News You Can Use
Make time management a priority
University Relations
News Bureau (662) 325-3442
Contact: Dustin Barnes
March 8, 2004
STARKVILLE, Miss.--In today’s fast-paced world, most people find it increasingly difficult to get everything done within the time constraints of the day. But maybe they’re focusing too much energy on activities that really don’t matter.
Mary A. Hermann of Mississippi State University offers some advice: Examine the “big picture” to make sure your time investments align with life goals. “The first step is to set your goals and priorities,” the assistant professor of counselor education observes.
Hermann suggests making a list of personal goals to accomplish in the next five-10 years, then question if your daily activities are consistent with your list. Examining how each day is spent and determining whether daily activities help meet the goals can be very enlightening.
“You then can determine how to minimize time spent on activities that are not consistent with your goals and priorities,” she explains.
Before proceeding, Hermann says certain cautions should be considered. They include:
--Being realistic about your schedule and anticipating the need for occasional breaks.
--Taking time to consider what makes you feel better about yourself.
--Understanding that changing your behaviors and managing time more effectively can really be tough.
“That’s why it’s important to be patient, see what time-management strategies work and take time to implement the most effective strategies,” Hermann says.