Discover the tale of Audrey and Putra, two professionals with contrasting approaches to time management, and the remarkable impact it has on their performances. Audrey, a PR whizz with a knack for time management, excels in her role, effectively prioritizing, organizing, and ticking off tasks. Meanwhile, Putra, whose time management skills falter, struggles with delayed tasks, disorganized delegation, and constant burnout.
Despite both completing their work, Audrey's superior management skills ensure she delivers top-tier results. Are you more Audrey or more Putra? Can you see why the efficient management of time can be a game-changer?
Dr. Stephen R. Covey, author of "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People", highlights that effective time management is the axis on which individual and organizational success pivots. Neglecting it can cause a domino effect of negative implications on performance. So, the path to success isn't a simple to-do list - it’s mastering the art of time management. Ready to polish your skills? Here are three tips to elevate your time management expertise:
Tips 1: Connect with yourself
First and foremost, you have to connect with yourself. It may sound like it has unclear goals, but it undoubtedly can bring numerous benefits. One such advantage is gaining insights into your priorities. Once you know your priorities, you will be able to discern between what is truly important and what is less critical.
Focus on things which align with your goals, do not waste your time with irrelevant activities. This also allows you to redirect your energy toward tasks that contribute to your professional and personal advancement.
In addition, practitioners will have to leverage their strengths and address weaknesses strategically for a more efficient work. Allocate shorter timeframes for areas where you excel, and for aspects where your strengths may be limited, consider allocating more time and resources, even if it involves additional expenses, to provide necessary support.
As Aristotle said, ‘knowing yourself is the beginning of wisdom’. Therefore, be cautious not to attempt everything on your own. Handling everything alone may lead to suboptimal results.
Tips 2: Manage your priority
Time management is an oxymoron, a famous quote from John C. Maxwell. What does that mean? Time is beyond our control, and the clock keeps ticking regardless of how we lead our lives.
When you already know your priority, the next step is to manage it well in order to maximize the time we have. There are two simple ways to sharpen your knowledge about prioritization. The first is to learn from the master.
A mentor plays a pivotal role in fostering your understanding of prioritization. Their experience and expertise provide a valuable perspective on what truly matters in your professional endeavors. It is recommended to have regular interactions and discussions, thus they can help you identify key priorities, discern between urgent and important tasks, and develop a strategic approach to managing your time effectively.
It is also important for you to create your own priority matrix. You can use the popular Eisenhower matrix by President Dwight D. Eisenhower which will guide you through the four-tier structure of your daily priorities. If you want to know more about it, go visit and read Nada’s Blog which discusses Productivity Amidst The Hustle PR Culture.
Tips 3: Embrace breaks and self-care
If you are thinking that time management is only about realizing and managing priorities, then you will have to start considering taking breaks and self-care. The dangerous situation often happens when you feel overwhelmed with tasks.
Do not attempt to do everything alone and never neglect taking breaks, you are guaranteed to feel burned out. It is more difficult to give optimal effort if you have already felt exhausted. Know your limitations, before you reach your limit, take some time to reward yourself and recharge your energy.
You have to create work-life balance intentionally. In 2021, Monash University interviewed five women researchers at their university to discuss the challenges that they experienced in their jobs. One of the respondents, an educational and developmental psychologist, and a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Education, Kelly-Ann Allenn said that clear work-life boundaries with time dedicated to specific tasks help achieve work life balance.
If it’s not an urgent matter, avoid checking email, replying to chats, or working on documents outside of regular working hours, on weekends or even during holidays. If you can maximize your day-off wisely, you will return to work with fully-charged energy and be more productive than ever.
In conclusion
Incorporating effective time management skills is not just a professional asset, it is the key to unlocking unparalleled productivity and collaboration in your workplace. According to a survey from Management and Human Resource Journal in 2022, 71.5% of the respondents agreed that adherence to time helps to prioritize better and increase productivity. When it has become a system in your organization, one will influence the others and it will turn to become a company value. Take charge of your time, and watch how the seeds of efficiency and success flourish in your professional journey.
