10 Tips to Help You Manage Your Time

Having a job means managing many responsibilities at once. Here are 10 ways that you can manage those responsibilities, get the job done, and look good in front of the boss.

1. Plan it! Get yourself a planner and use it. Find one that can give you enough detail to help you get projects done today, but find a longer-term planner so you can see upcoming deadlines.

2. Schedule it! Schedule everything. Of course you will schedule work related projects, but schedule your breaks, your lunch, and even a few moments of prayer peppered throughout the day. This will help keep you on track, particularly when it comes to that ever-elusive time with God.

3. Measure it! Each entry in your planner should be as specific and measurable as possible. For example, “work on the Smith file� will not help you accomplish as much as “Smith file: sign and fax agreement and set up direct billing.� And, “read Bible� is not nearly as helpful as “read Hebrews 11.�

4. Group it! Group similar projects together. By pounding out your phone calls all at the same time, you eliminate the “ramp up� and “ramp down� that comes with each individual task.

5. Time it! Be on time. If your computer or PDA has the capability, set an alarm for appointments to give yourself ample travel time. It's better to show up a few minutes early, be prepared, and have time to flip through a magazine than to rush late and appear unprofessional.

6. Reward it! Create goals and reward yourself. Whether the tasks you have to manage in a day are large or small, break them down into the smallest task possible and assign a reward: Maybe a chocolate bar for a small task or that gadget you’ve always wanted for a daunting task.

7. Focus on it! When it's time to work, work hard. When it's time to relax, relax hard. Focus on the task at hand. Be totally committed to what you are working on right now.

8. Prepare it! Before you leave for the end of the day, prepare for the next day. In spite of what you probably think, you are usually at your best first thing in the morning. Use that time to accomplish something rather then to plan your day.

9. Prioritize it! Prioritize your jobs. Before going home at the end of the day, select the three most important jobs you need to do tomorrow and number them in order of priority. The next day, tackle those three things before you do anything else.

10. Improve it! Plan time for improvement and development. This is too easily pushed aside in favor of more pressing or enjoyable tasks. Scheduling this time, though, will have a greater reward for your career in the long term.

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