Tag: be free

Time management is all about staying focused on the end goal. Many writers like Tim Ferris from The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9–5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich use the Pareto Principle, also known as the ’80:20 Rule’. At first, it sounds like a complex subject, but it’s one that works and is highly recommended for success.

the 80:20 rule

Simply, 80% of efforts that are not time managed or unfocused generates only 20% of the desired output. However, 80% of the desired output can be generated using only 20% of a well time managed effort. Although the ratio ’80:20′ is only arbitrary, it is used to put emphasis on how much is lost or how much can be gained with time management.

Some people view time management as a list of rules that involves scheduling appointments, goal settings, thorough planning, creating things-to-do lists, and prioritizing. These are the core basics of time management that should be understood to develop efficient personal time management skills. These basic skills can be fine-tuned further to include the finer points of each skill that can give you that extra reserve to make the results you desire.

There are more skills involved in time management than the core basics. Skills such as decision making, inherent abilities such as emotional intelligence and critical thinking are also essential to your personal growth.

Personal time management involves everything you do. No matter how big and no matter how small, everything counts. Each new knowledge you acquire, each new advice you consider, each new skill you develop should be taken into consideration.

personal time management

Having a balanced life-style should be the key result in having personal time management. This is the main aspect that many practitioners of personal time management fail to grasp.

Time management is about getting results, not about being busy.

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The six areas that personal time management seeks to improve in anyone’s life are physical, intellectual, social, career, emotional, and spiritual.

1. The physical aspect involves having a healthy body, less stress, and fatigue.
2. The intellectual aspect involves learning and other mental growth activities.
3. The social aspect involves developing personal or intimate relations and being an active contributor to society.
4. The career aspect involves school and work.
5. The emotional aspect involves handling your feelings under undue stress.
6. The spiritual aspect involves a personal quest for meaning.

Thoroughly planning and having a set of things-to-do for each of the key areas may not be very practical, but determining which area in your life must receive more attention is part of time management.

Each area creates a better version of you. If you are ignoring one area, then you are ignoring an important part of yourself.

Personal time management should not be a daunting task. It is a very sensible and reasonable approach to solving problems big or small.

A great way of learning time management and improving your personal life is to follow several basic activities:

• Review your goals, whether it be immediate or long-term goals, often by keeping a list in a place that is accessible like an iPad, notepad, or computer.
• Determine which task is necessary or not necessary in achieving your goals and which activities are helping you maintain a balanced lifestyle. Monitoring your peak time and slow times, you should be able to tell when to do the difficult tasks when we are the sharpest.
• Learn to say “No”. You actually see this advice often. Heed it even if it involves saying the word to family or friends.
• Pat yourself at the back or just reward yourself in any manner for an effective time management result.
• Obtain cooperation from people around you who actually benefit from your efforts in time management.
• Attend to necessary things immediately. Don’t procrastinate.
• Maintain a positive attitude and set yourself up for success. Be realistic in your approach to achieving your goals.
• Record or journal of all your activities. This will help you get things in their proper perspective.

These are the few steps you initially take in becoming a well-rounded individual.

From the moment you integrate management skills, you have opened several options that can provide a broad spectrum of solutions to your personal growth. It also creates more doors for opportunities to knock on.