lifehack: "Most of us think of time management skills as something that we happen to have, and others desperately need. It’s easy to do so when we believe that a lifetime of learning can be contained in a single lesson that we happen to have learned. But are we as good at managing our time as we think ourselves to be? There are a number of events that happen in our lives that indicate that our current system isn’t working. Some of the indicators may include repeatedly being late to appointments and handing in assignments after their due dates. However, there are some that are more subtle, and a few that we tend to mistake. In most cases, they are accompanied by the same “fantastic” thought: “I’d be able to do this if I only had enough time.”
Monday, April 18, 2011
Is It Time For a Time Management Upgrade?
lifehack: "Most of us think of time management skills as something that we happen to have, and others desperately need. It’s easy to do so when we believe that a lifetime of learning can be contained in a single lesson that we happen to have learned. But are we as good at managing our time as we think ourselves to be? There are a number of events that happen in our lives that indicate that our current system isn’t working. Some of the indicators may include repeatedly being late to appointments and handing in assignments after their due dates. However, there are some that are more subtle, and a few that we tend to mistake. In most cases, they are accompanied by the same “fantastic” thought: “I’d be able to do this if I only had enough time.”
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5 comments:
I think this article is helpful because it points out specific things that humans tend to put off doing and blame on not having time. The two I can relate the most to are trying to stay healthy and keeping in touch with people. However, what I have learned at college is that what affects whether or not I do these things isn't time, it's how badly I want to do them. For instance, I have been waking up early to go to the gym, which one might argue is wasting my sleep time. However, I want to work out badly enough that I create time for it when I can. so it's less about time and more about priorities, and time can't always be at fault because no matter what, it's just going to keep going.
I think this article is particularly helpful since it does not just state the obvious, but instead talks about signs of a lack of time management that most people would not be able to pick up on. Everyone can point out that when someone is not turning assignments in on time, or always being late, that they need to work on their time management skills. But when the lack of skills being to infiltrate a person's life to the point that there is too much clutter, or they are not keeping in touch with people, then there needs to be a real reevaluation of their lifestyle.
I like this article because it brings up points that we usually don't think about having to do with bad time-management. We were taught about answering emails in class, but I really like that the article brings up relaxing time and commitments to ourselves relating to time management. I need to work on my time management, and knowing that I'm giving up "me" time because of bad time management is important.
Unlike everyone else here, I don't find this article to be completely accurate. While it is definitely true that people often blame things on not having enough time, some of the things mentioned can't really be changed that much. For number six, "We are stressed", it mentions always being "on" the job, even on our time off. But the reality is, there are a lot of jobs where that is a requirement to be available by phone or email, even when you're not at work. It may not be right, or the healthiest thing to do for yourself, but it is true. And if you're not willing to do it, your employer can find someone else who is.
Similarly to other people who commented, I am appreciative of the honesty of this e-mail. The author provided a clear "diagnosis" of a person with time management difficulties. As someone who deals with these "symptoms" every day, I enjoyed reading this article for the purpose of viewing them all in order. However, I wish that the author would have provided time management upgrades, as the title is somewhat deceiving. Personally, I would have preferred to step away from this article with a solution to these problem signals.
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