Time Management

Time Wasting Behaviors

1. Multitasking- Researchers have concluded that when people think they are multitasking, they are actually task switching.  Task switching means that instead of doing multiple tasks at the same time you are actually just switching between two or more tasks.  You work more efficiently and spend less time on tasks if you focus on a single task at a time rather than splitting your attention.

2. Working without breaks- Working nonstop to complete an assignment reduces your concentration and increases fatigue. Breaks allow you to get away from your workspace and the task at hand to replenish your cognitive energies. 

3. Failing to stop and think- Completing tasks and assignments is not all about doing. Planning, preparation, and thinking are important parts of accomplishing everything on your to-do list. 

4. Demanding Perfection- Managing time is about completing a task efficiently and by the standards and goals set for it. A person striving for perfection wastes time. Perfectionists never get to the point where they can step away from a task by declaring it to be completed.

Creating "To Do" Lists

Ultimately, your goal is to make better choices on how to utilize your time.  There are many resources out there that can help.  Below are some steps that may help to get you started.

1. Clear your Head.  The first step is to clear your head of all the "To Do" items that are going through it at the moment.  You will do this by writing them down so that all of them are in one place.   

2. Organize your thoughts. The next step would be to take everything you have written and organize them in to "piles".  Suggested piles.  

• Two-Minute Rule- If it takes less then two minutes to complete then it should be done right away.
• Delegate the action- Can the task be delegated to someone else to complete?
• Defer the action- It is take longer then two minutes go on a calendar or in a planner (electronic or paper) to be tracked.  

3. Break the Project down. For any of the Defer the action items, instead of thinking of the task as a whole.  Break it down into manageable pieces which allows you to complete the task more easily and not get overwhelmed by it.

4. Review and Planning. Setting time aside each day to review what you have accomplished and what remains to be done is one of the most important time management skills you can implement into your routine.

Information on this page is based on Time Management Guide and Resources by Discover Business.