Success is All About Time Management

Home » Importance » Success Is All About Time Management

Success is achieving what you have decided is important to you; it is about reaching your goals.

In order to do this you need to be both efficient and effective and this is why success is all about time management.

Time management is not about time, it is actually about managing your preferences and choices in life.

The Difference Between Efficiency and Effectiveness

Let’s look at the difference between efficiency and effectiveness and why they are both important.

Here’s an example:

Say you go grocery shopping. You can wiz round the shop in 15 minutes and be out of there – very efficient. However, you forget to get half of the items you need – not effective. On the other hand, you can spend an hour wondering around and get everything you want – effective, but not necessarily efficient. If you have a shopping list (related resource: see to-do list) you may be both efficient and effective

You want both effectiveness and efficiency when you fulfill any task. Proper time management can give you this.

Benefits of Time Management

• Well thought-out goals for each area of your life and a clear understanding of the tasks required in order to achieve them.
• An idea as to how long each task will take (see how a time log can help you make better time estimates)
• An outline for your activities each day. This outline will give time slots for each of your life. So, you may have an hour set aside for exercise (because one of your goals is to get fit), an hour to deal with your finances (one of your goals is to get ahead on your debt) etc.

You Can Increase Personal Efficiency

• You don’t spend time wondering what to do next.
• You don’t waste time procrastinating.
• If something unexpected arises (which it always does), you can see which life area it falls into and assign it to that slot in your planner. Then you don’t get behind in your day because of dealing with everything as it comes in.

You Can Be More Effective

• You have time allocated for each life area and activity so you will actually get round to doing things – especially the things you don’t like doing e.g. visit the dentist.
• Because you have set clear goals, you will be able to decide if any new opportunity or activity is in fact in line with what you want to achieve

Let’s say you want to take up a new hobby. You have decided to dedicate an hour a week to this. Then, all of a sudden there is a day’s course on this hobby that will be very interesting but you don’t need it. If you attend it, you will have to postpone or forego other commitments for that day. You need to decide whether it is worth it.

With a good time management system you can.

Perhaps going on the course means missing your son’s rugby match. You have a goal of spending more time with him. You decide which option is of more benefit in the long-term.

Time management is intrinsically linked to success. It is the most effective and efficient way of getting what you want from your life. Once it becomes your way of life, you won’t look back.

Success is All About Time Management – Contributed by Juliet du Preez