We all get the same 24 hours a day Tips for Better Time Management Presented by Employee Assistance Program

Examples of Time Wasting Activities Watching TV shows you don’t really care about Checking e-mail over and over throughout the day Surfing the internet with no purpose in mind Shuffling the same papers back and forth on your desk Checking Smartphone?? For work? Leisure? Personal?

Are these Time Wasters? Socializing too much Failure to delegate when possible Procrastinating until a project becomes urgent Lack of good planning and organization Failing to set and maintain priorities Losing focus on the task at hand

$86,400.00

What is Time Management? “Time management” refers to the way that you organize and plan how long you spend on specific activities Spending a little time learning about time-management techniques will have huge benefits now – and throughout your career

Time Management (continued) It may seem counter-intuitive to dedicate precious time to learning about time management, instead of using it to get on with your work, but the benefits are enormous: Greater productivity and efficiency (enables you to work smarter, not harder) A better professional reputation Less stress Increased opportunities for advancement Greater opportunities to achieve important life and career goals

Think of all the activities that make up your Where does time go? Think of all the activities that make up your typical day.

Think of the time that goes to waste everyday: Find out where your time goes Think of the time that goes to waste everyday: Unscheduled developments Frequent interruptions Tardiness Poor planning Crisis management

Wheel of Productivity

Tips for improving time management

10-12 minutes invested in planning your day will save at least 2 hours of wasted time and effort throughout the day - from “Eat the Frog” by Brian Tracy

Organizing your daily schedule Plan each day in as much detail as possible. Do this at the end of the preceding day or the first thing at the beginning of your day. Make a daily to-do list of your objectives in order of priority. Cross out items as they are completed. Move items that cannot be done that day to another day of the week.

ORGANIZING YOUR DAILY SCHEDULE Break any large task or project into smaller pieces Tackle the most challenging task of the day right away

Prioritizing tasks Urgent Not Urgent Important Not I. IMPORTANT and URGENT II. IMPORTANT but NOT URGENT Not III. URGENT NOT IMPORTANT IV. and

Distracted? Focus on a task for 25 minutes. Put a notepad and pen by your side. When things pop into your brain that you need to do, jot them down. Go back to your task at hand. The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. Stephen Covey

Interruptions Some research has found that it can take us 20 minutes or more to regain the same level of concentration after an interruption. A manager on average spends 3 hours each day on interruptions.

Time saving tips at home Keep things in their place so you don’t have to go searching for them Prep the night before Plan your weekly menu and cook meals you can freeze ahead Keep a family calendar Delegate ___________________________________

“Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.” Anonymous

Organizing stuff! Clutter exists because our brain tricks us into thinking everything is important. Ask yourself, “Does this item have a purpose? When is the last time I used it?”

Organization tips Group like with like. “Which of these things is not like the other?” Give everything a home. Pick your favorites. (We use 20% of our belongings, 80% of the time.) See if you can weed out some of the remaining 80% of your belongings.

Organizing e-mail Unless you are awaiting an urgent message, check e-mails only at specified times during the day. Touch each e-mail once – same as for paper documents. Decide whether to delete, save to respond to later, save for reference or retention, or to respond to immediately.

Have realistic expectations Evaluate standards – work / life balance Don’t over-program Learn to be assertive Realistic problem solving When nobody around you seems to measure up, it’s time to check your yardstick. Bill Lemley

Take care of you Make an appointment with yourself Sleep Well balanced diet Utilize EAP

Change your thinking When stressed, stop what you’re doing, breathe deeply, relax your mind and body. Visualize your goal and see yourself achieving it. Make “shoulds” into “coulds.” Avoid “all or nothing” thinking. Focus on the present. Look for the gift or learning from the situation.

Schedule fun Develop a sense of humor – stress reducer, relieves muscular tension, releases endorphins. Make time for activities you enjoy. Make a date with yourself, your family and friends.

Remember, your EAP is here to help. 402-398-5566 or 1-888-847-4975