Not another Time Management video! It is such a pain in the butt to keep calendars, day planners, and to-do lists. Sound familiar?
I get it, but let me tell you, the payoff for a good time leadership system is worth it. Stay tuned to learn the actual benefits of time management.
I’ve got friends and proteges that don’t like having any kind of system for managing their time. They think it is more trouble than it is worth. But give me a minute or two and I’ll make the case it is worth your time.
First and foremost, it helps you accomplish your goals.
To get what you really want in life. We all have dreams or fantasies we want to have happened in the future, but if we don’t take concrete, concerted, daily action toward them it won’t happen.
Goal setting is the first step in turning your dreams into reality because it turns those dreams into measurable, actionable goals. I did a series on how to do this last year.
But having a list of goals doesn’t get things done. Even a list of actions doesn’t. No you need a system that gets you to actually do the things you must do. That is a time management system.
Second, a good time management system will reduce your stress.
How can a complicated systems of todo lists and calendars REDUCES stress? Ron, that causes me stress. I get overwhelmed at all the things I have to get done. The Tyranny of the Todo list.
A good system doesn’t do that. It specifically lets you not worry or think about all the things ahead of you. Rather it gets you focused on what you can do now, or this week. And let’s you forget about all the things ahead of you.
Thirdly, a good time management system gives you peach of mind.
Why? Because it ensures you are actually working toward your goals. How many times have you set a goal and then forgot about it for months? Then you feel horrible because you didn’t accomplish
it or even really work on it. Having a system that connects your Goal Actions to your day, lets you know you are going to make progress.
Fourthly, it removes uncertainty.
One of biggest obstacles to accomplishment is not knowing what to do next. A good time management system always gives you the next thing to do. The next step to take.
Fifthly, it helps you set priorities.
Without a good time management system, you will constantly be doing whatever is urgent. Whatever is shoved in your face is what you will do. This generally comes from other people, your environment, or whatever you remember to do.
The key to accomplishment is often Important but Not Urgent tasks. These have a tendency to get overridden by things that seem important right now, even if that is finishing a computer game mission instead of following up with a networking contact.
There you go, five reasons you need a Time Management system.
- It helps you accomplish your goals.
- It reduces stress
- It gives you peace of mind.
- It removes uncertainty.
- It helps you set priorities.
Question of the Day: What is your Time Management System?
