Time Management Tips For Professionals

Time...It is ever moving and so easy to lose track of. Whether you are an engineer, a supervisor, a counselor or a nurse, productivity is important. We are all controlled by cost-effectiveness and billable hours. In this article, we will discuss several time wasters and ways to increase your productivity. 1. Identify, eliminate, prioritize, delegate You cannot be expected to do everything. So often we feel so pulled in each direction that we do not get anything done. Make a list of everything you "need" to do and when it must be done. For some people this means a detailed description of what needs to be done and a daily schedule. For others, a list can be just that---a list. Keep three pages for each day: The things that MUST be done (i.e. pay the electric bill), things you would like to do (such as mow the yard) and things you will do if you have time (rearrange your sock drawer). From that list, eliminate anything that is not necessary, prioritize what is left and delegate whenever possible. When I ran a 24-hour facility, I often heard my counselors complaining that they did not have time to do this or that. I knew that my midnight person was watching television all night. We got together and I helped my employeesed identify things they could delegate to her. My father was an architect. He hated doing mundane things like copying blueprints or driving (yes, this was before CAD and email) the designs over to the engineer. He delegated those tasks to my step mother. 2. Translate your priorities into concrete goals, with component activities. For engineers, this is much like project management. THe only difference is that the project is your time. Break each goal into smaller steps needed to achieve the goal. Identify the requirements and resources you need related to each activity step and set beginning and ending times. This helps you organise for success and have what you need to move forward towards goal attainment. Pinpointing resources, setting deadlines and having a central contact person is especially important if accomplishment of your goal requires the cooperation or assistance of other people. 3. Evaluate ways you procrastinate. Once you are organized, have goals and resources, then failure to move forward is psychological. Provide rewards to yourself for working on the project for a defined period of time or until you achieve a set goal. For example, you can go play a round of golf after you work on the project for 1 hour. Identify reasons the task is in your best interest: it will help you get a promotion, make you healthier, make your spouse happier. Remind yourself of these to keep yourself motivated. Get a buddy.