King Solomon observed that "To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven". Time is the most essential resource given to mankind by God. What we make out of life depends on how judiciously we use it . The more effectively we maange it, the more quickly we reach our life's goals.
Time and tide, we are told, waits for no one, but what reality constitutes time and what is waste?, The opportunities of that comesin life, the priviledges, the choices and decisions we make or not make when and how constitute time. The delays and the neglect of God-glorifying productivity in all these consititute time waste.
Whereas many people erroneously think there is an abundance of time to waste, a few, however, have learnt that time is fleeting. Nowadays, owing to te explosion in knowledge occasioned by technological advancement,most parents strive to ensure their children are sent off to school even at their tender ages. Everybody seems to be getting more conscious of shortness of time. The cliche " Time waits for nobody" has become more meaningful than before. Those who put off opportunities to acquire higher education and vocational training have now discovered they really shot themselves in the foot as they can no longer withstand the stiff competition in the labour market. There was time when they could have gone to school or learn a trade but they continued to procrastinate until it became too late. Today, they have no profitable means of livelihood.
You must understand that you must put all your energy to work. Do not fritter away your time with gossip, backbiting, laziness and meddlesomeness. Engage yourself in a profitable venture(s). Refuse to be lazy wasting away the hours meant for productivity acitvities. Seetime as God's gift and seize your opportunities to make good use of it judiciously. Laziness in one is more dangerous than a prowling lion. The less you do, the less you want to do,and the more useless you become. To overcome time wastage therefore, take a few small steps toward change. Plan your time each day,take time to dream (positvie,realistic dreams), it is what the future is made of. "Where there is no vision the people perish". To manage your time therefore, there are 20 principles you can apply:
1. Have a good workable plan for your life. Remember that planning is bringing the future into the present to make you do something about it now. Your plan can be broken into 4 stages;
i. Master list ( what you intend to achieve in your life).
ii. Monthly list ( what you intend to achieve every month).
iii. Weekly list (what you intend to achieve every week).
iv. Daily list (what you intend to achieve everyday).
Studies have shown that the success rate for people who have a clear ,definite plan for their lives is about ninety times greater than for those who don't. So, start with what you want to accomplish each day,each week,each month and for the year.
2. Draw a practical timetable to guide you through your daily activities.
3. Know yourself; fix important task at your prime time when you can concentrate most and work best.
4. Plan in details: write clearly what you intend to do at a particular time. Clarity is the most important element of productivity. The reason why some people are successful is because they have clearly spelt out goals and objectives and they don't deviate from them.
5. Follow your schedules in order of priorities.
6. Discipline yourself to stick to the schedule.
7 . Face the task today, let tomorrow come before facing it's task. Many people get bogged down with the challenges of the futureand end up not doing anything.
8. Value each minute: never engage in time-wasting activities; keep to time.
9. Learn to finish what you haveto do before other things.
10. keep important items in a conspicuous place or note the very place you have to keep them.
11. Keep moving. "A body in motion tends to stay in motion" says the law of physics. Never allow stagnancy,discouragement or frustration to set in. Be on the firing line always.
12. Exercise and diet: this increases metabolism, create energy,causes you to sleep better and produces pleasure hormones that contribute to positive attitudes, never allow obesity; keep fit an healthy.
13. Ask the "half-the time" question: assuming you are not having enough time won't you achieve your goals?.
14. Use timer for everything: have a good wristwatch or clock to monitor yourself. Time your task and keep to time. Assuming you say you are completing an assignment by 8:00 pm today; discipline yourself to keep to the time.
15. Do all you planned to do promptly: Never procrastinate.
16. Do the most difficult task, work or job first before doing lesser ones; succeeding at it will strengthen you to continue.
17. Begin the night before: Plan the next day's meals, select and lay out the clothes for the next day,tidy up the kitchen,set table for the next meal,tidy up the house and put things you need to take with you by the door.
18. Be an early riser, so you can begin the day's acitivities early enough.
19. Read books on time management. Write out helpful tips and post them whwere you can see them everyday.
20. Pray for wisdom to properly manage your time and grace to do all you have to do within the limited time you have.
Learn How to Manage Your Staff for the Best Results Click Here!