Time Management and Psychology

Time Management

• Time management is the coordination of tasks and activities to maximize the effectiveness of individual efforts.
• The goal is to enable people to get more and better work done in less time.
• Key elements include organization, planning, and scheduling.
• Scheduling allows individuals to take full advantage of available time.

Psychology of Time Management

• How you think and feel about yourself significantly influences the quality of life and the emotional core of personality.
• Self-esteem, defined as “how much you like yourself,” is crucial.
• Self-efficacy, the belief in one's competence, is also essential; this relates to the capability to solve problems, succeed at work, and achieve goals.
• Consider how you'd behave if you were already excellent at time management, and how your attitudes and actions would differ.

What Do You Value Most?

• Reflect on your values, what you care about, and what you won't stand for.
• Personal happiness and fulfillment correlate with daily activities aligning with personal values.
• Conflicts arise when daily activities contradict core values.

Make Written Plans

• Planning saves time; every minute spent planning saves ten minutes in execution.
• Pre-planning activities increases efficiency by one thousand percent.
• To accomplish a goal, list activities sequentially, starting with the first step and moving to the last.
• Break complex goals into smaller, manageable parts.
• Prioritise tasks. Around 20% of tasks account for 80% of the value. Focus on these high-impact tasks.
• Regularly reviewing and adapting plans is crucial. Plans should be adjustable given new or changing conditions.

Types of Person

• Managers can be categorized into those who meticulously schedule every minute and those who organize tasks.
• These are simply observations, not an exhaustive survey.

Create Your Daily "To-Do" List

• A daily "to-do" list provides a roadmap for your day.
• Successful time managers utilize a daily written list of activities.
• This is similar to the pilot's pre-flight checklist, creating a clear path.
• A written list aids in better sleep, avoiding the anxiety of forgetting tasks.

Plan Your Work and Work Your Plan

• Stick to your list. Don't deviate from pre-planned tasks.
• Respond efficiently to outside requests, without compromising your planned tasks.
• Avoid activities of low or no value.

The Not-To-Do List

• Create a list of things you won't do, to resist tempting but unproductive tasks.
• Saying "no" effectively saves time.
• Respond to requests professionally and respectfully, explaining why you can't immediately assist.

Set Clear Priorities

• Identify tools and techniques to prioritize tasks and maintain focus.
• Using potential career interruption as a motivator, visualize the most crucial tasks.

Typical Time Problems

• Work piling up, taking on too many tasks, or tasks with excessive detail.
• Postponing tasks or inadequate time for reflection or thinking
• Constant interruptions (calls, visitors, conversations),
• Insufficient time to think.
• Excessive paperwork or meetings, travel.

Typical Time Wasters

• Visitors, telephone calls, paperwork, lengthy meetings, inefficient communication, crowded and disorganized workspace ('cluttered desk').