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12 Time Management Tips

1. Set Goals

What are your main aims in life?
What are your five-year aims?

What would you do with them if you knew you only had six months to live?

2. Use the 80-20 Rule

A few critical efforts (around 20 per cent) usually create the bulk of results (about 80 per cent). This is also known as the Pareto Principle.

3. Have a "Things to Do" List

Keep and revise a list of the tasks that you have to do daily. Prioritise them using the system shown below.

4. Prioritise

Prioritise your tasks using the following system:

A - Tasks which are Important and Urgent
B - Tasks which are Important but not Urgent
C - Tasks which are Urgent but not Important
D - Tasks which are neither Important nor Urgent

Then, deal with the tasks in the following way:

A's - These are your priorities, which should be done first.

B's - You should do these quickly because a deadline is to be met. Do not spend a lot of time on them. Get them out of your way, or if possible, delegate them.

C's - You should start working on these tasks as soon as possible.

D's - These tasks can be dealt with in three ways:

Do not do them if they are a waste of time.
Delegate them.
Forget them until nearer the deadline.

5. Recognise and Eliminate Time Wasters

It is best to identify the specific events and activities that rob you of your time, but here are some examples to get you started:

Unclear objectives and priorities:

No daily plan of activities.
No self-identified deadlines.
Unclear/lack of information.
Cluttered desk.
Complicated or non-existent filing system.
Disorganised office.
Lost documentation.
Paper shuffling.
Junk mail.
Red tape.
Politics.
Unnecessary/poorly managed meetings.
Indecision.
Procrastination.
Tiredness.
No breaks.
Prolonged or excessive breaks.
Irrelevant conversations.
Unexpected visitors.
Interruptions.
Noise
Unexpected/lengthy phone calls.
Unnecessary travel.

6. Know Yourself

High and low energy times. Are you a lark or an owl?
When you need to be alone.
When you need to be with others.

7. One Hour of Planning Saves Four Hours of Work

Abraham Lincoln once said that if he had six hours to saw down a tree, he would spend five hours sharpening the saw. Although this might be a bit excessive, there is no doubt that planning and preparation can save a lot of time.

8. Use a Calendar

If used properly, a calendar is an excellent planning tool. Most people use a calendar for meetings and appointments without planning how to spend the rest of their time. Use your calendar to allocate time for planning, preparation and contingency. Have one calendar for social and one for work life. Keep your contact list up to date.

9. Prepare Your Telephone Calls

Group your calls.
Make a note of what you want to say.
Find out when people are most likely to answer their phones.
On reaching the number you want, state who you are and the purpose of the call.
Don't hang on (and listen to jingling music) - offer to ring back at an agreed time.

10. Handle Each Piece of Paper or Email Only Once

Always do one of the following:

Action: Take complete action or process the task as far as possible before filing for future action.
Information: Read, then file, delete or recycle.
Reading: Put lengthy articles or messages into a "Reading" file to read when travelling or at any other appropriate time.
Scrap: The bin is the file for unrequired mail. Ask yourself, "If I hold onto this, will I ever read it or need it again?" If the honest answer is no, bin it.

11. Use Meetings Effectively

Have an agenda (with clock times), purpose, and outcome.
Display the agenda.
Be on time. Only attend items requiring your involvement.
Don't have a meeting if you can accomplish what you want by other means.

12. Delegate

Delegation is even more critical if you have no one working for you! You have to be very creative in using your boss, colleagues, agencies, typing pools, message services, consultants, services, etc. When you are delegating, remember to:

Identify the task.
Decide what should be delegated.