Living Better in 2007

Once again a new year is upon us. In the spirit of setting a resolution to improve some aspect of your life consider the following tips on time management. Everyone has the same twenty-four hours in the day; it is our choice how we use this time.

By prioritizing your time, setting goals, and setting timeframes to accomplish these goals you can improve your quality of life. Time management means working smarter and being productive, which allows you to rest and enjoy leisure and social activities.

• Make and use a to-do list everyday. List tasks and do them in order of importance.
• Keep a notebook and calendar with you all the time. Use them for listing tasks to be completed, appointments, and shopping needs.
• Consider the time of day that you are most awake and energetic. Are you a morning person, night owl, or do you peak in the late afternoon? Recognizing the time of day when you are at your best leads to higher productivity.
• Use your waiting time. Accomplish small chores while you wait, such as reading, writing letters, or making a shopping list. Look at waiting time as a gift of time rather than a waste of time.
• Guard yourself against agreeing to do things that you don't have time to do well. Learn how to say "No" or "I really don't have the time to do a good job, it wouldn't be fair of me to take this on." Be firm!
• Organize an office in your home. Collect and file records and supplies needed frequently in order to reduce frustration and lost time.
• Concentrate on one thing at a time. Put all your energy into the task at hand. Try to tune out interruptions. Don't get overwhelmed by waste time thinking of all the things that have to be done.
• Don’t allow yourself to procrastinate. When you realize you are putting something off, break the project into smaller tasks by doing just one task at a time. Working incrementally will make it easier to accomplish the obligation.
• Celebrate achievement of goals, even for small successes. Promise yourself a reward for completing each task, or finishing the total job. If we learn to balance excellence in work with excellence in play, fun, and relaxation, our lives become happier, healthier, and a great deal more creative.

Sources: Time Management for Busy People by Katey Walker and Nayda I. Torres, University of Florida IFAS Extension & Thirteen Timely Tips for More Effective Personal Time Management by Kathy Prochaska-Cue, Extension Family Economics Specialist, Nebraska Cooperative Extension