Essential Time Management Organization: Fill & Download for Free

Let me share my own method of improving time management, by breaking down the abstract concept of time management into 3 areas to tackle. This has proven extremely effective for me in the past.In the world of management consulting, especially when it comes to consulting in the manufacturing sector, there is a concept we focus on quite a bit, called OEE.OEE stands for “overall equipment effectiveness”, and helps to break down the problem of improving the effectiveness of a machine into simple and relatable terms.There are 3 constituents of OEE: availability, utilization and productivity. Simply put, improving the effectiveness of a machine boils down to improving the amount of time the machine is available, improving the percentage of time the machine can be utilized when it is available, and the productivity of that machine when it is being utilized.Let us apply the same concept to our own lives.Availability: The number of hours per day available to a human being to be utilitized are basically 24 hours minus the number of hours the person needs to sleep. This is because sleeping is an essential activity, without which the human brain cannot work. The number of hours one needs to sleep optimally is a debatable topic, but let us assume that 8 hours is the optimum figure. I believe one can function well with less sleep also, but most research says 8 hours is the optimum sleeping time, so let us go with 8 hours. Hence, the number of hours available to a person can be maximum 16 hours. If you are sleeping for more than 8 hours, you are simply wasting time. That is the first lever to improve your time management skills.Utilization: Now that you have 16 hours available in a day, how many hours do you actually utilize? For the sake of simplicity, let us assume that when you sit on your desk to work, or when you take out time to pursue some hobby, you are utilizing your time. The only time you are not utilizing is the time spent without doing anything. The idle time spent lying around. Reduce or eliminate your idle time. Ensure you always have something to do in your time, be it work, hobbies or meeting friends. That is the second lever to improve your time management skills.Productivity: Now that you are utilizing your time doing an activity, how productive are you actually? If you spend 3 hours sitting at your desk working, do you actually get the output worth 3 hours or do you get an output worth only 2 hours? In my mind, this is the trickiest lever to resolve. How do you ensure that you are being productive? There are two aspects to productivity.Being able to concentrate well - I strongly believe it all boils down to your mental space. If your mental space is clear and less cluttered, you will be more productive. If your mental space is filled with irrelevant thoughts, negativity, or a lot of emotion, you will be less productive. Get rid of negative thoughts, get rid of irrelevant emotions, and get rid of distractions. And you will find yourself improving your concentration.Planning your time well - Every activity has a different perceived value. You might have utilized your time fully and also concentrated well on the activity, but just choosing the wrong activity will reduce your productivity. Plan your day ahead so that you can cover all the activities that you want to pursue, be it work or hobbies. Plan ahead, and plan well.The human brain is very complex, and we tend to get lost in the complexity. But if you simplify the human brain and think of it like a machine, you will find yourself much more capable of mastering your brain and thus your time.

Short summary of how Google first page results defines time management:The ability to use one's time effectively or productively, especially at work.The process of organizing and planning how to divide your time between specific activities.The process of planning and exercising conscious control of time spentTime management refers to managing time effectively so that the right time is allocated to the right activity.Time management is the coordination of tasks and activities to maximize the effectiveness of an individual's efforts.The practice of using the time that you have available in a useful and effective wayThe analysis of how working hours are spent and the prioritization of tasksTime management is the ability to manage time using a range of skills, tools and techniquesThe ability to prioritize tasks and activities, and then allocate the right amount of time to the right activityThe theme of all the above definitions will boil down to efficiency, skills, criteria of achievement and becoming. Discipline, routine, method is implied in those definitions.But I think it is counterproductive. I think the time is a resource at our hand, and all we can do with it is USE IT WELL. And if I were to provide “time management definition,” I would define it as the ability to use time well.Also, here you can read.Can you store 17 minutes from today to use it tomorrow?Can you? Because you really can’t. Time is a resource at hand, but it is a special kind of support. A fund that is being spent no matter what you do. You can not manage that. You can only use that process.If we say, we have to be efficient, we assume that we have a set amount of tasks to finish in the given time. It is not sane to look at it that way, but we all do. We are conditioned to define time management as a skill to make finishing tasks on-time more efficient.We should reverse the perspective, I think. Time is a variable that is spent on tasks. Some tasks take that much time, and others take some other duration. Even if we want it to be otherwise, also, if we mastered every skill and technique - this fact would not change.We need to change our perspective and understand that time is only to be used well.I would expand forever on this topic, but it is not what the Quora is for. If you care to read more about it, visit my page TWU™ - Effortless approach to time management | productivityI define time management as an inquiry into what one means for someone to spend his life well. And that inquiry brings about order and productivity.Not a method, not a discipline, but a simple Insight.

What are the best ways to practice time management?There are many different ways to practice time management. At times the best way to practice may depend on the type of person you are. Time management requires you to become organized, hard working and disciplined. Here are some of the best ways to practice time management.Create a Schedule:Laying out what you have to do can help you better manage your time. By doing so you can make a to-do list and prioritize the tasks you have to get done. Knowing exactly what you have to get done and how to go about accomplishing this is a great way to keep you on track. By getting into a daily routine you will become more efficient and learn how to better practice time management in no time.Get Rid of Distractions:We often go on our phones for what we claim is just a minute but in reality, we lose track of time. When working it is important to hide all distractions. The best thing to do is put your phone on “do not disturb” so you don't hear it. Also place it away from the space you are working. Your phone will be out of sight and out of mind, leaving you ready to work and better manage your time.Stop Procrastinating:Procrastination is the main reason you are currently struggling to gain a grasp on time management. As humans, we tend to push tasks off until the last minute which then makes us stressed out. In order to make the most of the time you have, you need to stay focused. Learning to stop procrastinating is essential and may take some time. Start working on tasks earlier rather than later to avoid doing them at the last minute and rushing, resulting in stress. This will better your time management skills as you have allocated more time by starting and completing them earlier.Time management is something that will take hard work and time. You should slowly begin starting a routine incorporating all these ideas. By doing so you will better manage your time and hopefully even free up some time for yourself!