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Time Management

Since there is no universally accepted definition of time, many have tried to define time their own way. Either you know how to define time or not, the fact still remains that you are bound by time. Every human being, both Rich and Poor have the same time available to them but how effective you manage it determines how successful you'll be. Time defines life. And that’s why time management is life management. Let me define time management. Time management is the skilful handling and controlling of ones time to accomplish a successful life. There are 8 truths you should know about time that shows the importance of time management

  • Time is Limited
  • Time is Elusive
  • Time is Impartial
  • Time is no respecter of person
  • Time cannot be stored
  • Time cannot be hoarded
  • Time cannot be spent in advance
  • Time cannot be retrieved.

To be a highly successful person in all endeavours, you must not just learn but be effective in managing your time well.
In managing time there are various issues to deal with but I will be discussing just four of them

1.Planning and Prioritise your goals
2. Organisation
3. Time wasters
4. Say No

1. PLANNING AND PRIORITIZE YOUR GOALS
Last week we talked about goals and peradventure you missed it you can read it here. But it’s not just enough to set goals if you want to manage your time effectively; it’s good to prioritise them. Arrange them in order of significance. This will help you to know which one to pursue at every point in time. Your efforts will be on target and you will be able to maximise your time well.

2. ORGANIZATION
Getting organized is not just a function of neatness. Even though your environment-work place or home could be neat, but it doesn’t mean it is organised. Organization is more of convenience and accessibility. The truth is, if you are better organized, there is a high tendency of managing your time effectively. There must be a place for everything in your life. It’s good to have a personalised time table that is fixed but flexible. Furthermore, being organised require that  you have a to-do list especially if you are a busy person. You probably might have been in a situation where you forgot the things you were meant to do, the things you were meant to buy, the people you were meant to call and the likes. All these can stop if you can stop relying on your memory but develop the attitude of writing down all you wanted to do daily, weekly, monthly and even yearly. A to do list helps you to know the different things that have to be done so that you do not miss anything. It is also more dependable than your memory because you have a lot already on your mind. And at the end of the day when you cross out the items that have been accomplished, you have a great sense of fulfilment. A planned time table and a to-do list will also help you eliminate time wasters that could reduce your productivity and efficiency.

3. TIME WASTERS
There is nothing that disrupts our plans and life as time wasters or rather time thieves. They steal your precious time and you start wandering where did the time go. Actually, time will not wait for you and there are many thieves of time that won’t allow you to utilise your life effectively.  Time wasters are many but I will just be sharing 5 of them with you

  • Unproductive meetings/discussions: You will be surprised when you calculate the number of hours you spend discussing unnecessary things and irrelevances. For example, you will be surprised at the hours many guys spend discussing about the football clubs they support. They argue, analyse and even fight on those they’ve never seen before in their life and might not even see till they die.  Ask yourself what benefit or addition is this discussion going to add to me? If you can’t find one then it’s not worth your time.
  • Traffic jams: I was in a traffic jam sometimes ago for 4 hours and all I could do was to think, think and think. You can’t avoid this especially in this country but you can anticipate events and plan what you can do when you find yourself in such a situation.
  • Long queues: I know at times we can’t just avoid this especially as we are still struggling with developing easy ways for people to get things done. 
  • Procrastination: Procrastination is simply the habit of putting off for tomorrow what you can do today. The truth is many of us are victims of procrastination. And majorly we postpone those things that are unpleasant or boring to us. But understand that the more you procrastinate the more time you waste and remember time cannot be retrieved once spent.
  • Social media: I decided to make this the last because it’s a silent thief of time. I think we all should take time to analyse the time we spend on social media every day. If you add up the little moments you used, you will be amaze at the number of hours you spend on those platforms.  Many are on 5-7 social media platform and attend to them every time of the day. I’m not saying social media is an evil in the society but the truth is some of us could have been more productive with our lives and dealings but have given in to the pitfall of social media.


4. SAY NO
You can’t do everything that comes your way. At times we have enough work to get done but yet when friends and colleagues comes around either to start a discussion or to help them do something we find it difficult to resist them.  If you are going to be an effective manager of time, then you must be ready to say NO. You must be ready to say NO to irrelevances and responsibilities that don’t add up to your lives. I’m not saying you shouldn’t be civil or helpful. Who knows, you might be the one that need somebody’s help tomorrow. But that doesn’t mean that you should let yourself be taken for a ride. If you are going to help a person at the expense of your work and timetable, then you are going to end up in unpleasant situations. Learn to say NO. Carl Sandburg once said ‘Time is the most valuable coin in your life. You and you alone will determine how that coin will be spent. Be careful that you do not let other people spend it for you.’
Finally, let me leave you with these words never waste your time; otherwise one day time will waste or spoil you.

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