Dr. Kern's Mental Health Tip
Managing Our Time
Typically, articles on time management focus on ways to organize, prioritize and schedule the hours in our day. While that approach has value, at least as important is our attitude toward time. Consider some mental attitudes that may reduce our stress related to feeling rushed; not having enough time; and wasting time.
Value Your Time and Live in the Present:
Time is a precious and finite commodity. The present is a gift that can easily slip through our fingers, if we do not pay attention and embrace it. When we focus on the past or worry about the future, we waste the precious time we have at the present.
Determine Your Priorities:
Decide the important ways you wish to use time. Determine how you wish to feel as the result of the time spent on a particular task. Evaluate your current use of time; your productivity and levels at different times; your patterns in terms of the amount of time spent engaged in various activities.
Set Goals:
Based on your priorities, design a plan to carry out your goals. Break your goals down into manageable, reasonable steps and make “To Do” lists. Remember that there are only 24 hours in a day and that we cannot do everything at once.
Schedule Your Time:
Based on your priorities and goals, allot times to carry out these tasks. Be sure, however, to leave space in your schedule for flexibility. Remember; we are humans, not machines. Also, remember to be prepared for unpredictable occurrences.
Maintain Your Focus:
Whatever your activity, be fully attentive to it. This includes work oriented tasks, as well as those that serve more personal goals (such as spending time with family, relaxing, eating meals, etc.). Also, remember to get back on track after dealing with the unexpected.
Eliminate Things That Rob You of Your Time:
While we may not be able to predict or prevent all unexpected emergencies or disruptions in our lives; there are some things we can do to minimize the occurrence and impact of certain ones. As you reflect on your current use of time, think about those events that have been frequent interruptions that are manageable. Develop a plan to deal with them and continue to protect your time for high priority activities. This includes not allowing yourself to become sidetracked by another person's agenda.
