Tips for Better Time Management Organization
Purchase an organizer/planner
Identify the task and what you might need
Appropriate work space
Correct tools
Make note of your "best" or peak time of day
Be disciplined about distractions
Put things away when you're done
Planning
Think through the steps of the task before you begin
Set specific goals
Make an overall plan or outline
Evaluate how you will spend your time and if this is the best way to complete the task
Create a realistic weekly schedule
Also make a daily schedule
Be realistic about time - people often underestimate how long things take
Allow time for unplanned/unscheduled activities
Don't plan to do more than you can do
Prioritizing
Big picture first - details later
Prioritize daily and weekly activities
Monitor your activities
Do only what's important
Stay focused
Take responsibility for each delay
Procrastination
Explore emotions associated with procrastination
Recognize your fantasies about the task
Evaluate your avoidance of the task
Assess the cost of avoidance
Confront negative beliefs
Look for hidden rewards
Put aside worry
Start with small steps - and start early
Recognize "good enough" - "perfect" is subjective and unattainable
Self-Knowledge
Do you...
Have trouble saying "no"?
Know what works for you?
Ignore your own signs of stress?
Rush through things and end up doing them again?
Let personal problems invade your work time?
Make yourself anxious?
Delay making decisions?
Being an important assignment when you're tired or hungry?
Take on too much, then criticize yourself for not getting it done?
General Suggestions
Take work with you when you might have to wait
Practice mindfulness - stay in the moment
Give yourself permission to do nothing from time to time
Link a distasteful activity to another that you are sure you will do
Reward yourself for getting things done or completing unpleasant tasks
Don't waste time on decisions that involve inconsequential or equally attractive activities - flip a coin!
Finish one thing before starting another
Create a metaphor for the task
Listen carefully to be sure you understand what's communicated and expected