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Tip Store: Time Management: Planning

Time Management

It seems like a lifetime ago now when I was a sales rep in Sydney. During my initial training we were taught (amongst other things), time management and prioritizing the daily tasks. Strange how some things seem to stick! Even today, some 30 years later, living in a different state, and retired, I still work out of a diary and prioritize my household tasks. Due to health and injury problems, I've prioritized my housework (you know, the boring stuff) and divided my little villa into sections, and I do one section per day. Not only does this save compounding my injuries, but it actually saves me time as whatever section I do, is over and done with very quickly (I usually do it straight after breakfast), and allows me to enjoy the rest of my day freely.
​Contributed by Claire Martin, 26th January 2014

​Spend Time Planning and Organizing

​Using time to think and plan is time well-spent. In fact, if you fail to take time for planning, you are, in effect, planning to fail. Organize in a way that makes sense to you. If you need colour and pictures, use a lot on your calendar or planning book. Some people need to have papers filed away; others get their creative energy from their piles. So forget the "shoulds" and organize your way.

​Prioritize

​Use the 80-20 Rule originally stated by the Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto who noted that 80 percent of the reward comes from 20 percent of the effort. The trick to prioritizing is to isolate and identify that valuable 20 percent. Once identified, prioritize time to concentrate your work on those items with the greatest reward. Prioritize by colour, number or letter — whichever method makes the most sense to you. Flagging items with a deadline is another idea for helping you stick to your priorities.

​24 Hours

​Remember that the one thing we all have in common is twenty-four hours a day. It is up to me how I choose to spend it. If you are having trouble making choices, try keeping a time diary for a week. Record how you spend every waking fifteen minutes. Remember, time equals money! Now, what do you want to change?

​Wasted Time

​How much time is wasted looking? Have a hook for keys just inside the door; have a spectacle case (and use it!); have a file for bills. Remember, time = money!

​Don't Stop

​If you're in the middle of a task and doing something and you see an article that needs to be read, don't reach for it. It takes the focus off the task at hand and it will take longer to accomplish.

​Using Kitchen Timers

Use a kitchen timer, portable is best as it can be carried into another room or even outside with you. Amazing how we leave the stove on too long and either overcook or burn the pans. Also can be used to remind you that the washing is finished and waiting to be hung out. Useful for telephone usage to remind you of the time, if on an interstate call. Decide how long you want to chat with a caller (some people are renowned for overstaying a telephone call). When the timer goes off you can say, “Oops there is my oven timer, sorry have to dash”. You are not fibbing it is your oven timer, you just have not said you are cooking anything!!
​- Contributed by Rita, Murrumbeena, March 6th 2005

​Don't Hang Around On Hold

When phoning any of the big companies like Telstra, Qantas etc. which necessitates a 20 minute or often longer holding time I put my cordless phone into a "bumbag" around my waist, place it on S.P.[loud] and walk around doing my chores and as soon as my call is picked up I hear the voice loud and clear and hopefully don't end up with a hearing impediment due to a phone being attached to my ear for an extended period of time.
​- Contributed by Betty, Carlisle, 24th January 2008

​Getting More Out of A Year

Approximate $ Savings: $50.00 pa

Reuse office and household calendars and diaries. Tie string through the holes of small desk type flip over calendars and use by the phone or wherever for notes. The backs of A5 and poster size calendars from the office can be used by the kids when they need cardboard for projects. I also take home the thick cardboard year planners which are discarded and the kids use them for putting under their colouring and painting projects-saves getting mess and marks on the floor. They are also used as makeshift cubby house walls and as jump ramps for their racing cars. The reverse of discarded printed material is used as drawing paper. What office paper does make it through the shredder I take home and compost.
​- Contributed by Karen, Moree, 11th January 2008

​Five Minute Race

To encourage my 4 year old daughter to clean up her toys, we have started a 5 minute race, and put 5 minutes on the microwave timer, say ready set go, then pack up as much as we can in 5 minutes. I help too, and my 2 year old son, and we can usually get her whole room, or even our backroom done in 5 minutes. She thinks it's fun, and keeps tidying, instead of being distracted by playing.
​- Contributed by Kate, Grovedale, 30th January 2009

​The Value of Picturing Your Goals

Several years ago I did a goal setting course, and one of the things we did during the class was to make ourselves a poster with pictures cut from magazines or wherever we could find them of the things we wanted to achieve for the year, and we also made a list on a piece of paper. I had a slogan from my banks letter head as it was my goal to save money, I also had a booklet from the Spa Resort at Hepburn Springs among other things on my poster. I did as our teacher suggested and hung it near my bed so it was the first thing I saw in the morning and the last thing I saw at night so was constantly reminded. By the end of the year I'd saved more than double what I'd set myself, and I spent 3 days in Hepburn Springs and had a day at the spa resort getting all sorts of pampering done, and all my goals were reached that year and most since.
​- Contributed by Vicki, Boronia, 13th June 2009