One of the biggest afflictions of the moment we live in is the lack of control over our time. Time management is still an unresolved issue for many people both professionally and personally. And inertia is not always the cause. Many try to implement tools, test methodologies and still end up with no satisfactory results. But why does this happen?
We value your time, listen to full article here:
Lately, living and doing things has also been about deflecting all external and internal calls for our attention. And many of these appeals are concentrated in a single device: smartphones. There are groups and photo updates that we need to see on Instagram’s infinite scroll that cause us to lose valuable minutes of our day. And it’s tiring to live in this world with no period, no commas, no breath, no time to get out.
Time management is one of the issues we must deal with, but the matter goes even deeper.
Time management is a skill
An article distributed on the Academy of Management site welcomed another viewpoint regarding the matter. In it, we comprehend that using time productively isn’t care for our character — something hard to change. Despite what is generally expected, using time productively is an ability that can be made, learned, and adjusted.
That says a ton regarding time usage devices, as it’s anything but the apparatus that changes the client. As powerful as they might be, they assume a bunch of abilities that ought to have effectively been procured. An instrument doesn’t make an expert, right? Thus, forget abou that that incredible application you downloaded. It will not completely change you.
There are a ton of steps in the improvement of time usage abilities. Prior to looking at what botches we should quit making, it merits seeing how to begin building using time productively for us:
Awareness
First of all, it is necessary to understand that time is a limited resource. Time is the one thing that we are unable to buy more. Once lost, it can never be replenished. Isn’t it obvious? It may be, but we must remember this over and over, to think about what we have available.
Arrangement
This is the organizing part. For that, boundaries such as goals, plans, deadlines are necessary. That’s how you set up a functional space in your daily life.
Adaptation
Monitoring and observation are vital in time management. All this is also a work of self-knowledge and conducting your soft skills. Track the timing of your activities, your most productive moments and include interruptions, changes, and adjustments.
Evidence has shown, among other things, that focusing only on the schedule is not enough. Furthermore, awareness and adaptation are the rarest and most difficult skills to develop naturally. And, finally, that multitasking is not about knowing how to manage your time.
The mistakes we make in time management
When we reflect about managing our time to improve our life quality, we can think there are no right answers. This may be true, considering everyone has their process. But there are some mistakes, most of us commit. And we must avoid them with all our strength and focus. Are you also part of the group?
1- Not giving real value to time
This mistake also concerns the awareness step. We often trivialize our time and attention, but they are not merchandise. If we start to value it fairly we won’t let it be spent on anything. Time is the most valuable asset we have in life.
2- Waking up without knowing the day’s schedule
Do you make a plan for your day? Most people don’t and this is a clear sign of the lack of time management. It is crucial to wake up with a defined daily purpose and know what you are looking for each day. This is even a simple and easy attitude to get started with.
3- To-Do Lists
Listing all our tasks is not by far the best way to organize what needs to be done. This is a common but uncritical habit that makes many people anxious. Again, you need to work with deadlines, dates, and a schedule that understands priorities.
4- Don’t reserve time for your values
Does your schedule reflect who you are? Most of us only include day-to-day tasks and obligations in our schedules. But what matters most to us? This statement, if written in our calendar, could make all the difference for your life quality.
You are more than your agenda
Time management is not something that defines you. The strong reflection we can have is precisely this: it can be created and improved by us.
It is essential to start to observe ourselves, and how we deal with our duties. We must understand the peaks of productivity in our day, where are we getting it right, and what is not working. And, of course, ask: where can I improve?
After all, time management is also about our emotional state. The feeling of lack of time can be distressing and cause us anxiety. The positive management of our time will make room for self-control, tranquility, and self-respect.
Final tip: Don’t mistake urgency for importance. Some actions need to be immediate, while others have more significant consequences. Take this into account when dealing with your calendar — it remains one of the best tools in this entire process.