Time Management Strategies

I think time management is a tricky thing for all of us. We all have so many responsibilities in our lives and it seems that when one is completed, two more pop up. If we're not at peak productivity we feel guilty, but when we work our hardest all the time we're tired and miserable. I think that time management means different things for all of us and we need to take time to look at others' definitions and then create our own. In preparation for this post, I read four different articles that all outlined different ways to manage time. Here they are if you're interested in reading them yourselves:

The Important Habit of Just Starting

The Myth of "Too Busy"

Time Management Tips Just for Creatives

Why Time Management is Ruining Our Lives

Overall, I think the articles were useful together, but I wouldn't say one of them is THE definitive way to manage time better. The first article talks about how simply starting something leads to us completing it more than procrastination does. The second article asks us to think of time management as time prioritization instead. The third article gives concrete tips for time management while the final article is a look at the history of the time management movement and how it has actually hurt us.

My takeaway from all of them is this: We have a limited number of days, so prioritize what you spend them on, make physical steps in the direction of your dreams, and hit the ground running. Of course, this run is a marathon and not a sprint, so take time to care for yourself or you'll have nothing left when you do reach your goals. For this semester, this means that I have to take an honest look at my schedule and hold myself accountable for what I spend my time on. I have planned out more parts of my day to ensure time I could use to work towards my goals is not spent on less important things. I'm going to prioritize sleep over distractions like Facebook and overall take better care of myself.

In conclusion, this is about YOU reaching YOUR goals; as long as you accomplish your dreams in life and do it in such a way that you don't jeopardize your physical, emotional, and mental health, then you have won. I'd love to hear your thoughts on all of this, make it a great day and work towards your goals!

(Found on The Daily Orange)