Time Management and [Fill in Activity]...

Time management and [Fill in Activity], wait, fill in activity? Yes, that activity may be, well, for myself training for a marathon, for another it may be juggling college classes, working, and extracurricular activities, for another it may be work and family and so forth. You get the idea! I can gurantee you by reading the title alone, many runners, athletes, and anyone with a busy scheducle and goal at mind can understand. As mentioned, for me, it is starting my marathon training regime. This semester I have been soo busy. This is my first semester taking 19 hours, my first semester working, applying to physical therapy graduate school, leading three campus organizations and so forth. So, it is a very busy schedule at the moment!

With time management, an individual really needs to sit down and look at their schedule. Everyone has that little activity where he or she may get involved in and it just takes up their entire day once you count total hours spent. There is no reason for an individual to giggle at another for their activity, because he or she also has that little task that takes up their time which someone may giggle at them for. For example in modern terms, Facebook. I see so many people on campus filling their time with Facebook and then turning around saying, "I have no time. I am sooooo busy!" Well, for that individual, if they limit their time on Facebook and produce more active time toward their project before their extracurricular activity, then they would have plenty of time! Honestly, I am one of those people and find myself checking my messages, responding, and then all of a sudden get caught up in a chat.

Honestly, we all need those few minutes of socializing. Although, it should be more preferred face-to-face, but that is what today has come to for the most part. Back on task now!
Now that I am wanting to get my marathon training started, time management has been a huge focus for me! What many of us do not realize are the side effects of negative time management. When we run late our arterial pressure builds up from the stress, that causes pores in our arterial walls that then causes material to build up. When it becomes so built up it can more easily become blocked. So, the next time your running late, take a note for the next time, "leave sooner!" or maybe for some it should be "start project/studying earlier!".

So here are some tips and links to go about efficient time managament. Let's face it, we all have the same amount of time in a day (24h)! Here's a list from Mayo Clinic:

Plan each day. Planning your day can help you accomplish more and feel more in control of your life. Write a to-do list, putting the most important tasks at the top. Keep a schedule of your daily activities to minimize conflicts and last-minute rushes.

Prioritize your tasks. Time-consuming but relatively unimportant tasks can consume a lot of your day. Prioritizing tasks will ensure that you spend your time and energy on those that are truly important to you.

Say no to nonessential tasks. Consider your goals and schedule before agreeing to take on additional work.

Delegate. Take a look at your to-do list and consider what you can pass on to someone else.

Take the time you need to do a quality job. Doing work right the first time may take more time upfront, but errors usually result in time spent making corrections, which takes more time overall.

Break large, time-consuming tasks into smaller tasks. Work on them a few minutes at a time until you get them all done.

Practice the 10-minute rule. Work on a dreaded task for 10 minutes each day. Once you get started, you may find you can finish it.

Evaluate how you're spending your time. Keep a diary of everything you do for three days to determine how you're spending your time. Look for time that can be used more wisely. For example, could you take a bus or train to work and use the commute to catch up on reading? If so, you could free up some time to exercise or spend with family or friends.

Limit distractions. Block out time on your calendar for big projects. During that time, close your door and turn off your phone, pager and e-mail.

Get plenty of sleep, have a healthy diet and exercise regularly. A healthy lifestyle can improve your focus and concentration, which will help improve your efficiency so that you can complete your work in less time.

Take a time management course. If your employer offers continuing education, take a time management class. If your workplace doesn't have one, find out if a local community college, university or community education program does.

Take a break when needed. Too much stress can derail your attempts at getting organized. When you need a break, take one. Take a walk. Do some quick stretches at your workstation. Take a day of vacation to rest and re-energize.

 Source: Mayo Clinic Time Management