Where did my time go?

1. Where did my time go? by: Amanda Garrett Bailey

2. Time Management • Make lists • Reward yourself • Concentrate on one thing • Avoid procrastination • Set deadlines

3. Organization • Step one: • Identify 8 major categories of items you keep in your office/work space. • Step two: • Physically sort every item in your workspace into the 8categories identified in step one. • Eliminate unnecessary items. • Arrange the items in each category.

4. Organization (con’t) • Step three: • Make a rough sketch of your workspace and appoint a place to store each category of items. • Purchase storage units for any leftover categories of materials. • Step four: • Create an outline or table of contents for each storage area. • Place each category of items into its new space in your office.

5. Organization (con’t) • Step five: • Spend 5 to 10 minutes at the end of each day putting all materials away into their assigned space. • Step six: • Repeat this entire process bi-annually, annually or whenever you take on new assignments.

6. Effective Studying Skills • Begin a task as soon as it is received. • Set goals and make a plan to achieve them. • Complete your most important tasks first. • Always try to do your best work. • Listen and pay attention to the instructions.

7. Using Daily Planners Effectively • The purpose of daily planners: • Tasks to be done • Events to be managed • Make to-do lists • Material to record: • Appointments • Due dates • Important events

8. “To-Do” List Advantages • Focuses your mind on important objectives • You are less likely to forget tasks • Writing a list helps order your thoughts • It helps show the bigger picture • You feel more in control • You have a record of what you've done • You are less likely to become sidetracked

9. Simple Techniques to Manage Time • Managing time takes practice • Do a "to-do" list for your day • Learn the difference between "Do I need to do this now?" and "Do I need to do this at all?" • Use a "Do Not Disturb" sign! • Best suggestion for saving time - schedule 10 minutes to do nothing. • That time can be used to just sit and clear your mind.

10. Major Time Wasters • External • Telephone interruptions • Visitors • Socializing • Lack of information • Internal • Procrastination • Unclear objectives • Failure to set priorities • Attempting to do too much at once

11. Side Effects of Poor Management • Irritability • Fellow workers notice this first. • Fatigue • How many adults even notice this? • Difficulty concentrating • You often don't need to just to get through the day! • Forgetfulness • You can't remember what you did all day, what you ate yesterday. • Loss of sleep • This affects everything else! • At worst, withdrawal and depression

12. Benefits of Time Management • Avoid crises • Gain a feeling of accomplishment • Do the things that benefit you and your well-being • Enjoy your life. Do only things that matter.

13. Reference Page Karen M. Williams. Ohio State University Fact Sheet. Tips on Effective Time Management. http://ohioline.osu.edu/cd-fact/1006.html Pam N. Woods. 2004. Smart Work life Solutions. Ten Easy Organizing Steps for More Focus, Time, & Success. http://www.worklifecoach.com/ten_easy_organizing.pdf Carter McNamara. Free Management Library. Stress Management and Time Management. http://managementhelp.org/personalproductivity/time-stress-management.htm