Time Management Insights*

1. Time Management Insights* • Create personal and professional mission statements • Check what you do each week against them • Set goals you would like to see on your tombstone • Avoid unimportant work • Your time is scarce • Work should contribute to your goals *Material based on the Harvard Management Update Article Entitled “Fairly Timeless Insights on How to Manage Your Time” by Jim Billington

2. Time Management Insights (cont.) • Overcome the Addiction to Urgency • Urgent but relatively unimportant work –e.g., irrelevant meetings, emails, memos, faxes, calls • Goal: spend time on work that is truly important but relatively non-urgent • Devote time each day when you are off-limits to work on your top priorities • One hour during your peak energy period • Under-schedule yourself

3. Time Management Insights (cont.) • Balance Your Life • Use leisure time to achieve personal goals • Watching TV may reduce stress but does not help achieve your goals of being a good parent, spouse, friend, etc.

4. Six Handy Tips • Don’t interrupt your work when email comes. • If a piece of paper calls for action, act then –don’t deal with the same piece of paper twice. • Screen your phone calls. • Consolidate call-backs, return-emails, and visitor time • At the end of the week, throw out all the “FYIs” you’ve collected. • Avoid meetings with more than 12 participants. Nothing will be accomplished.

5. Weekly Activities: Some Ideas • Socialize with classmates • Be efficient in your teams • Reduce TV watching • Don’t skip sleeping, eating well, and exercise • Reduce work hours • Spend less money so you don’t need to work as much • Reduce your commute