8 Simple Rules for Time Management

I am a fulltime father, college student, and salesperson. During the course of my journey of life I have learned a few valuable tools, not without a little rebellion on my part, for staying on top of the time the good Lord has given me. This journey has had some bumpy rides at times, but when I learned to apply the knowledge given to me things get better and more productive.

The truth is we are dealt the same amount of time apiece. How we allocate the time given is what is important. There is twenty-four hours in a day, sixty minutes in a hour, and sixty seconds in a minute. What is the most important factor you wish to accomplish in your day?

Another factor in the time management scheme of things is planning and keeping a journal. Can you see the kayos? All of leave for California, but during our journey we decided not to take a map. How difficult would this make the trip? Especially, if we had no way of knowing the direction we were heading. Do you think we would eventually make it there? The end result of not planning our trip well would be a vicious circle. We would all probably end up discouraged and turn our cars around and come home. My boss at Culligan International taught me this important aspect of time management. He would set down in the morning, and have his completely day planned out. Not only did this control the frustration of the day, but he knew exactly where he was going and how he was going to get there.

As a college student the next factor really comes into play. We must allocate time for study, but this must be the right time to study for us. Have you ever heard the saying, "Know thyself." We must pick the best time when our minds our most active to be productive in this part of our journey. Hone in when you can be most productive in the aspect of learning and apply this knowledge to better your learning experience.

To keep from getting burned out, take time to relax. We must all remember without some relaxation time we will eventually run down and not be very productive along this journey of life. I enjoy taking long walks in the park and breathing in the fresh air. Read books to relax, and savor every word letting them sink into your mind. Exercise, I enjoy doing Tae Bo at night, this helps me to get myself centered for the next busy, and keeps me physically fit.

One thing I have learned in the past as far as being productive is try to stay neat and organized. There is nothing worse then trudging through a mountain of papers just to find something you need for your next client. Organization will allow you to accomplish your tasks with more speed and better precision.

This area I am now working on, personal goal setting. Where does Mike want to be tomorrow? Where does Mike want to be next week personally and with his job? Where does Mike want to be when he graduates from college? Without some kind of roadmap we will get nowhere fast. Pen down your personal goals, prioritize them in the way they are most important to you, set a date when you would like to accomplish your goals.
Now, you are ready to roll!

Visualize yourself successful. I read a book many years ago by Ray Bradbury called, Zen in the Art of Writing. We must be able to hone in what we want to be, focusing ourselves toward the task of being successful in life. If we see ourselves in the new job we are working towards, a positive attitude will be created in our lives towards are goals.

The last thing to remember in getting towards we is going, learn how to manage the bumps in life. So what if your boss is in a bad mood? Take the lemons in your life, squeeze them and make lemonade. Take the negativity and leave it were it has taken you, and learn from it. Like water off a ducks back, let it roll off and keep going.