Time Management: Important For Goal Realization
   

You know where you want to go and what you want to do and maybe even how to get there. You have goals. But did you know that time management is an important part in getting those goals realized? In fact, poor time management is one of the reasons for poor performance. Learning to manage your time can make you even more successful.

Many of you have been schooled in the art of procrastination. You continually put things off, and when you do not get around to them you come up with excuses. Maybe you did not make it to the gym today. Oh well, you are too tired and you always have to wait for a treadmill anyways, right? So it begins. Pretty soon, you are in the habit of not going to the gym instead of going. You all know that habits can be hard to break!

To break the procrastination cycle, you need to learn how to manage your time. At this moment you might think you do not have time to pursue any additional goals. But once you get yourself organized you will be surprised at how much time you really do have.

Start with a list of everything you want to accomplish and when. Do you go to work five days a week? Did you want to lose 10 pounds by Spring Break? Got a lunch with friends on Tuesday? Right it all down. Include professional, personal, and social activities – you do not want to leave anything out.

Now, sort your list into two categories – those things that need to be attended to in the near future, and those that can wait. Like the report that is due for work on Friday needs to be attended to sooner than planning the birthday party for your best friend next month.

Next, go over your list of items that need to be worked on quickly and rank them in importance. For example, even if both are on Friday, finishing the report due for work is probably more important than attending the one day only shoe sale at your favorite store.

Now that you know what you need to do, you have to plan on how. Start with finding a way to put your schedule down. Some people like a large desk calendar, others a PDA, and still others a day-by-day planner. Find a system that works for you.

To start your calendar, begin by writing in your must-do routines. If you work Monday through Friday, have the bowling league every Saturday, and Bible study every Sunday, for example, put those items down now.

Next, figure out your own internal clock and use it to your advantage. If you have the most energy in the morning, maybe you should switch your appointment at the gym to before work instead of after. Try to balance your schedule into something that you can actually manage.

Now, break your goals down into manageable pieces. A huge task will seem daunting and insurmountable which will discourage you from even beginning. If your goal is to lose weight which sounds better – to lose 10 lbs by Spring Break or to lose one pound a week? Chances are it sounds easier to lose a pound a week – even though the end result is the same. In your mind’s eye you are thinking “a pound? That’s nothing! I can do that.” Write these “mini-goals” in on your calendar as well as how to achieve them. For example, if your goal is to write a page of your term paper each day will you need time at the library for research? Or maybe you need an hour a night to work on typing it up?

Next you will want to optimize your work environment. Do you want music or silence? Do you want a cluttered desk or a perfectly clean one? Shut out distractions – if this is your work period, do not answer your cell phone for personal calls. Shut your office door and open it only when necessary. Having voice mail or an answering machine can allow you to screen calls and return messages when it is convenient for you.

Reward yourself for meeting your mini-goals – not just at completion. Rewards can be anything – an hour visiting friends, a long hot bath, and dinner out – they just has to be something that you enjoy.

If you ever get stuck, start back at the beginning. Maybe your mini-goals can be broken down further. Is there anything that you feel you can do? Once you start to it you are not procrastinating any more, and you are on your way to success!

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SolveYourProblem.com : 2006

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