I’m the proud owner of a pin that reads “Even Cinderella needed time management.” 🙂 Several years ago, I was gifted with this pin. Now I could give you plenty of reasons why my inner clock and the passage of real time can get out of sync. But that’s really not important, is it? Here are a few things I’ve learned to do to manage my time!
| Prioritize: I keep a short to-do list in my head that is prioritized for the day. When extra stuff comes along, I make sure it has equal (or greater) priority to what is on my mental list. If it doesn’t, I set the task aside until my list for the day is accomplished. One key learning for me was to make sure my list for the day was realistic and doable!Focus: If anyone was inside my head for any length of time, they’d discover that I’m a swatter! I work hard at swatting away stuff that’s not related to the task I have at hand.
Bit by Bit: I’m a pizza gal; I take things a slice at a time. I no longer ponder (code word for put off 🙂 ) a big project for days. I just start it. In fact, sometimes I’ll start a big project at five in the afternoon. That way, when I return to work the next day, I have a start! For me, getting started is the name of the game. |
Time management is an everyday challenge, isn’t it? Trust me, I’m no pro—I’m a work in progress! How about you?
Thoughtfully,
Diane
I keep my work duties on a schedule in order to keep the paper pile away. I have found that sticking to it never leaves me overwhelmed with stuff to do. I am a list maker but I actually write it down.
I use a timer! I found early on in teaching that I would allot 10 minutes for cleaning out desks, or 5 more minutes for an assignment and we were always going over. When this happened several times during the day, we were never on schedule. Now when I say you have 10 minutes left to clean out your desk–we set the timer and when it goes off the children know their time is up! I also have a countdown clock that I can put on the document camera and they can see the time remaining so that they learn to pace themselves.
I also have tried to cut out wasted time slots like waiting in line at the copying machine and lining up for recess and specials. If I see a line at the copier, I put my master in my mailbox and check back later. I play music and that immediately signals lining up. This really seems to help maximize our time.
I make lists and check things off as I accomplish them. I am one to take one task at a time, one step at a time, one day at a time( if necessary to get it done right). If I think about everything that needs to be done, I begin to panic and go on overwhelm mode. When that happens, my production is actually stifled and I work against myself. For this reason, I find it important to plan ahead, stay ahead,
and not wait until the last minute!
What’s time management?
I need help!
I need your ideas!
I like to make lists. Once I complete something I cross it off. Crossing it off gives me a feeling of accomplishment for the day. Do the things that need to be done that day first. Others will get done. I give myself time to do school items, home items and then. I stop at a certain time each night to do another item on my list; RELAX. Anything non completed will have to wait. I can only do so much in a day. This process helps me stay focus on important items and less stressed and I enjoy each day more. This is still a work in progress, but each I get better at prioritizing.