Following up on my previous blog of September 6th, I will continue to focus on specific techniques that can help you stay on schedule, reduce delays, and increase productivity.
Establish Clear Goals and Prioritize Tasks
Setting short or long term goals are the building blocks of effective time management. If you know what is important and can identify what is not urgent, then half the battle is won. Critical tasks need to be done first while less urgent activities can be put aside.
Whether you are in the healthcare, education, business, or any other field the principles all remain the same. Being punctual is an occupational asset. Here are 3 methods you might use in order to enhance your on-time performance.
Buffer Time Between Appointments
Referring to blog post Part 1 [The Time Management Practitioner versus A Person with Time Blindness] the doctor whom I spoke about can improve his/her schedule. I’m being gender neutral here. The doctor can build a “Buffer Time” between appointments. By scheduling 15-20 minutes extra between each patient’s appointment will allow the flexibility in case one appointment runs longer than expected. Like I mentioned in my previous blog of September 6th, 2024, this doctor has excellent qualities and I would not change to another doctor. However, following the motto of the Girls Scouts which states: Be Prepared, I will always take reading materials with me when I have a medical appointment with this physician.
Buffer Time between appointments is vital. For instance, as I write this blog today, I have planned Buffer Time for my errand-day in Manhattan. I left my house at 10:45 AM for a 2:30 PM dental appointment. You might ask, “Why”? Well, I am planning on accomplishing 2 other errands before arriving at the dentist’s office. The first errand brought me to the area of First Avenue and 57th Street and then the next location brought me to Third Avenue and 43rd Street.
By leaving my Brooklyn residence at 10:45 AM, I am inserting B.T. or Buffer Time into my day in order to arrive stress free at my dental appointment. In fact, I left so much extra time or Buffer Time in my schedule that I was able to accomplish more and it’s not wasted time having extra time on our hands between appointments. Now, my thoughts are coming back to me of the real reason why I’m here in Manhattan. I have a cracked tooth. Just thinking about hearing the drilling noise is enough for me to have trepidation and dread being on time. Nevertheless, I arrived at 2:15 PM for my 2:30 PM dental appointment.
Use Time Tracking Tools
There are varies tools that are available to help track time and manage schedules effectively. Using digital calendars, scheduling apps or even using a simple timer can assist you to monitor how much time you are spending on a specific task. It can also keep you accountable. A timer with an audible bell sounding off with a ring can alert you how much time has elapsed. In this way, you can decide if you want to continue with your task or move on to a different activity. For instance, when I write my blogs or if I am performing any other task where I want to know how long I have been working on it, I use the Secura 60-Minute Visual Timer. For those people with a digital preference, having an iPhone is handy. You can create a count-down timer for the same purpose at any moment.
Another effective tool to use in order to be productive is using Michael Hyatt’s Full Focus Planner. By focusing on your top 3 most important tasks to complete each day, you will be more productive in achieving your goals. I use this planner myself and I have found that it has helped me to be more productive. My novel, Time & Consequences www.timeandconsequences.com will be published later this year in Spanish.
Have you read any good books lately?
In the 21st century, we have to regularly review how we spend our time. It is crucial for long-term planning and self-improvement. At the end of each week, one should take a few minutes to do a quick summary of accomplishments. Ask yourself the following questions:
- Were there any patterns of delays you could have avoided?
- What task(s) could you have done differently in order to keep your life running more smoothly?
- What went well?
As an avid reader, I enjoy learning about different methods of becoming a time management practitioner. I’ve read Charlie Gilkey’s book entitled, Start Finishing: How to Go from Idea to Done. This informative book provides several worksheets that you can implement into your schedule right away as I have done.
Conclusion
Being a time management practitioner requires deliberate effort and consistent practice. Understanding how to allocate time effectively and to make adjustments, when necessary, in order to complete higher priority activities. Sometimes leaving less urgent tasks undone might be the essential thing to do.(Another blog to follow concerning this topic of what is really essential) By learning from both successes and failures a person is likely to be able to sharpen their skills and overcome time blindness to lead a more organized and productive life.
Be a conversational rock-star and leave a comment below:
M. Lauryn Alexander is the owner of Success Essentials Publishing Company Inc and Success Essentials Inc
