We all want to manage our time well, especially when
we have an important project. We often find ourselves at work or home with a large task that requires us to be organized to accomplish it on time.
Sometimes, however, things don't
seem to go well and our management skills feel ineffective. What happened? There are several possible causes. Let's look at the main ones. Knowing the pitfalls may help us to prevent them in the future.
1. Not planning. Coming up with a plan should be the first step of a project.
What do you need to accomplish? By when? Is this a solo project, or will others be helping? What do you need to schedule and when? Be precise about what you need to do.
2. Not allowing enough time. Sometimes people overestimate their abilities or energy levels. Or they do not build
in time for interruptions. Build some flexibility into your schedule.
3. Overcommitting. Like not allowing enough time, problems also arise from over-committing. We all want to do a great job, but if you say you can do more than you realistically can, you set yourself up for
failure or guilt.
4. Ineffective scheduling. If meetings with coworkers will be needed, set them up well ahead so people can have them on their calendars. If you work solo, consider your best times to get things done. If you are a morning person, try to schedule your most demanding
tasks then rather than later when you have hit a slump.
5. Not Prioritizing. When you begin planning, consider the most critical items that need doing. Get them out of the way first.
6. Multitasking or trying to do everything all at once. Very few people are really most efficient when multitasking. It is generally better to focus on one thing at a time.
7. Perfectionism. This can be deadly to good time management. No one is perfect. Do your best and move on to the next thing on your list. Don't keep picking at a task, trying to make it flawless.
8. Getting distracted. If you have a task
with a deadline, do all you can to avoid distraction. Don't immediately stop for texts and emails unless they are vital. Set boundaries with coworkers to prevent interruptions to your concentration. Don't distract yourself with another task. Focus.
9. Not taking time for breaks. No
one can go nonstop. Break for lunch. Stop and have coffee or briefly walk outside to clear your head and recharge your energy. Even with a big job on a deadline, a short break now and again can increase efficiency.
10. Procrastinating. This is one of the biggest time management
mistakes, which can occur at any time during a project. Sometimes we put off starting a big task if it feels daunting. Sometimes we bog down in the middle and have trouble picking up again. Sometimes we even procrastinate finishing. But no matter at what stage of the job, we often need to take a deep breath and get on with it.
