Time management - time management, or How to learn how to manage everything

In translation from English, "time management" is the management of time. It is clear that in fact it can not be controlled. It refers to the ordered use of working and personal time, calculated in minutes, hours, days, weeks. Time management is accounting and operational planning.

The philosophy and practice of time management is a relatively new science that gained worldwide popularity only in the 80s of the 20th century. Around it there are still a lot of myths and misconceptions.

Basics

Trying to implement a time management program in a team of employees, it is important to understand that the system is understandable and not accessible to everyone, accordingly, it will not be accepted and mastered by everyone. If a person lives aimlessly, does not strive for anything, and his time weighs heavily-he and time management are two opposite things. Productivity for the sake of it is necessary to be defined with the purposes pursued by the person comprehending the given science. 4 time management whale:

• Time optimization;
• Planning of the day;
• Accounting of time;
• Organization of motivation.

Understanding the principles of the action of each of them, you can not only work with maximum efficiency, but also maintain health, vivacity and a bright mind.

Matrix of Dwight Eisenhower

At the time management courses for beginners, coaches recommend using a matrix developed by the 34th President of the United States. Eisenhower considered the ability to quickly navigate and prioritize the irreplaceable skills of a successful person. Trying to optimize his time in an endless cycle of affairs, the head of state created a matrix working on the principle: "Not all important matters are urgent, not all urgent matters are important." This is a visual aid of time management for mothers and businessmen, builders and artists, which allows to efficiently plan and allocate resources rationally.

Operating principle

The matrix will bear fruit if the goals are real and they are set competently. Before performing the next task, you must answer two questions:

1. It is important?
2. This is urgent?

Based on the answer to them, there are 4 types of cases:

1. Important urgent.
2. Unimportant urgent.
3. Unlimited important.
4. Unimportant non-urgent.

Urgent matters life throws us all the time. As for the degree of their importance, the answer is each given independently. Speaking of urgency, we can conclude that this criterion is objective. For example, a classmate who you have not seen for 5 years called, asks to arrange a meeting with his relative and help in finding a job. Important? Urgently? Is consistent with your goals? What type should I include?

Important urgent

Such tasks must be carried out immediately. They are vital and directly related to your life goals. All time management exercises are taken from real life, urgent cases arise off-schedule and, not infrequently, not through your fault. For example, a child in need of care, deteriorating health, difficulties at work, etc.

Owning the methods of task management and competent planning will reduce the number of urgent important cases to a minimum. If the condition is not fulfilled and urgent matters are piled up from nowhere, it is worthwhile once again to review the objectives for the near future and to tighten self-discipline.

Reliability is the main source of important urgent matters. The inability to say "no" makes of us those on whom other important people delegate their important urgent or non-urgent tasks. The reasons for the complexity of the refusal are different, but you need to get together and take a strong-willed decision. Refer to your own urgent business, ask for a pause or specify a time frame suitable for you, suggest assigning another employee (assistant, partner, etc.) to carry out the assignment. Ask an unexpected question to the ringleader: what can he do? Above all, do not lose sight of your goal. It is important to understand that a constant stay in the regime of urgent and important cases requires maximum concentration and dedication, which in the near future will lead to a deterioration of well-being. We do not have time to stop, rethink what is happening, evaluate the result, after all, we just burn out.

Important non-urgent

The described variant of the behavior with time management - time management, contains a list of tasks, in the performance of which one can exercise power and discretion. You have time to think about each step. This is an excellent opportunity to apply the obtained theoretical planning skills in practice.

Experts argue that people who are building their own business or career on this principle, achieve outstanding results. The availability of time allows thorough and meaningful approach to the solution of issues, carry out full-fledged planning, assess and characterize intermediate results, and show flexibility.

This group includes cases related to the necessary routine: training, taking care of one's own health (observance of the daily routine, nutrition, prevention of diseases, etc.). Do not neglect time; Important non-urgent cases can acquire the status of urgent.

Unimportant urgent

According to the rules of extreme time management, all of them should be excluded from everyday life, because Distract from the implementation of important urgent and non-urgent cases. Common unimportant cases: causeless encounters, lengthy telephone conversations, fixing / adjusting equipment. Often, the tasks that a person sets for himself at this stage relate to the competence and professionalism of others, so it is advisable to delegate them. For example, the refrigerator broke, why sit for hours on the instructions, watch video clips to fix it, and make unsuccessful attempts to restore the former functionality, when you can quickly contact the master and entrust the work to him? Then there will be time to solve real pressing problems that require your attention.

Unlimited unimportant

The answer to the question in time management, how to manage everything, lies in the complete exclusion of such tasks from everyday life. They are ruthless devourers of free time. If the situations from the previous square slightly distract from the main objectives, non-urgent, irrelevant cases have a negative efficiency. It's about all the favorite social networks Instagram, Facebook, etc. With an aimless flipping of the tape, empty correspondence with friends, lengthy viewing of serials, "hanging up" in computer games.

Such tasks are easy, non-binding. Their main harm is in the inconspicuous overlapping of the natural progress of important cases.

If the goal is set clearly and has a specific time frame, the fourth type of case should take a minimum of time, and it is better to be completely excluded. Do not selflessly immerse yourself in the work, not giving yourself a rest. Here the rule "to business - time, fun - hour" is actual.

The Eisenhower Matrix is applicable to any sphere of life: be it the time management for mothers in preparation for New Year's holidays or a specialist of a large corporation implementing the project of all life.

If the goals are set correctly, there is a strong self-confidence, and the motivation for action is strong, no difficulties should arise.

Below is a list of ways to manage the time management, which will help optimize tasks of different priorities.

Learning to say "no"

Good upbringing and restraint do not allow us to give up aimlessly listening to neighboring stories about stormy weekends, receiving an unplanned visitor, participating in solving another's problem. Extreme time management calls such situations "devourers" of time, which could be used more productively. Deciding on a refusal is a responsibility that should be assumed once and for all. The reward for diligence will be a large amount of time at your disposal.

The rule of "carts and horses"

Have you ever thought about spending precious time on something that has long ago lost its meaning? Do you habitually work that is not required to achieve the result? According to experts, time management for women is built on the solution of this issue. The working schedule should be subject to systematic review in order to remove from it uninformative reports and other.

For clarity, we suggest to imagine a horse carrying a cart. As the vehicle moves, the cargo is filled with a new load, with each passing kilometer it becomes more and more. So is it necessary to wait for the animal to get out of it, trying to pull a heavy load? Most people (the overwhelming number of them are women) are sure that it is a lot of work to work well. They load themselves with more and more tasks, remain after work and do not regret the weekend spent there. The result of such altruism will be a decline in work efficiency and "emotional burnout," when what you are doing loses its meaning.

It is important to find a delicate balance between personal life and employment. This is the best motivation to learn and practice time management (time management) - to strive for self-development and self-improvement.

"Eating an elephant"

The hardest to perform are complex global tasks. Their main problem is that the result will not be visible soon, but rather have to work hard now. In time management programs, they are metaphorically called "elephants". To understand at one time with the whole "elephant" will not succeed. To get rid of it, we propose a fractional solution to problems - the division of the animal into "steaks". Pieces should have a size that is optimal for "eating" at a time without discomfort and negative emotions.

An example of time management for women: all "favorite" general cleaning can be divided into several smaller events: deal with the inventory of the cabinets today, and wash the windows to postpone for tomorrow. So, with each step, it will be easier to move forward.

The main problem is that we are engaged in cultivation of "elephants" in several tons ourselves. This happens during the postponement of important cases for later. Even if we think about a task, but do not start to perform, the "elephant" grows.

When there is nothing left to solve the problem, it turns out that it was not so complicated. The result of prolonged inactivity is the wasted potential and the mass of the negative around. And only complete completion of work will bring positive and energetic life.

The technique of "Swiss cheese"

The main difference between "cheese" and the previous time management method in solving the problem is not "from head to tail," but in an arbitrary order. It is advisable to start from easily accessible plots, the solution of which will give a positive mood and add self-confidence. Daily "gnawing" of small holes in cheese will imperceptibly lead to its complete eating.

A typical example: when starting to write an article, the author has studied some aspect more than others or is simply interested in this topic. To begin to state thoughts on paper it is necessary with this topic.

To achieve maximum efficiency of work, it is necessary to apply the described methods in a complex. The combination of them will be individual, depending on the goals and specific activities.