Time Management

Now this is a subject we hear about often, but many of us still have trouble succeeding at it. Time management is important for our roles at work, in school and at home. Often times, we bite off more than we can chew and have difficulty accomplishing all that sits on our plates. Asking for help is okay and is sometimes essential in order to complete our workload.  Listing and tackling tasks in order of precedence is one way that I attempt to manage time; however, I sometimes become overwhelmed with work responsibilities, creating anxiety and greatly reducing overall productivity in the workday.

An article written by organizational development consultant Nancy Stampahar gives two tips to help workers, many who are now required to do more with less resources and training, manage their time. The first, setting priorities, is meant to help those whose tasks keep piling up, pushing one to feel overwhelmed and procrastinate. After prioritizing, it is important to decide the purpose, timeline, desired outcome, and who else is involved in each task. Second, it is vital to set boundaries by not taking on more than one can handle. The key is to say "no" or delegate when necessary in order to stay in control of your time.

Taking on too many tasks can seem fulfilling at first, but it provides stress in the long term, thus reducing quality of work output. Managing time efficiently by setting priorities and boundaries will help workers be more productive at their jobs while eliminating some of the stress and anxiety that comes from not getting things done.

Article: Stampahar, Nancy. "How to prioritize your time." Silver Lining Solutions. November 8, 2010.
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