Time Management

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Revision as of 04:51, 30 January 2006

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1 Definition of Time Management

Time management is the incorporation of several techniques that aim to increase the effectiveness of a person in getting things done that need to be done. It could also be considered self management, since time passes on regardless of what is managed.

2 Tools of Time Management

"to do" list

goal setting

pro-activeness

priorities

win-win opportunities

understanding others

improving yourself

(Covey, 1990)

3 "To Do" List

A "to do" list is a flat list of what needs to be completed. This list should be categorized into a suggested level of importance.

important and urgent

important and not urgent

not important and urgent

not important and not urgent

The first two categories should be the focal point of the "to do" list. The third and fourth category should not be much of a concern.

(Covey, 1990)

4 Goal Setting

You should apply your set goals according to these three types:

Rational goals: specific, short-term goals which can be measured

Directional goals: general focus on long-term goals

Muddling through: flexible goal setting when the goal is uncertain

In rational goal setting, questions like "why am I doing this?" and "when will this goal be accomplished?" can be asked. Directional goal questions would include "what do I want to do?". Finally, muddling through goals would occur due to a change in environment with uncertain goals, with the question "What should we do?"

(Covey, 1990)

5 Life Stories and Testimonies

Time management is usually a key element in becoming an effective teacher. I find myself struggling with time management on a daily basis. I am one of the biggest procrastinators I know. Deadlines are constantly showing up without me being ready for them. One of my worst time management issues as a teacher is turning my grades in. On more than one occassion, I'll find myself frantically grading a quarter's worth of music theory assignments the night before...or morning of the due date. It's almost as if my only inspiration for getting things done is cramming it in at the last minute. That goes for most aspects of what I do in life. I guess it could be correlated with my Type B personality, or even my Adult A.D.D. tendencies!

I have difficulties with time management all the time! A to-do list is always written down or I am making one in my head, in which case, I always forget something on the list because it was not written down. I have difficulties getting things done when the due date seems so far away. Planning my wedding certainly helped with this. I don't think I would have difficulties organizing others, but when I need to manage my own schedule, I tend to have a lot of faith that I can get things done when it comes down to it. I guess my long-term goal will be to look at the big picture and set appropriate little goals so that the big one does not seem so far away! -Missy Legutki

When I went back to school to become a teacher 8 years ago, the one thing no one told me about was how much time this new vocation would take up. It has been a daily challenge to juggle all of the responsibilities that I have. Grade entry, grading daily work, grading quizzes and tests, making lesson plans, planning basketball practice, scheduling golf matches, making Math department budgets, seeing my son play basketball, watching my daughter dance. It is overwhelming. I am getting better at this everyday. My secret and indispensible tool is my Palm Pilot. Daily to-do lists and calendars are checked numerous times during the day and schedules are printed out and posted. - Brad Frey

6 Getting Things Done, by David Allen

Allen discusses several different ways of accomplishing short and long-term goals. The first one is simply recording things into some sort of system, so that you can get them out of your head. This allows your mind to rest and focus on doing what it is you should be doing. Another way is the use of a "weekly review". Use an action list to review the possible tasks and projects you can do for the week. A third way of managing your time is the "43 folders" technique. This involves using a folder designated for all twelve months, and thirty-one for each day of the month. (Allen, 2003).

7 References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_management#Todo_list

Covey, S. (1990).The seven habits of highly effective people. Salt Lake City, Utah.

Allen, D. (2003). Getting things done: the art of stress-free productivity. New York: Penguin Putnam.

http://www.time-management-info.com/

http://www.alltimemanagement.com/toc.html