The primary objective of time management is to increase effectiveness, efficiency and productivity. Most systems are comprised of a combination of processes, tools, techniques, and methods. To achieve this it is important to first determine your main objective. For example, determining how much time you have allotted to complete a particular project.

When using a time management system it is recommended to create a task list to assist in prioritizing tasks. Alan Lakein’s ABC system would help to assign tasks based on their importance. “A” would represent the first important task, “B” the second and “C” the least important. This system may also be used to determine timeframe such as tasks to be done, within a day, week, or month.

Increase your effectiveness by working smarter and not harder. Learn to identify and focus on activities that will prevent you from falling into the trap of work overload. Sometimes this means saying, No to tasks that will consume too much of your time which is already limited. If you can delegate some of your tasks to someone else, by all means do so. Do not neglect to use the resources that you have to manage your time more effectively.

This leads to the idea of working more efficiently to complete your work in less time. You can do this by identifying tasks that are very time-consuming and experimenting with ways to cut the time spent on a particular task in half. Take time to evaluate how you spend your day and pay attention to activities that eat away at your time without producing any results. Break some of the larger tasks into smaller task to make them more manageable and to lessen the stress of looking at that task as something impossible to accomplish. For those projects that cannot be dissected, block out time on your calendar, close your door and turn off the phone.

When prioritizing your time it is important to decide what is most important on your to-do-list. Too often when people are overwhelmed, they waste time thinking about what they have to do instead of proactively working on ways to put things into perspective in terms of priority. Consider the 80/20 Rule when you think about prioritizing. This rule implies that 80 percent of all activities contribute to less than 20 percent to the value of our work. You will need to differentiate between urgent and important tasks when prioritizing your to-do-list and identify those tasks that would achieve your long-term goals and objectives

In summary, time management is an acquired art used to assists in budgeting and organizing one’s time more effectively. It is an important tool for everyone interested in using their limited amount of time more efficiently. Time management helps to avoid procrastination and prevents people from falling behind in completing tasks that must be performed. A little time management goes a long way. Mastering this skill could lead to better organization, more efficiency and productivity.