10 Tips to Create Your Own Time Management Plan

Sometimes I think that 24 hours in a day are just not enough. But you know what? If there were 26 hours in a day, I would still have a proportionally large amount of work. So it's not the amount of time we have that seems to be the problem, it is what we choose to do with it. I reiterate here, the key word is 'choose'. Time management is all about making choices such that you utilize the time you have, more efficiently. Here are a few tips to help you create your own time management plan.

1. Prioritize, prioritize and Oh yes! prioritize some more
Our days are filled with so many small and large tasks that need to be completed, that we get overwhelmed and overworked way too often. So to overcome this problem, prioritize your activities. Create a 'To-Do' list and then, assign a priority to all the tasks. Then re-write the list with the items having the highest priority at the top. This way, your focus will automatically drift to the first item on the list. You might get tempted to do things that are of low priority, just because they are easy to do. Don't succumb to this temptation and stick to your priorities.

2. Plan out your day
It is important to plan your day, to make the most of your time. So have a schedule in place, and jot it down if you must. Stick to the schedule as far as possible.

3. Shop with a grocery list
When you are grocery shopping week after week, it becomes second nature. But there may be so many things running in your mind that you might miss out on a few products. What does that mean? Another trip to the super-market sooner than required. So go grocery shopping equipped with a list, so that you don't miss out on crucial items.

4. Too much TV ?
How much TV do you watch on a daily basis? A few hours, several hours, none at all? Remember that TV is not bad, what you watch on it can be good or bad. TV can help you relax, but don't overdo it. Stick to an hour or two of TV, and no more. Even while watching TV, you can use the time during commercials to plan your kids' lunches for the next day, the menu for dinner and so on.

5. Run errands during early hours of the day
Run errands during morning hours, so that you can avoid crowds and hence, waiting. If you have work at the Post Office, go there when it opens. If you need to get your driver's license, go when the office opens in the morning. In fact, try to shop in super-markets when the crowd is less. This will help you save a lot of time.

6. Plan for the next day in advance
It is always a good practice to plan activities for the next day, on the previous day. This way, when you wake up in the morning, you can start tackling the tasks, rather than wasting time wondering what to do next.

7. While traveling, carry some work
When you are traveling long distances, or waiting for someone, carry along some light work. You don't know how long the journey or the wait might take. So use the time in reading a project report or writing an article. This will leave you more time at home, so that you can take care of other important things.

8. Clear out the clutter
Keep things clutter-free. This is very critical when it comes to your work space and even your PC! God alone knows how much time you spend searching for things, when there is too much clutter.

9. Is multi-tasking a good idea?
This depends from one individual to the next. Some people are great at multi-tasking, while others are really bad at it. If you are trying to juggle 5 things claiming that you are multi-tasking, and then realize that you have been at these tasks for a long time, then stop. Multi-tasking is not for you. Focus on a task, complete it and then move on.

10. Delegate work, if possible
If you can get help, be it hired, your family, friends and so on, take the help you can get. This does not mean running away from your duties. But by delegating some of your work and proving that you are not a wonder-woman or super-man, you can definitely save some valuable time.

Keep these 10 tips in mind, and create the time management strategy that suits your lifestyle.

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