Summary: <br> If we think about someone who has good time management skills we might well think of someone who;<br> <br> <br> <br> Is on time<br> <br> <br> Is well organised<br> <br> <br> Manages lots of things - they are busy<br> <br> <br> Uses a to do list or program<br> <br> <br> Works hard<br> <br> <br> <br> All the things indicate that they are good at using time but does it mean they are good at managing time?<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> There is a growing culture of celebrating busyness.<br> <br> People that work late, work harder and do more are celebrated. They are thought of as having more commitment to their work but is this perception right?<br> <br> Using all the time you have available doesn't mean you have good time management skills. Infact I would argue it shows the opposite.<br> <br> Being busy <a href="http://www.theproductivityadvisor.com/#!How-to-Measure-Productivity/ywbub/56def6640cf2a71b043b6c17">does not mean that you are productive</a>. Sending emails and attending meetings all day often doesn't achieve that much. It's easy to be busy but not effective, even more so when we are under pressure to be "always on" and available.<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> In my experience good time management skills are shown by people who;<br> <br> <br> Say no to things - last minute work and meetings for example<br> <br> <br> Take regular breaks including a lunch break<br> <br> <br> Decide what their most important activities/tasks are and do these first<br> <br> <br> <a href="http://www.theproductivityadvisor.com/#!Time-Management-Skills/ywbub/56fa90ee0cf2a3d848b3d147">Avoid distractions</a><br> <br> <br> Avoid multi-tasking<br> <br> <br> Leave work on time or early<br> <br> <br> <br> It's easy on first reading this list to think of the person as lazy. Infact so much in our lives tells us that the secret to success is to work hard and to never give up. Factory workers and manual workers certainly work hard but we don't always associate these types of workers with success do we?<br> <br> We need to reprogram some of our beliefs about time management.<br> <br> We need to understand the difference between busyness and productivity. <br> <br> Time management skills are about changing how we view, value and use our time - they are not just about trying to get more done.<br> <br>
