Sometimes it’s best to start at the beginning: write down your values. What is most important to you? Values are one’s judgments about what is important. Combined with world view and personality, they generate behavior and are the basis for ethical action. Your values are the foundation for setting priorities and managing your time.
Goals are next: What do you want to do with your life? What do you feel is your purpose? What are you passionate about? If you could do anything, what would you most like to be doing? How can you incorporate that into your work? The answer to these questions creates the basis for long-term goals.
Write a plan to list the specific, time-targeted tasks to reach long-term goals. Need help with this? Brainstorm with friends, family, and colleagues for both setting goals and creating a plan. Planning helps to visualize the big picture, identify the route to reach the goal, and can pinpoint potential obstacles.
Short-term goals usually consist of a small group of tasks or even a single task, and don’t usually require project planning.
The last area of consideration for time management is your daily commitments, responsibilities and obligations, such as paying bills on time or completing a report for a scheduled meeting. What are the consequences if a task doesn’t get completed? Where does Most Important intersect with Must Do?
If you have difficulty writing values, goals, or plans, try doing some research on the internet, and ask for help. Go slowly and give yourself the time to learn new skills.
Scheduling is next.
Tags: colleagues, commitments, consequences, managing your time, obstacles, personality, setting goals, setting priorities, time goals
