The Successful Person’s Guide To TIME MANAGEMENT

Reflection on the Past The sands of time fall steadily through the hourglass — whether we use our time wisely or unwisely.   You and I are exactly one day older and closer to our inevitable deaths than we were yesterday at this time. The question is: Are we spending our time, today, the best way we can?  Read the following poem to participants and ask them to contemplate what they would do differently. “If I Had My Life to Live Over”   Nadine Stair of Louisville, Kentucky ... written when she was 78 years old. I'd dare to make more mistakes next time, I'd relax. I would limber up. I would be sillier than 1 have been this trip. I would take fewer things seriously. I would take more chances. I would take more trips. I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream and less beans. I would perhaps have more troubles, but I'd have fewer imaginary ones. You see, I'm one of those people who live sensibly and sanely hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I've had my moments, and if I had it to do over again, I'd have more of them. In fact, I'd try to have nothing else. Just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day. I've been one of those persons who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot-water bottle, a raincoat and a parachute. If I had it to do again, I would travel lighter than I have. If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would go to more dances. I would ride more merry-go-rounds. I would pick more daisies.

Time… Time is one of the deepest mysteries known to men and women.   No one can say exactly what it is, other than we pass it, make it, take it, spend it, crave it, kill it, and enjoy it. Although most of the planet's resources and wealth are distributed unequally to earthlings, of daily time we each have 24 hours. 

What is Good Time Management? "Good time management simply means deciding what you want to get out of life and efficiently pursuing these goals. Time management does not mean being busy all the time. It means using your time the way you want to use it - which can include large doses of daydreaming and doing nothing.“ – Dorothy Cudaback, Family Life Extension Specialist

How Do We Spend Our Time? Working Sleeping Leisure & Sport Other activities* Caring For Others Eating & Drinking Household Activities 8 7.6 2.6 2.5 1.2 1.1 1 NOTE: Data include employed persons on days they worked, ages 25 to 54, and who lived in households with children under 18. Data include non-holiday weekdays and are annual averages for 2005.   From the 2005 American Time Use Survey conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, found at http://www.bls.gov/tus/charts/home.htm *Examples of Other Activities include shopping, attending school, and volunteer work.

Why do you want to manage your time better? Ask Yourself Why… Why do you want to manage your time better? To… Earn more money Be more productive Have more leisure time Spend more time with family and friends

Evaluate Your Time Management Skills Read each statement and assess how well it describes you and your time-management practices by writing a number in column A, as follows:   Hardly ever = 1 Sometimes = 2 Almost always = 3  

Next Read each statement a second time and assess its value or importance to you by writing a number in column B as follows: Not at all important to me = 1 Somewhat important = 2 Very important = 3

Now Multiply column A by column B and write the answer in column C (for example, if A=2 and B=3, then C=6).   Circle those answers in column C that are less than 5. Ask yourself the following questions…

Am I doing those things that I value the most? • Which practices do I consider important and yet seldom act upon? • Which two or three would give me the most control over my life if I did them? (Circle them.)

Goal Setting Specific Measurable Attainable Realistic Timely Setting goals is essential in good time management practices. When setting goals, make sure they are: Specific Measurable Attainable Realistic Timely

Life Goals Goal setting is crucial to effective time-life management. Time-management expert Alan Lakein says, "Failing to plan is planning to fail."

Write it down… Successful time-life management begins with writing down your goals. Use the list of questions found on Pages 6 and 7 of the publication to help you think about and write out your goals. Life Goals Questions 1.   Quickly list your four or five most important lifetime dreams, values, goals. 2.   Now list the three or four goals you want to accomplish in the next five years. 3.   Next, pretend that you know you have only six months to live. If I knew I was to die within six months, I would want to: 4.   Now go back and rank your goals in the order of importance to you. 5.   Circle your most important goal. a.   Make sure your goal starts with "to" and includes an action verb. b.   State the end, outcome or key result others will see when you accomplish your goal: c.    Make certain your goal is as specific and measurable as possible. d.   Set a target date to accomplish your goal. e.    Make sure you have the ability to achieve the goal by the target date.  6.   Break down your most important goal into manageable, bite-sized pieces. List quickly the specific things you want to do in the next six months that will help accomplish this goal: 7.   Now go back and rank your tasks in item number 6.  

Visualize Your Goals Take time daily to form a clear mental picture of who you want to be and how you want to act in the future. Remember, if you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there.

Steps You Can Take Today Take responsibility Learn to say no Learn to delegate Ask for help Change habits Simplify your life Identify your time-wasters

Time = Life. “Therefore, waste your time and waste your life, or master your time and master your life.” - Alan Lakein

Questions Robert H. Flashman, PhD Clipart by Microsoft Word Robert H. Flashman, PhD Extension Specialist for Family Resource Management Linda A. Bradley, Graduate Student Family Studies, University of Kentucky February 2008; revised 2010 Copyright © 2008 for materials developed by University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension. This publication may be reproduced in portions or its entirety for educational or nonprofit purposes only. Permitted users shall give credit to the author(s) and include this copyright notice.   Educational programs of Kentucky Cooperative Extension serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability, or national origin.