How Can You Tell Good Time Management From Bad Time Management?
If you're employed (whether for yourself or others) you've probably been bombarded with the importance of good time management. This helps you be more productive, make more money and put hair on your chest (alright, maybe the last was an exaggeration, but you know what I mean). But how do you know if you need to learn good time management practices? Perhaps you're doing alright after all. Here's how to tell good time management from bad time management.
If You Don't Sleep
This is always a sign of bad time management. Perhaps you are not sleeping for a variety of reasons, including choosing not to sleep at least eight hours a night (or day, depending on when you work). Not getting enough sleep not only effects your health (which effects your productivity), but you wind up becoming easily distracted and make poor choices. Part of good time management is sleeping seven or eight hours in a row per twenty four.
If You Can't Seem To Get Anything Done
Good time management does not mean frantically running about like a chicken with its head cut off every waking moment. It's not about how many tasks you are juggling - it's about how many you can accomplish. Part of good time management is taking a large task and breaking it down into smaller tasks. You then tackle the smaller tasks in order to get the overall large task done on time.
If You Can't Say No
Part of good time management is being able to accomplish tasks, as shown in the previous paragraph. However, you work against yourself if you can't learn to say "No." You will not be struck by lightning if you have to turn down an assignment or a new task. You might worry about offending others by saying no, but don't. You're not doing anyone any favor by taking on a task you are too busy to perform competently.
You do have to use common sense when learning to say no to tasks. You might have a job where you are not allowed to say no to taking on certain tasks. Therefore, you have to then say no to other favors and commitments from friends, family or organizations you volunteer for. This might seem a little cold, but you cannot worry about pleasing everyone. That's only impossible, it's just not good time management for your working or private life.
