A few weeks ago, I reflected on the importance of planning ahead and making the most of our time. Dr. George Manning, a professor at Northern Kentucky University, recently shared with me a post that he wrote on time management. It was a blessing to my life and I want to share excerpts from his article with you. The following are six of the twelve principles he mentions for effective time management. Embracing these principles will help us not worry about anything (Philippians 4:6).
- Set Goals. Good time management begins with goals—knowing what you want to accomplish
- Set Priorities. When opportunities exceed resources, choices must be made. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the use of time. Use the ABC method to determine priorities:
- Priority A--Must do. These are vital goals and task; do these first. [Think Kingdom first]
- Priority B--Should do. Goals and tasks in this category are important but are not essential; do these second.
- Priority C— Could do. While interesting, these goals and tasks can be postponed; do these third.
- Use a Daily To-Do List. Write down the tasks you want to accomplish each day, and rank these in order of importance. The small amount of time you invest in doing this will repay you many times over. Make sure your to-do list is on a paper, notebook, or electronic device small enough to carry with you wherever you go.
- Know Your Values. Nothing is more stressful than being hard-working and efficient on tasks that have nothing to do with your value system. For every task, ask yourself, “Does this support what is really important to me?” The sequence is to identify your values, set goals, and use a prioritized to-do list as a productivity tool.
- Stay Aligned. When your daily behavior is aligned with your goals, and these goals support your values, you will experience a sense of control and personal integrity.
- Make Good Use of Waiting Time. In our complex and interdependent world we often run into delays—at the repair shop, in the bank, or at the airport. Be prepared to use this time productively. Reading, writing, thinking, talking, resting, and exercising are all preferable to wasting time.
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