 A Good Time Management System Uses Blocks of Time
There are many time management systems out there, but the one that uses a pickle jar might be the best of all. The Pickle Jar Theory,
written by Jeremy Wright, best explains how more work can get done with
a time management system that tackles the "big stuff" first while
allowing room for "whatever crops up."
The Best Time Management Systems Throw Out the Clock and Hour-by-Hour Agendas
To be sure, some people wake up with agendas they planned out the day
or night before. Unfortunately, not even the best time management
system can predict what a new day will have in store.
Many people who teach time management skills
try to use an hourly calendar to schedule each activity throughout the
day. Unfortunately, this rarely results in more work being done because
life is full of unexpected interference.
A way around this
old, quirky method is to create a time management system that instead
uses "blocks" of time that include appointments, not that the
appointments dictate.
For example, your new time management system could go something like this:
8 a.m. to 10 a.m.: Doctor's appointment at 9:30. Bring an apple for
breakfast, laptop to work on, and work on new ideas for your department
in a Word document.
12 noon to 2 p.m.: Research and
revise department changes, get input from coworkers, draft details in
preparation for presentation to group.
3 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Return phone calls, fine-tune new plans, call Jimmy's school back.
Time Management Simplified
You
may have noticed that the above system doesn't allow for every detail,
minute by minute. That's because life and work don't operate that way!
A time management system has to be flexible and accommodating so that
work gets done with priorities taken care of first, not every
little thing that life throws at us yelling, "Me next!"
You
need to be sure about your priorities and go from there to develop a
system that works for you, not against you. A system that works
considers your personality type, whether you are a day or night person,
and the need for a decent amount of rest.
A time management
system that has you tending to a task each and every hour on the dot
makes you a slave to "stuff." By not defining the priorities first, you
may not perform at your peak.
Time Management Needs to be Realistic
Pick three and only three things you want to accomplish tomorrow. Don't
get blindsided by everyone else's "stuff." Don't force yourself to do
tasks when you're half awake; schedule those things for later when you
are "up."
Life is not all about work. Life is living. This means that any time management technique must allow time for loved ones, relaxation, and home life.
 Some
people are on such strict time management programs that they are
robotic and, frankly, of little use to those around them. They can't
cultivate their relationships and their lives are out of balance
because they live "by the clock."
A true time management program takes all time
into consideration, and there are no penalties for reading a good book
or taking a walk. Those activities are necessary for a well-balanced
life.
Good time management dictates, "don't be a couch
potato" without screaming, "get up and do this task right now!" Quality
time management programs work with you to ensure that you accomplish
what you set out to do on a particular day.
Additional Resources for a Time Management System
Time Management: The Pickle Jar Theory by Jeremy Wright
Time Management by Steve Pavlina
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