(Published in the Job Market-Working People section of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, January 13, 2008, Sunday)
By Roel Andag
ContributorCONGESTED TRAFFIC HAS BECOME the favorite whipping boy for chronic lateness. Traffic is but a proxy justification. The real culprit is time mismanagement. Vagueness about priorities and underdeveloped decision-making skills are the major causes of time mismanagement. It results in lack of direction, burnout, ruined relationships and untapped opportunities among others. The net effect is failure.
An real professional knows a number of options of circumventing traffic conditions, one of which is leaving the house early. This part of 2008 is an excellent occasion to resolve to be a better time manager. Three steps are suggested:
Step 1 – Prioritize
Understand your busyness. Many of us are busy about nothing in particular. According to the Pareto principle, 20 percent of daily activities account for 80 percent of productivity. This means that everyday 80 percent is squandered on time thieves such as procrastination, clutter, inability to say No, lack of planning, aimless internet activities and gossip.
The solution is to have SMART goals that provide direction. Identify priorities. What are authentic priorities? They bring us closer to our life vision and mission. Authentic priorities help us articulate our various roles in life as professional, parent, friend, sibling, learner and other value-adding roles. Scale up engagement in important concerns, reduce time spent on matters that are merely urgent and adopt zero tolerance for time wasters. Successful people are proactive not reactive.
Step 2 – Schedule
Time is an equal opportunity employer. Each of us gets 24 hours a day but only a select few are able to optimize the time given. Scheduling means planning how to use available time to achieve identified goals.
Schedule strategically. Plan on a weekly basis, use a planner with a one-week spread. For peak performance, dedicate primetime – time of the day when you are most energetic – to top priorities. The essence of scheduling is organizing and performing around priorities. In the words of Stephen Covey, “put first things first.”
Using the remaining time, which is your discretionary time, schedule rest and recreation activities. Rest is a priority. Warning: don’t over-schedule that you rob yourself of the joy of spontaneity.
Step 3 – Commit
Promise yourself and believe that you will become an excellent time manager. It takes all of 21 days of daily practice and repetition to form a new habit pattern. Tell a friend and a family member about your resolution. At the outset ask them to call your attention quickly when you appear to be sliding back. Celebrate your time management successes
Time management is defined as managing one’s activities during a given time by specifying desired results and actions required. Simply, it is wise use of time. Aside from cultivating planning skills, self discipline and goal-orientedness, time management results in work-life balance and success.
Stop blaming traffic. For starters, don’t be late in 2008.
