Time management is a term that gets bandied about frequently these days, but what exactly is meant by time management?
Simply put, time management is about taking control of the 24 hours you have each day.
And it is achieved through the process of planning and using that time in the most effective and efficient way possible.
Ultimately, it’s about being productive and limiting the amount of time wasted on activities that are of no benefit to you or to anyone else.
Managing time well is not something that should only be applied within the context of business and work, and certainly not purely for the benefit of an employer.
It is also something that can (and should) be applied to your personal or “free” time.
READ: Why You Should Schedule Your Free Time >>>
It’s a fact that everyone’s time on this Earth is finite.
That’s just the way it is.
Some are lucky enough to live a long life, while others have their time cut short.
But ultimately, it’s what you do with the time you’re given that really counts.
And whether you realize it or not, managing and maximizing your time is the foundation of living a life well-lived.
So much of our time is already wasted on sleeping, queuing, waiting, commuting, procrastinating, complaining, social media . . . the list goes on.
Some might say that this is all part of life.
Sure, we need to sleep, but a lot of the other stuff shouldn’t have to absorb your precious time.
How often do you feel that you don’t have time to do the things you really want to do?
I hear people saying:
“I’m too busy!”
“I’ve got no time!”
“I’m rushed off my feet!”
I wish I had time to do ‘X, Y or Z’!”
There’s this “being busy” culture that is a common condition in the Western world of the 21st Century.
But running around like the proverbial blue-arsed fly (as the Brits say) and being productive are definitely not the same things.
It’s not helped by the fact that we live in a world of constant distractions.
Since the advent of the smartphone, the lines between our work and our personal lives have become blurred and sometimes it feels as if very little of our time each day is our own.
Then of course, in addition to the ‘real world’ demands from bosses, employees, husbands, wives, kids, friends, strangers, pets, etc, we have the dreaded notifications, to which so many of us surrender ourselves.
Email, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and all the others.
If we’re not careful, all of these elements end up constantly vying for our attention and our time.
(Now you might be thinking, “But I like spending time on social media.” But do you? Do you really? That is a topic for another post, but for now, keep reading!)
This is the reality for many people, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
Learning to remove some of the distractions and to manage your time effectively can have a hugely positive impact on your life and general well-being.
What time management involves
As you’ll find out from the posts on this site, time management is not just about how you allocate your time to the tasks and activities you do each day, but how you manage and organize yourself.
It’s about planning, prioritizing, setting clear goals and having systems in place.
It’s about understanding the difference between what is urgent and what is important.
It’s about learning how to minimize distractions and manage your mind and your attention.
It’s about developing good habits, motivation and discipline.
So, er . . . quite a lot then!
While there are a few “quick hacks” that will have an impact on how you manage your days, ultimately, sustainable improvements in time management require some investment in yourself and are the result of small, consistent changes over time within the framework of a system that works best for you.
There are all kinds of tools, techniques and strategies you can use to help you achieve this and I’ll be covering these in other content on Time Hack Hero.
The concept of time management is quite simple, but actually implementing it can be quite a different ballgame.
Real life is going to throw a whole load of stuff at you in an attempt to derail your best plans.
The other point is, there is no universal, one-size-fits-all solution to better time management. So, I want to help you find the best information and the most suitable solutions out there.
Read through the posts, take away the parts that are essential to you and apply them to your unique set of circumstances, because what works for a single man in his twenties will not necessarily work for a stay-at-home mum of three.
We’re all different, but one thing that is true regardless of your personal circumstances and that is: nothing happens without action.
So, don’t just read about the time management methods I cover in this blog.
Acquiring knowledge is not enough – you need to put that knowledge into action.
What are the benefits of better time management?
Managing your time more effectively can have a number of benefits that should be quite obvious, but often get overlooked, because we get so sucked in to ‘being busy’ all the time that we lose sight of some of the stuff that is actually important and makes life meaningful.
Some major benefits of better time management include:
- Less stress
- Better health
- Achieving more in less time
- More quality time with friends and family
- Time to pursue new interests
- A happier life and feeling of well-being generally
How to be better at managing your time
Some people are naturally good at managing their time well. But for those of us that are not blessed with this trait, the good news is that time management is a skill that can be learned and improved.
And this is what Time Hack Hero is all about.
I’m on a quest to find out the best and most effective ways to manage my time each day and I want to share what I find out with you.
So, where to next? You’re welcome to find your own way around, but I’d recommend that your next stop is here: “Why Time Management Is Hard”
I also suggest you sign up for my 5-Day Hack-A-Day Challenge.
It’s a free email challenge that introduces you to a few different strategies you can apply to start taking control of your time. Go check it out now!
And while you’re here . . .
If you’d like to know when new posts are published, hit the button below to subscribe and I’ll drop you an email to give you a heads up.
[Featured image credit: Pixabay]