by Suzanne Bertrand

Created on: January 10, 2010   Last Updated: March 22, 2010

Tightened workforces, busy schedules, and hectic lifestyles reflect upon our current times. Strengthening time management skills has become a necessary trend. While coping with fewer resources, balancing these into life becomes more challenging. Time management promotes self preservation, effective work habits and success. These are the most effective time management strategies that have been used in personal and professional settings.

*Prioritize

Limiting distractions will assist in work efficiency when possible. Find ways to shorten the steps when doing task management. Spend the most time on the higher priorities and the least time on the lower priorities. It may take time to determine which issues are most important. Often the least important items on the list may have ways of requiring the most amount of time. A well planned organizational system will assist with appropriate re-prioritization. Numbering daily priorities will place those assertive unimportant requests on the bottom of the list.

*Delegate

Assigning tasks to others helps to balance an unmanageable load. Assign chores at home, delegate work assignments and share the workload. Delegating is self preservation. We have finite resources and time to use each day. Enlist in the help of others while watching the tasks pull together quickly. Take time to figure out which items can be done by someone else. Determine what others can do effectively and delegate those items.

*Multitasking

Manage multiple activities together to move forward on each item. The essence of good time management is attending to more than one item at a time. While doing routine jobs, multitasking is easy to fulfill. Parent's help with home work while making lunches or paying bills. At work, e-mails are done while handling phone calls.

*Planning

Keeping a calendar on a handheld device or in a day timer will keep life on task. Being aware of meetings, appointments, goals and other obligations facilitates time management. Looking at each week ahead allows time for preparation. This will possibly re-prioritize a list which will help keep the week on track. A week that is planned out will keep life less stressful and more organized. The home calendar keeps the month flowing smoothly while preventing double booking and over committing.

*Paperwork

Have a system for paper organization. Keep important documents in one spot. Attend to papers that come into the home or office right away if possible. Getting to paperwork quickly often prevents

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