by KC Kelly, Ph.D., LMHC

http://DOCintheBiz.com

As I sit here in a myriad of windows on my computer screen and a bottom menu of minimized ones as well, I cannot imagine how another day has gone by where I hardly saw the sunlight! As it begins to become frustrating instead of pleasurable, I realize that in order to truly enjoy the journey towards success, I have to make a change.

I think it’s all about TIME MANAGEMENT.

I’ve decided to share a way (something I will be doing myself) to better manage one’s time. It’s quite simple…

Making a schedule and sticking to it!

There is nothing wrong with having a billion things to do in one day (especially for us type A individuals); however, the problems begin to occur when we do not plan well for what we need to accomplish. We can often times even forget to eat or even go to the bathroom!

How much you decide to micromanage your schedule is something that is totally up to you! However, my suggestion looks like this:

1. Perhaps buy one of those date books that breaks things down by every 30 minutes or even 15 minutes if need be. Or make your own.

2. Start with the time you wake up in the morning and make a list of everything that you need to do until you go to sleep. As you’re writing these things down, prioritize them in order of importance.

3. Put each thing that needs to be done into a time slot in the calendar book, making sure to allocate enough time for each task.

4. If you need to use a timer to let you know that the time is up, do it! That will ensure you stay on your schedule.

5. As each task becomes complete, put a check mark next to it or over it. (This makes for a good feeling of accomplishment…at least in my experience.)

Use a pencil, and of course be aware of the necessity to be flexible, as unplanned events tend to come up out of nowhere all the time. But even such things as phone calls, eating and showering should be put into your schedule.

Again, we don’t have to be obsessive about it. Everyone has different needs and when it comes to time management, I believe that managing our time has a direct correlation to managing our stress. Do what is best for you! You’re worth it!

Please visit us at http://DOCintheBiz.com for our mental health self help links and the opportunity to email Dr. KC for professional and confidential help with any concerns you may have!

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