Time Management and Goal Setting

written by Linda Moeller, M.Ed., L.P.C. Counselor

"No one has enough time, but everyone has all there is" – Anonymous

"Time management speaks of a range of talents, tools, and procedures used to achieve definite jobs, plans and objectives. This includes a wide possibility of activities, and these include preparation, goal setting, delegation, study of time spent, observing, forming, planning, and ranking. Initially time management referred to just business or work activities, but ultimately the term evolved into including personal activities as well. A time management system is a combination of procedures, tools and methods."

Time Management: A set of common sense skills that help you use your time productively and learn to:

1. Helps determine which things are imperative and which can be let go.
2. Use our time in the most effective way possible at every given moment
3. Regulate interferences that waste time
4. Scheduling more quality time to unwind and appreciate a balanced lifestyle

• Learn to say "no".
• When feasible, delegate.
• Don't let paperwork pile up.
• Ask yourself, "What is my objective or goal?"
• Think of your effectiveness first; your efficiency second.
• Break a job into bite-sized pieces, don't procrastinate because it can't all be done at once.
• Identify your time wasters…and resolve to eliminate them.
• Add times for relaxation and recreation to your schedule.
• Identify and make use of your personal biorythms, or "up" and "down" time.
• Save your sanity by realizing that is not possible to please 100% of the people 100% of the time!

Keep to a 1 hour attention span with a 15 minute break unless you are on a roll.

Steps: Making Effective Time Management Decisions

• C-Compare activities (are some less important?)
• H-How will your choice affect you later? (Consequences)
• O-Order your priorities
• I-Inscribe (write) scheduling decisions in your planner
• C-Carry out the plan you have made
• E-Enjoy being in control of your time!

Procrastination: Putting things off until they are unavoidable

Ways to procrastinate:

Boredom Over Planning – Execution is delayed

Perfectionism – Usually not required or cost effective and delays progress

Boredom – Self-discipline is needed

Hostility – to task or person giving the task

"The Deadline High" – meeting a tight deadline and the adrenaline rush can be addictive

"You delay, but time does not." – Benjamin Franklin

Goal setting is a great method for thinking about your model future, as well as inspiring yourself to turn this dream of the yet to come into certainty.

S.M.A.R.T. GOALS

• Specific
• Measurable
• Attainable
• Realistic
• Tangible with a target date

Measure Your Lifebalance

1. Financial and Career – Do you enjoy your work? Are you living up to your potential? What about your retirement?
2. Social and Cultural – Does your circle of friends enrich your life/Do you have interests outside of your career and family?
3.  Spiritual and Ethical – Are you living up to your personal values? Have you reconciled your relationship with a higher power or with the universe in general?
4.  Family and Home – Have you realized your dream in terms of home and family relationships?
5.  Mental and Educational – Have you accomplished your goals? Are you still learning and growing?
6.  Physical and Health – Are you living up to your own standards in terms of diet and exercise? Are you fit enough to do the things you want to do?

By setting goals you can:

1. Improve performance
2. Increase motivation to achieve
3. Increase pride and satisfaction in your achievements
4. Improve self-confidence
5. Suffer less from stress and anxiety
6. Eliminate attitudes that hold you back and cause unhappiness
7. Concentrate better
8. See what you have done and what you are capable of doing
9. Thinking a goal through: sub-goals that lead to achievement

Keeping an ACTIVITY LOG: Without modifying your behavior log your time for several days and note the things you do as you do them. Also notes how you feel (alert, tired, etc.)

Analyzing your ACTIVITY LOG: Now look at your log and notice the length of time you spend doing various tasks. Notice how and when your energy fluctuates during the day.

What are To Do Lists?

To Do Lists are lists of tasks to be carried out to achieve goals. Arranging tasks by importance (A,B,C…), prioritizes your To Do List. Breaking large tasks into smaller chunks reduce stress

A - Items must be completed

B - 80% must be completed

C - Can be deferred

Set Goals at the Right Level

Goals should be slightly out of our immediate grasp, but not so far that there is no hope in achieving them.

Set Performance, not Outcome Goals

Base our goals on personal performance, skills or knowledge to be acquired, so you have as much control as possible. For example, you might achieve a personal best grade on a test and it still not be and A.