Create To-Do Lists: To-Do lists are extremely handy
when trying to schedule all of the many errands or
meetings you need to attend. Start by jotting down all
of the day’s goals which you wish to achieve, and then
re-write them in a numerical list format, starting with
those you want to complete more urgently at the top.
Try to focus on each list point and completing just one
point at a time, rather than focusing on the whole day.
Differentiate Between Urgent and Important: Very
often people who become stressed tend to blur the line
between items which are ‘important’ and items which
are ‘urgent’. This is usually because poor time
management skills have resulted in important items not
being attended to and thus becoming urgent as well. A
handy trick is to note which items on your daily sched-
ule are: Important, Urgent, Important but not urgent, or
Urgent but not Important. Be clear about the difference
and create folders or a symbol scheme (e.g. ‘*’ means
Important, ‘#’ means Urgent etc.) so you can easily
recognise what needs to be done and when.
Delegate: No one can do everything, all the time. It is just
not possible. So why do we expect this from ourselves
on a daily basis? Creating this impossible-to-achieve
threshold is another catalyst for time-related stress. Learn
how to delegate your tasks to those who may have more
experience in a certain area, or who may be able to offer
an insight you did not know was lacking. By doing so, you
are able to tick off a box mentally (or on your To-Do list)
and begin your next task.
By incorporating these small changes into your everyday
life, you will be able to understand the difference between
quality and quantity of time spent on tasks as well as
create more time for yourself to enjoy your own personal
pursuits.
Remember, time management shouldn’t take your time,
but rather make extra time for you.
Stay Ahead with Securitas Ireland - April 2019 | 23