By Patty Endres, Garden Square at Westlake Assisted Living, Life Enrichment Director
The recognition was started by the National Association of Professional Organizers as a way of promoting time management and to maybe it’s a way to get people to use this organization to find professionals who might assist with time management needs. After all, people are very busy and their lives might need organizing from their desks and closets to their households and businesses.
The organization says that planning and prioritization care keys to successful time management. Part of the issues we get into they say, is that we don’t allow enough time for the completion of a project. We should allow for about twice as much time to ensure completion. That may sound like a step in the wrong direction but hey, if the task is completed before the end of the allotted time, that allows time for other tasks.
I was told in the past to do the easier tasks that first which allows for more time to focus on the other projects without that small stuff distracting us. I don’t know if that works for everyone but it’s one strategy that may be helpful.
Prioritizing is another strategy. The time sensitive items should be first on the list to get completed. Planning the day can keep you on the right track. Be realistic about what can be accomplished in that time period and remember to schedule time for interruptions.
Using a day planner with time slots can be very helpful for people with appointments and using a cell phone with a reminder alarm is helpful to get to meetings on time.
I know it’s a month late but beginning the year with good time management can make a business more successful and more productive. Nothing wrong with that!