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Managing your time

Ever feel that there aren't enough hours in a day for you to accomplish all that you need or want to do?

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168 hours : you have more time than you think
Laura Vanderkam.
New York : Portfolio, 2010.
There are 168 hours in a week, and Vanderkam presents a new approach to getting the most out of them. She draws on her own experience and the stories of other successful people who have fulfilled their goals why allocating their time accordingly.
     
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Dinner for busy moms : [easy strategies for getting food on the table]
Jeanne Muchnick.
[S.l.] : Plain White Press, c2010.
It's 6 p.m., there's nothing in the fridge, and you have no idea what you're serving for dinnerlet alone how you're going to get Kid Number One to piano lessons and pick up Kid Number Two from Soccer.
     
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The clutter diet : the skinny on organizing your home and taking control of your life
Lorie Marrero.
Austin, Texas : Reason Press, c2009.
Applying just an ounce of the advice in this practical guide saves you enough time and money to pay for itself. You will learn: " The actual scientific law of nature that helps you get organized " The cure for procrastination " Ten types of "High Calorie Clutter" to avoid " Where to start and how to tackle your projects " How to successfully add new habits into your life
     

Setting goals can help you manage your time better. Your goals can be short-term, such as daily or weekly, or you can have long-term goals that are yearly or quarterly. Writing down your goals is the first step of you making a commitment to them. They should be realistic, achievable and motivate you.

After you have your goals written down, you need to prioritize them. Establish what are the most important tasks. Separate important jobs from the trivial ones. Determine if your goals will
bring value to the company or personal satisfaction. Setting priorities can help you complete your goal.

Vilfredo Pareto

80-20 Rule

States that for many phenomena, 80% of the consequences stem from 20% of the causes.

Pareto Principle

Once you have your goals in prioritized order, you have to be sure the tasks can be completed in a timely manner. Estimate the time required to finish a goal. According to Pareto's Principle or the 80/20 Rule, it says that 20 percent of the work consumes 80 percent of your time and resources.

Also prepare for the unexpected. Alarm clocks not going off as usual, traffic back-ups, and other more important events can put you off schedule. Scheduling short breaks can help you maintain a steady, efficient work pace.

You can have that great sense of accomplishment as you have achieved your goal and cross it off the list. Then you will have more hours in the day to accomplish what you want to do.

Article by: St. Louis Public Library staff