Time management: resourcefulness, tenacity and 5 strategies to the cultivation of time management Time management is a key to achieving more, reducing stress, and boosting happiness. Exploring effective strategies to become the pilots of our time and live life to the fullest!

Malaz Dhirar 

They say that time flies but you are the pilot. Time is a crucial aspect of our lives, impacting our actions and decisions. Even the 24 hours in a day may not be enough to get everything we feel the need to do. After all, time has limits and we have to make the most of it. 

This is where time management comes in. Good time management allows a person to achieve more in less time, leading to less stress, more productivity, confidence and happiness among a number of other benefits.

Smart Work vs Hard Work

Working smart involves finishing activities with increased efficiency and less output while working focuses on spending more time and effort. Both require a commitment and a good work ethic. It can be argued that either smart or hard work is better than the other but the best way is to achieve a balance between both. This balance would surely be the key to efficiency in our fast paced world (1)(2). 

Time Management Strategies

There are many strategies to achieve time management out there. But a person should choose one that suits them, one they can apply themselves to. Here are a few examples of strategies: 

1-Say no; Exactly what it sounds like. One should focus on their capabilities, if a task exceeds their ability, they should say no. 

2-Delegate; No one can do everything alone. It’s perfectly fine to share the burden. In fact, if a task is above one’s ability, one should find a reliable person they can trust to take over their share of the work. 

3-No Multitasking; It may seem that multitasking is a time-saver but that's not always the case. Multi-tasking just wastes time when switching from one task to another. It leaves people distracted and unable to focus on anything. 

4-Prioritize; Knowing one’s priorities is vital for time management. Even something simple as organizing your goals in order of importance can really make a difference in the long run. 

5-To do lists; A To do list can serve as a helpful reminder of what one needs to do throughout the day. A list could help break tasks down to simpler activities and even keep track of tasks (3)(4)(5). 

All in all, the importance of time in our lives cannot be understated. The strategies to achieve time management may be numerous but it’s up to us to make what we will of them. After all, we can be the pilots of our lives. Time waits for no one and we can seize the moment to live our life to the fullest.