The Successful Person’s Guide

To TIME MANAGEMENT

Reflection on the Past

The sands of time fall steadily through the hourglass — whether

we use our time wisely or unwisely.

 You and I are exactly one day older

and closer to our inevitable deaths than we were yesterday at

this time. 

The question is:Are we spending our time, today,

the best way we can? 

Time…

Time is one of the deepest mysteriesknown to men and women.

 No one can say exactly what it is, other than we

pass it, make it,take it, spend it, crave it, kill it, and enjoy it.

 Although most of the planet's resources and

wealth are distributed unequally to earthlings, of daily time we each have 24 hours. 

What is Good Time Management?

"Good time management simply means deciding

what you want to get out of life and efficiently

pursuing these goals. Time management does not

mean being busy all the time. It means using your

time the way you want to use it - which can include

large doses of daydreaming and doing nothing.“

– Dorothy Cudaback, Family Life Extension Specialist

How Do We Spend Our Time?

• Working• Sleeping• Leisure & Sport• Other activities* • Caring For Others• Eating & Drinking• Household Activities

87.62.62.51.21.11

NOTE: Data include employed persons on days they worked, ages 25 to 54, and who lived in households with children under 18. Data include non-holiday weekdays and are annual averages for 2005.  

From the 2005 American Time Use Survey conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, found at http://www.bls.gov/tus/charts/home.htm

*Examples of Other Activities include shopping, attending school, and volunteer work.

Ask Yourself Why…

Why do you want to manage your time better?

To…• Earn more money• Be more productive• Have more leisure time• Spend more time with family

and friends

Evaluate Your Time Management Skills

Read each statement and assess how well it describes you and your time-management practices by writing a number in column A, as follows:

  Hardly ever = 1Sometimes = 2Almost always = 3

 

Next

Read each statement a second time andassess its value or importance to you bywriting a number in column B as follows:

Not at all important to me = 1Somewhat important = 2Very important = 3

Now

Multiply column A by column B and write theanswer in column C (for example, if A=2 andB=3, then C=6). Circle those answers in column C that areless than 5.

Ask yourself the following questions…

• Am I doing those things that I value the most?

• Which practices do I consider important and yet seldom act upon?

• Which two or three would give me the most control over my life if I did them? (Circle them.)

Goal Setting

Setting goals is essential in good time management practices. When setting goals,

make sure they are:

SpecificMeasurableAttainableRealisticTimely

Life Goals

Goal setting is crucial to effective time-life

management. Time-management expertAlan Lakein says, "Failing to plan isplanning to fail."

Write it down…

Successful time-life management begins with writing down your goals.

Use the list of questions found on Pages 6 and 7 of the publication to help you think about and write out your goals.

Visualize Your Goals

Take time daily to form a clear mental picture of who you want to be and how you want to act in the future.

Remember, if you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there.

Steps You Can Take Today

• Take responsibility• Learn to say no• Learn to delegate • Ask for help• Change habits • Simplify your life • Identify your time-wasters

Time = Life.

“Therefore, waste your time and waste your life, or master

your time and master your life.”

- Alan Lakein

Copyright © 2008 for materials developed by University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension. This publication may be reproduced in portions or its entirety for educational or nonprofit purposes only. Permitted users shall give credit to the author(s) and include this copyright notice. Educational programs of Kentucky Cooperative Extension serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability, or national origin.

Robert H. Flashman, PhDExtension Specialist for Family Resource Management

Linda A. Bradley, Graduate StudentFamily Studies, University of Kentucky

February 2008; revised 2010

Questions

Clipart by Microsoft Word