Arguably, out of all resources, time can be regarded as the most important one. This is self evident from the fact that how time is managed greatly determines one’s success in life. Success as the popular saying goes, is a product of time and this adage could not have been more accurate. As opposed to popular belief, effective time management is the concern not just of working executives but students and homemakers, entrepreneurs and freelancers alike. This article puts forth some effective methods of time management that are simple and easy to incorporate in day to day life.

1. Effective Time Management Begins with a Plan

To better illustrate the need of having a plan, let us consider the following case.

A woodcutter was invited to an interview with a competition for a simple opening. Whoever was able to chop down the most wood would win. Without much foresight, Ram began wildly chopping at the wood using his axe. Whereas, Mohan, was more strategic and spent time sharpening his axe first. Ram may have been first to get his axe into a piece of wood, but given the sharpened axe, Mohan was able to cut a lot more wood.

The point of this story is Action, without planning is futile. Mohan’s preparation helped him complete the task more efficiently. Without effective planning, we’ll find that there simply is not enough time to accomplish the tasks.

2. Time Planning Techniques For Learners

Learners tend to feel burdened with the schoolwork, term papers, and exams. Nonetheless, with prudent time planning, learners will be able to accomplish their academic requirements on time and still spare time for extracurricular activities and personal pursuits.

Let us look at the case of Tilak Mehta, a 14 year old school boy in Mumbai. Yes, he has mastered time management, and used it to build a business, Papers N Parcels Courier Service which offered delivery within the same day. From his organized time, he was able to beat larger competitors and as a result, flourish as his own entrepreneur.

Suggestions for Students

• Set your tasks in order of importance.
• Set times on your calendar for study periods.
• Ensure time is reserved for self-development interests and hobbies.

3. Time Management For Housewifes

Quite a number of housewives multi-task by looking after the home and pursuing other activities of interest or even managing their own business. It is important to plan time effectively in order to balance domestic responsibilities along with personal aspirations.

Megha Bafna, a house wife in Mumbai, turned her passion of cooking into a business venture. Her salad business, Keep Good Shape, has been doing well in the last four years. She was able to successfully juggle between her new business and running her home because of her good time management skills.

Suggestions for Households:

• Simplify your routine by creating a list of tasks and categorizing them.
• Have productivity apps to help you plan your household tasks significantly better.
• Devote some time to your personal passions or side business.

4. Time Management Skills for Businessmen

Wondering how to correctly set time as per your priorities? Well, heading a business definitely comes with excitement, but without having any time discipline, it may end in your hectic chaos. Entrepreneurs juggle several responsibilities, including product designing and development, marketing, and finances. Poor time discipline can cause one to miss deadlines and squander valuable resources.

With right time management, an entrepreneur is able to plan everything in advance, which keeps the essential aspects in focus all the time. This is very important for the success of startups.

Suggestions for Businessmen:

• Establish well-defined goals and timeframes.
• Divide bigger assignments into smaller tasks that are easy to do.
• Make use of a calendar or task management software to keep on top of everything.

5. Integrating Strategies into Time Management

It is now clearer to assess from this how important it is to manage time, let’s look at various strategies to enhance your effectiveness.

a. Define Objectives

You can begin with deciding on certain time frames per your goals, for example targets:

• Daily targets: What is it that can be accomplished today?
• Weekly targets: What can be done within next week?
• Monthly and yearly targets: What does your long-term thinking look like?
• 5 and 10-year plans: Visualize your future.

Having these goals ensures greater concentration and gives you some head start.

b. Formulate A Comprehensive Task list

Design a task list that is in-depth and timely. It should include:

• Wake-up time
• Getting ready
• To-do list for the day, pointing out the most important tasks that need to be completed first.
• Breaks in between important activities.

Breaks from work are important. Continous working without resting makes one susceptible to burnout. Short breaks, however, do wonders for the mind and productivity levels.

c. Don’t Let Your Targets Go Missed

Make sure to follow the instructions below to help yourself get back on track:

• Stick to deadlines.
• Do not multitask; completing one task at a time is more efficient.
• Remain focused and eliminate distractions.
• Be adaptable to accommodate the unexpected changes.
• Prevention of mental fatigue by taking breaks should be preferred over not doing so.
• Make sure your work is proofread in order to ensure there is no mistakes.

Key Takeaways for Effective Time Management

• Plan before taking action in order to save on time while completing your goals.
• Everyone, from students to homemakers to entrepreneurs, will benefit from efficient time management for heightened productivity and satisfaction.
• Prioritize and set clearly defined targets and goals for the day, week, month, and year.
• Stay refreshed and remain focused by taking breaks every now and again.

Categories: Time Management