of time spent on specific activities, especially to increase effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity. Wikipedia

“Time management” is the process of organizing and planning how to divide your time between specific activities. Good time management enables you to work smarter – not harder – so that you get more done in less time, even when time is tight and pressures are high. Failing to manage your time damages your effectiveness and causes stress." . . . Mind Tools

Time Management is very similar to Goal Setting in many ways. In goal setting we prioritize goals on basis of importance, urgency, priority, gain, outcome and many more needs and parameters. Goals are achieved by having achievement plans for them, earmarking objectives and related activities by earmarking resources for the purpose.

We have limited time and unlimited things to do for a busy person. This is all the more true for a person who has no subordinate staff and even if one does have, the person cannot delegate with a free mind. Therefore the need for both work /tasks management and  time management. At a point in 1993 there were time diaries sold out of Singapore. Business diaries were yet to come into popular use.  In time diary jobs were arranged on the basis of the following parameters:

1. Urgency
2. Importance
3. Time Dedication
4. Money's Worth
5. Single or Networked
6. Will it block a process

Then alongside this was time management. It was based on types of activities. Here is an indicators list:

1. Personal
2. Family
3. Friends
4. Social
5. Business
6. Meetings
7. Exercise
8. Sports
9. Entertainment & Recreation
10. Socialising
11. Training
12. Seminars & Conferences
13. Rest / Work Break
14. Chat / Coffee Break
15. Hobbies
16. Shopping
17. Buying
18. Exploring
19. Research
20. Education
21. Travel

Now everybody has 365 days, 12 months, 52 weeks, 24 hours.

Time management is much like financial management in this regard. Time is asset. Each of the 20 odd activities are liabilities or expenses. So how to allocate work / activities against available time over a year is time management.

Remember time is a resource. We need to allocate half time extra or 66% work against time so that we do not rush.