Time management is an essential feature in our daily lives. Taking control of time is much easier if one understands how he or she is spending it (Harvard business essentials series, 2005). Dodd & Sundheim (2005) says that “we all need to be more productive and that this boils down to time and how you use it” (p. 4). They also indicated that the fundamental basics about time management is that everyone gets exactly twenty four hours a day and time cannot be owned, borrowed or saved (Dodd & Sundheim, 2005). Dodd & Sundheim (2005) continue to say “that when we talk about time management it is actually the events of our lives, including the tangible and intangible stuff connected to these events” (p. 4).
Dodd & Sundheim (2005) argued that “time management does not change things out there but it changes individuals and their relationship to the things” (p. 4). The benefits of good time management are considerable according to Dodd & Sundheim (2005). Time management enables people get more done, feel less stress, have better relationships, feel better about themselves and their lives and they have able time to do the things they like to do (Dodd & Sundheim, 2005). Dodd & Sundheim indicated that in time management it is equally important to note that changing a lifetime of habits takes time and therefore one should be patient with his or her efforts to manage time better (2005).
Identify what kinds of information should be gathered to help you in solving this problem and where this information can be obtained.
The kinds of information that should be gathered about time management can be obtained from different sources. This information differs from one individual to another depending on what one does, age, social status, location and environment. Activity logs of an individual can be a good source of time management information. This is because they show what one does on daily basis form morning to evening in a span of one week or several months. Personal plans can serve as important source of time management. This is because plans map and show where one is at present and where he or she wants to go. Personal planning is a good indicator of ones relationship with time management.
Mancini (2003) says that “environment serves an important role in time management. Environment in time management refers to the major people, places and thing that affect the way people shape their time” (p. 9). Environment in which an individual is situated serves an important role and therefore can provide essential information about time management (Mancini, 2003). For example in this case such information could be family setting: how many children one has, their health status and general family background provides valuable information about time management.
The other sources of information about time management include master lists for monthly and long range planning. Roesch (1998) says that these lists pinpoint what matters most in ones life hence in their own time investment. They also show the high value and loe value worth for each must should and want to do tasks (Roesch, 1998). They are therefore important sources of information about time management because master lists indicate what an individual intents to do within a given period of time.
Harvard business essentials series (2005) says that goals are the starting point of effective time management. This is because they act as a compass, pointing the way to the things on which one should be concentrating his or her time. Harvard business essentials series (2005) continues to say that goals guide time management by helping one to assign priorities to the many things that beg to be done. From this context it can be established that an individuals goals serve as important source of information about time management because once we set goals we commit to time and outcomes that can be accomplished within that time range (Harvard business essentials series, 2005)