Be Productive! Manage Your Time Effectively

As you've no doubt discovered, managing your time is very challenging at work in BPO Philippines with a hundred things to do every day!

Time management means asserting greater control over your time and energy. Don't allow tasks and demands to control you. 

Let's be realistic, you'll never be able to do everything that you think you can. With time management techniques however, you can be that the tasks in today's workload that you don't do are those of your choice -- your lowest priorities.

Only by adopting a systematic approach to time, can a busy person escape the tyranny of time pressure. Time management uses two primary tools: (1) Tasks List and (2) Schedule.

These tools allow you to analyze, understand, organize and prioritize your use of time--not to make you a schedule and task slave, but to make you the master of your time.

Task Lists

Task Lists are a key tool in effective time and task management. Without lists, you would worry over whether you've remembered all important tasks for the day.

You can't possibly hold everything in your head, and you'll drive yourself crazy if you try.

Make lists of everything you need to get done. The most effective time managers have multiple lists: a list of work tasks, a list for social activities, a list for today, a list for tomorrow, a list for next week.

Prioritize the tasks and activities on your lists. Mark items H, M, and L for high, medium and low priority. Increase your motivation and get a sense of accomplishment by checking off items as you get things done. You lists help you decide what to do at the moment, what to schedule for later, what to get someone else to do, and what to put off for later.

If you can't stand to face a particular task or activity at the moment, don't worry over your avoidance. Instead, agree with yourself to tackle the difficult or unpleasant item when you feel stronger.

Shift temporarily to another priority item. You can get two or three other items done in the time you might have spent fighting yourself over the difficult item.

Schedules

Schedules allow you to understand and plan your use of time. You won't have to stick to any particular schedule, but having a schedule is important in gaining control over your time.

You can vary and alter your schedule as you see fit. The schedule allows you to do so by choice and to understand the consequences of scheduling choices that you make.

The benefits of using a schedule, include:

1. Writing down your plans make responsibilities seem more manageable and less overwhelming.
2. If you are current on important tasks, you will avoid worry and last-minute rushing.
3. Scheduled tasks are more likely to be completed.

The first step is to make a weekly schedule that charts your regular activities. Use a grid style chart. Make multiple blank copies of your chart, so you can create alternate and revised versions.


Don't forget to schedule time to make and review lists and schedules! Be realistic about how much time you spent on each activity.

If there is very little or no blank, uncommitted time in your schedule grid, you will need to reevaluate how you are allocating your time. You need uncommitted time to allow flexibility, accommodate unanticipated events, tasks and activities.

Using Task Lists and Work Schedules to manage your time wisely and productively, there's little doubt you'll get far and ahead in BPO Philippines