Time management tips

Transcription

1 Time management tips WORKPLACE LITERACY: Information sheet number 3 You will get more done if you know how to manage your time. Where does the time go? Do you often wish you had more time? Do you worry that you haven t got things finished? Do you rush around trying to do lots of things at once? Do you put the hard stuff off till later, but then panic about it? Do you find it hard to fit in your work, family, friends and hobbies? Good time management will help make your life more: fun productive and free of stress We all have the same amount of time. There are 24 hours in a day and 7 days in a week. That s 168 hours that we all have, every week. To make the most of this time you need to be well organised. Set your goals, then plan your hours, days, weeks and months, so you know what you have to do, and when. Here are some tips to help you manage your time and reach your goals. 1 Set goals 2 Take a step at a time 3 Get organised 4 Do the most important things first 5 Stay focused 1

2 1 Set goals We all have goals things we want to achieve (reach). Here are some examples: My goal is to have a holiday in Australia next summer My goal is to complete my Skills Active qualification by the end of the year A goal should be clear. It should state what you want to do, and when by. You can then start planning how to get there. 2 Take a step at a time You can manage your time and reach your goals if you plan ahead, step by step. Write down all the tasks (steps) you need to take to achieve your goal Write down when each task needs to be done by Write down how long you think it will take. Be realistic. Remember that you also have work/home/sports/community activities and so on For long-term goals, such as something you want to achieve by next year, it is easier to plan backwards. Write down the finish date (deadline), then write in each step backwards from there, with dates. This will help you see when you need to get started 3 Get organised Being able to tick off each completed step or task is a great way to keep you motivated (excited). Here are some handy tips: Use a diary, notebook, calendar or wall chart, and a clock or watch! They will help you keep track of time and tasks. Make a to do list for each day and for the whole week. Don t have too many tasks on your list you will feel stressed if you think you can t get through them. 2 Skills Active version 2 Workplace literacy: Information Sheet Number 1

3 Get ready for the next day before you go to bed. Write out your to do list for tomorrow when today is still fresh in your mind. Tick off tasks as you complete them, and celebrate your successes. Don t start a new task until you have finished the one before. When you have finished a task, tidy up before you move on to the next one. Big messes start with little piles! If you have study or assignments to do, decide whether you work best in the morning or at night and make some time then. Find a quiet, tidy place to work in. Team up with someone else who has similar goals. You can help each other stay motivated. Ask for help along the way. Most people enjoy helping others to reach their goals. Do the most important things first Set your priorities (pry-or-it-ees). A priority is something that needs to be done first. Don t put your head in the sand! Don t put off important tasks while you deal with the easy ones. Some people spend so much time getting little things done that they never reach their goals. Just do it! It is easy to put off doing something that is new or looks hard. But once you get started you will realise that it wasn t as hard as you thought. Ki te hamama popora te tangata e kore e mau te ika. He who yawns catches no fish. 3

4 Stay focused Your time and your goals are just as important as anyone else s. If you want to reach your goal you need to stay focused. Look at how you spend your time. Write down everything you do for a week (including texting, talking on the phone, watching TV, eating, going out with friends or family, singing in the shower, travelling to and from work...). You ll see how easy it is to waste time. You need to manage things that interrupt and distract (sidetrack) you. Here are some tips to help you stay focused: Put your cell phone on silent. You can call people back later, at a time that suits you. Don t drop everything to answer text messages while you are working or studying. Turn off the sound on your s and only check them after you have done your important tasks for the day. Let people know when you don t want to be disturbed, especially when you are trying to study. Learn to tell the difference between important things and time wasters, such as people just wanting to chat. Ask people whether they can come back later explain that you are trying to get something finished. Of course, this does not apply to dealing with customers! Learn to say no to things that aren t your responsibility (duty). Find out what s urgent, and what can wait until later. Urgent means something that can t wait. People often say that things are urgent because they have left them until the last minute. Don t let other people s lack of good time management affect you. Remember to eat well, sleep well and stay healthy. You will have more energy to tick off those important steps towards your goals. If you can dream it, you can do it Walt Disney 4

5 Pin this up on your wall to help you remember Ten Top Tips for Time Management: 10. Celebrate my successes 1. Set clear goals and timeframes 2. Plan ahead 9. Learn to say no 8. Manage interruptions TO MANAGE MY TIME I WILL 3. Write down all the steps 4. Use a diary, clock and other people to help me 7. Stay focused 6. Do the most important things first 5. Break down big tasks to smaller ones 5