VBJ June 2019
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<strong>June</strong> <strong>2019</strong><br />
Time Management Leads to Accomplishments<br />
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1<br />
THE VALLEY BUSINESS JOURNAL<br />
www.TheValleyBusinessJournal.com<br />
31<br />
There are many different approaches<br />
to time management, so finding one that<br />
works for you is a task in itself. Here are<br />
some primers to get started on the road to<br />
a well-developed time management skill.<br />
First off, the obvious is to write<br />
things down. Some experts say that the<br />
brain is meant for computing and not for<br />
storage. This may be true considering<br />
that trying to remember everything is<br />
next to impossible. However, using a<br />
tablet, smart phone or pencil and paper<br />
can make for a more dependable<br />
system. Create your to-do lists by day<br />
of week, different schedules of the job<br />
or by priority. Keeping in mind and<br />
designating what needs to be done first<br />
will keep the urgent from overriding the<br />
important. Often what is demanding<br />
to be done now is not what needs to be<br />
done first. As tasks are completed, a list<br />
allows you to check off and in-turn show<br />
accomplishment.<br />
Watching tasks being completed will<br />
act as an encouragement to keep up with<br />
the plan. Another trick is to identify the<br />
“low hanging fruit” and complete them<br />
first. Once again accomplishments<br />
will become visible while building momentum<br />
to move forward on the more<br />
difficult tasks.<br />
Set aside smaller blocks of time to<br />
work on each piece of a project. For<br />
example, if there is a presentation to be<br />
written, give yourself an hour to work<br />
on the introduction and first few pages<br />
before moving on to something else.<br />
Those 60 minutes will be more productive<br />
and less likely to be interrupted by<br />
distraction. For computer work placing<br />
a timer on your screen to countdown<br />
your designated time can help keep you<br />
on schedule.<br />
Defining and reaching realistic goals<br />
and milestones will give you the feeling<br />
of accomplishment too. And while you<br />
are at it reward yourself at certain points<br />
to give that incentive to keep going. It<br />
can be a good time to look back and see<br />
how far you come and review what’s<br />
next. It’s true that work is never finished<br />
but being proactive with your time allows<br />
you to remain in control before someone<br />
else does.<br />
Ted Saul is a business coach that assists<br />
with Business Plans and Project Management.<br />
He holds a master certificate in<br />
project management and has earned his<br />
MBA from Regis University. Ted can be<br />
reached on LinkedIn, TedS787 on Twitter<br />
or emailing Ted@tsaul.com.<br />
by<br />
by<br />
Ted Saul,<br />
Steve Fillingim<br />
Sr. Staff Writer
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