Time Management

Hello and welcome to the course on time management. Being we all have 24 hours in each day, why is it some people get more accomplished during that time than others? I’m sure you have seen it – some people working feverously hard all day long, but at the end of the day accomplished less than a co-worker that worked at a slower much more relaxed pace. The answer? Good time management and the focus of this course.

Over the course of these 5 lessons, we will cover:

1. SMART goal setting
2. Creating and using a to do list
3. Using a calendar effectively
4. Doing set tasks on specific days
5. Putting it all together

Before we go any further, let’s define just exactly what time management is for anyone reading this lesson that might not know: It is “The process of planning and controlling how much time to spend on specific activities or tasks.”

Planning how to spend your time not only allows you to get more done in a shorter amount of time, but also with less stress; with good time management you are fully aware of when certain tasks must be done, and you have allotted enough time to do them. Because time management is a key quality that employers like to find, it can lead to more and better opportunities for employment.

SMART Goal Setting

Getting things done starts with knowing what you need to do and when it must be done. Many people in business and their personal life use the SMART system as a way to not only set, but also reach their goals. For each goal you want to accomplish, it must be:

• Specific – A goal must be clear and when setting it, it should answer the questions:
  • What do I want to accomplish?
  • Why is it important?
  • Who is involved?
  • What resources do I need?
• Measurable – Without a goal being measurable, it is much more difficult to track progress and know when you are done. It should answer these questions as they apply to the goal:
  • How much?
  • How many?
  • How will I know when it is done?

• Achievable – The goal must be realistic and within your capabilities to get it done, so it should answer these questions:
  • Do I have the skill to get it done?
  • Do I have all the necessary resources?

• Relevant – In other words, is this goal in line with what you want to accomplish either personally or professionally? It should answer such questions as:
  • Is the time right?
  • Is it worthwhile?
  • Am I the right person to do the job?

• Time-bound – Each goal must have a target date or a date in which it must be finished. It should answer these questions:
  • How much time do I have to get it done?
  • How much time will it take?
  • When can I start?

Knowing the answers to each of these questions as applicable, will set the stage for knowing clearly what must be done, what is needed to get it done, when it must be done.