Effective time management in achieving tasks

Lots of books,  blogs and seminars have addressed the issue of time management. In this article i will explore the various tips for effective time management.

Time management is the effective and efficient utilization of time resources to maximize results or achieve tasks. Time they said is money,  therefore adequate carefulness should be pay in time usage as it waits for no one.

Below are tips to guide you:

1.  Identify important values.. 
Base your plans on your priorities, taking into account your way of working. You might find it useful to plan first your week, then your day:

*.Identify which tasks will help you achieve your goals, and allocate your time accordingly.

*.Delegate work if other people can do it as well, or more quickly, cheaply or effectively.

*.Ensure other people know what they need to achieve each day.

*.Divide the principal tasks for the day into achievable blocks of work.

*.Tackle them one at a time.

2. Setting deadlines.
Remember every task or goal must have a measurable time to be achieved. Set deadlines to your tasks and dare to complete.
Schedule your work to suit your temperament at different times of the day or week. Determine whether your deadline is a fixed or flexible one. Don't allow minor work or task to take longer than it should.

3.  Minimising distractions
However carefully you prioritise the use of your time, your attempts to manage it efficiently will be undermined unless you can find effective ways of dealing with distractions:

*.Manage mail at the beginning of the day. It may have a bearing on your activities during the rest of the day and you will be in a position to deal quickly with any subsequent queries.

*.Limit the time spent on each call, and differentiate calls from VIPs, regular contacts and time wasters.

*.Avoid unproductive and inefficient meetings. Agree on start and finish times in advance and establish an agenda.

*.Use email as a less intrusive form of communication and pick up your messages when it suits you, rather than having to respond immediately. Be careful not to cut yourself off completely, or you could stifle the flow of ideas and creativity from your colleagues and contacts.

4. Employ the use of time management tools.
Time management tools such as diary, computerised calendar and alarms are important for effective time utilization.