Stress Related to Time Management

Have you experienced stress related to time management? Everyone has the same 24 hours in each day and the same seven days each week. Even so, everyone feels overwhelmed from time to time. The best way to avoid feeling like you're losing control of your schedule is to adopt effective time management strategies.

Make the most of your time.

Importance of Effective Time Management

Learning how to manage your time effectively can have a positive impact on your personal and professional productivity. It can reduce the stress you experience on a daily basis, which in turn has a positive impact on your health, relationships, and general well being.

Evaluate Where Your Time Goes

Many people who feel stress related to time management often experience feelings of wondering how blocks of time – often entire days – get away with them without being able to accomplish anything. Before you can learn to manage your time better, it's necessary to step back and take stock of where your time goes.

Time Wasters

Some of the most common time wasters are:

• Relying on Memory – Instead of relying on your memory, write down things you need to do or remember. There's no way a busy person can remember every single thing he or she needs to do every day. That's why making lists and keeping a written schedule are such effective time management techniques. A great deal of stress and unnecessarily wasted time results from forgetting things. It's easy to avoid this problem simply by getting in the habit of taking notes and keeping current to-do lists with you at all times.
• Procrastination – Putting tasks off results in unnecessary stress and usually takes more time in the long run. A task that you put off until tomorrow or the next day is still a task that you're going to have to find the time to accomplish. If you complete the task today, you'll be free and ready to move on to the next item on your list. If you put it off, it will weigh on your mind, causing stress, until you take care of it.
• Perfectionism – Taking pride in performing quality work is one thing; holding yourself to unreasonable standards is another matter entirely. When you take on a project, it's important to understand the level of quality necessary for successful completion. In many cases, being unable to recognize when something is "good enough" results in spending more time that is needed on the task.
• Jumping from One Project to the Next – When you have multiple projects, it can be tempting to bounce from one to the other. Doing this, however, often results in little progress being made on anything you're working on. It's better use of your time to focus on a single project until completed. That way, you can cross one item off your to-do list before moving on to something else.
• Inability to Say No – Taking on projects that you don't want, or don't have time, to tackle can be a significant stressor. To reduce stress related to poor time management, you have to learn to assert yourself. Take on projects that interest you and that fit into your schedule, and learn to say no to the others.
• Disorganization -- There is a strong relationship between time management and organizational skills. A great deal of the stress related to time management that many people experience can be linked to disorganization. By taking steps to get organized, you can greatly reduce the stress you experience on a daily basis and put yourself in a situation of being able to make the most efficient use of your time. It's important recognize that organization is a process, not a means to an end. You can't organize your workspace, house, or schedule once and expect it to stay that way. By spending a little time each day keeping yourself organized, you'll reduce the time challenges that creep up whenever disorganization starts to take over.

Overcoming Stress Related to Time Management

Once you know how to recognize some of the things that rob minutes – or hours – from each day, you can start to implement behavioral changes that can help you enjoy the peace that comes from having your schedule under control.

Time Management Tips

Use a time log.

• Log Daily Activities – Using a time log is the first step in getting your schedule under control. By writing down everything that you do for several days, you'll be able to start getting a sense of where your time is going. You can download a free copy of Advanced Time Personal reports if you want to use a computerized log. If you'd prefer a paper form, one is available on BusinessBalls.com.
• Evaluate Your Time Log – Take a hard look at your time log and reflect about where you are spending the most time and effort. Determine which activities are truly necessary, as well as identifying the ones that represented wasted time. This exercise can be a powerful resource for identifying any bad habits you may have.
• Prioritize Tasks – When deciding which tasks to tackle next, focus on the ones that are the most important and should be completed first. Instead of putting off things that you don't want to do, take care of them first. That way, you won't have to deal with the stress of dreading a project that you don't want to work on. Instead, it will be over and done with, and you'll be free to work on things you'll enjoy.

Reduce Time Management Related Stress

By taking positive steps to manage your time better, you'll be on your way to enjoying the reduced stress that comes from knowing that you are the one who is in control of your schedule. By making effective time management strategies a part of your daily routine, you won't have to worry about dealing with the stress and anxiety that comes from having a schedule that's out of control.

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