Time Management Tips
Four techniques and time management tips were discussed in my recent TV appearance on Studio 5. Click here to view How to Pad your time for Murphy’s Law.
Here they are again:
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- Plan Ahead to Prioritize your Tasks with only a 5 minute investment each day–two of my favorite locally produced planners are: daily home planner & jot it down
- Simplify by shortening your morning routine
- Delegate Tasks that someone else can do nearly as well as you
- Estimate Time Accurately by rewinding your journey
For additional time management solutions click here
Kristin Nielsen of Salt Lake City, Utah won a SET OF 3 FAVORITE TIME MANAGEMENT PLANNERS in a random drawing held September 10, 2009. See her biggest challenge in the comments for this post.
26 Responses to “Time Management Tips”
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August 26th, 2009 at 11:26 am
I live in Syracuse. My biggest Time Management problem: I work from my home and my computer calls to me constantly, so juggling chores and projects that I need to to in my home get pushed aside because I find myself attached to my work computer. It is hard for me to take an hour lunch or break and actually accomplish anything because I hate to start anything and leave it unfinished.
August 27th, 2009 at 2:06 am
St. George
Biggest time management problem…
How do I fit laundry, dishes, cleaning, playing with my kids, breakfast, lunch and dinner, and make the hubby happy all into one day??? Ü
August 27th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Collette in Syracuse;
A work at home woman has the best of both worlds and the worst of both worlds. The key for you is setting boundries around the for pay and not for pay work you do at home. I wrote an article recently about how to become more productive at work.
Jenni in Sandy; I would suggest you set false deadlines around your evening timeline. If you really plan to serve dinner at 7 p.m., tell yourself it needs to be ready to serve at 6:30 p.m. Do that for a few weeks and you will be better at approximating the time necessary to complete your evening tasks.
Joni in St. George; The life of a woman is a busy one. Preplan your meals and shop once a week for groceries based on that plan. I suggest you streamline your tasks and focus on a few a day. Monday = Laundry and focus on 1 child
Tuesday = Deep Clean 1 home room and focus on another child
Wednesday = Something wonderful for you, and deep clean 1 room, etc. etc, etc.
You won’t feel so overwhelmed!
Thanks for your comments you three. Vicki
August 27th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
Pleasant Grove
My biggest problem is getting the children out the door on time.
August 28th, 2009 at 10:30 am
My biggest time management issue is sticking to the schedule when it is something I don’t enjoy doing.
September 16th, 2009 at 11:59 am
Lisa, Convincing your family members that being early / on time is worth doing.
My suggestion to you is to prepare them early so they are ready when you want to leave. I also think positive rewards are a great training tool. Children find rewards to be worthwhile motivators. Begin with a small reward every time, then after a month move to rewards once a week, then once a month. By then they should be used to your new time table. Give it a try. It may help!
Angie, Prioritizing your day can allow you to get on those things that you do not enjoy. Decide each day your top three priorities, do them, THEN move into the things you don’t have a dislike for.
Hope that helps!
September 16th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
My biggest time management problem is lack of motivation and a too-long to-do
list that overwhelms me.
September 16th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
Ambra, A to do list that overwhelms is a problem for many people. I would suggest you break your to-do list into your 3 to 4 top priorities each day. The rest of your time will be filled in by life. That should also help with your lack of motivation. Good LUCK!
September 16th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
Funny thing is, I just have a yellow legal pad that I jot things down on and I am constantly misplacing it. I so desperately need to have a nice, organized method to keeping track of my “to do’s”. I really enjoyed your segment on Studio 5 – it got me geared up to get my lists organized and consolidated so I can accomplish more. Thank you!!
September 16th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
I need some help from you in organizing time. There’s just so much to do! I feel so overwhelmed but know that inside me there is someone ORGANIZED to be set free…!
September 19th, 2009 at 8:01 am
If I don’t write it down, I’m not motivated to do anything. Problem is I am not happy with any system. I think I’m going to be happy just using a day planner, but the spaces are too small, or I lose it. I think just a calendar hanging on the wall would work, but my kids end up writing all their crap on there and there’s no room for mom. (“but Mooommmm I have to write down Sarah, Suzie and
Jimmy’s birthdays and what they wore and when they wore it, etc.”) So then I try hiding it from the kids and end up hiding it from me as well. I’m at a loss.
September 19th, 2009 at 8:03 am
Geri, Your concerns need your attention. You CAN take charge.
September 19th, 2009 at 8:05 am
My biggest time management problem is paper clutter and not putting things where they belong.
September 19th, 2009 at 8:10 am
Sheri, A major maintenance key with organizing is to handle an item once. You can only do this by placing it where it goes. If you will look on my Organizing Products page you will find one of the best items made for paper management, Freedom Filer. You or anyone else can save 15% by contacting me for a buying code.
September 19th, 2009 at 8:13 am
My biggest time management concern is getting the rest of my family to want to be early and/or
on time. It’s very important to me but often times I am late because it’s not important to them.
September 19th, 2009 at 8:15 am
Kristen, YOU are the lucky winner of our prize package! Decide which time management option works best for you and start your day 1/2 hour earlier than you now do. That will give you time to motivate your children each day. CONGRATULATIONS!
September 19th, 2009 at 8:17 am
My biggest time management problem is staying focused and minimizing distractions. Also keeping my kids on task when things need to happen before we can move onto something else or get somewhere else.
September 19th, 2009 at 8:18 am
I can’t seem to keep my computer time to a specific limit. I start searching
the internet and then I realize I’ve been on for two hours. HELP!
September 19th, 2009 at 8:21 am
DeeDee, I wrote an article for The Daily Herald Newspaper in January of 2009. It has some tips for you about email time. You can find it here https://www.organize-utah.com/?s=to-do+list
September 19th, 2009 at 8:33 am
Hello Vicki, I live in Clinton and my biggest problem with time management is being on time. I have always had problems getting places on time, but since I have become a mom the problem has grown. It seems that I never have enough time
to get myself and my little boy ready. On top of that there is usually some emergency like a dirty diaper that makes me even more late. Can you help?
September 19th, 2009 at 8:35 am
Emily, PLAN ON an emergency in each instance. If you end up with 5 minutes to spare because for some strange reason you did not have one happen, you can sit and relax AFTER your arrival at your destination. That takes care of the 2nd part of your email.
November 30th, 2010 at 4:37 pm
Quite insightful publish. Never believed that it was this simple. I have spent a great deal of my time struggling with simplifying my time commitments. You gave me some useful insights. Kudos to you! Keep it up.
December 29th, 2010 at 11:51 am
Your 2nd point is so true. I have to agree with you!
February 16th, 2011 at 8:25 am
I really like the information in this article and have put a back link on my “Recommended Links” page.
March 5th, 2011 at 5:20 pm
Wow, didn’t realize you could get this on the web, saved me a trip to my advisor. Time is a problem for me. Your info. will help me.
January 8th, 2023 at 4:26 pm
Joni, You are a busy woman! My suggestions is to delegate AND TO find outside help by hiring someone else to help you OR to trade something you do easily for something you need help with that another person does easily. When my children were young, I traded babysitting with a neighbor of mine for help with her home upkeep. I wish you well! Vicki