Time Management -- Don’t Let Time Manage You

I was reading an article called “6 Things Really Productive People Do” on Inc. com and I thought it was a great article to give people some ideas how to manage and balance their professional and personal time without feeling burned out. This article also reminds me of a conference I went to two weeks ago. One of the guest speakers also gave a speech on time management. In this blog, I will list all the bullets from the article and the guest speaker, and I will collaborate their ideas and share some my thoughts.

Kevin Daum -- 6 Things Really Productive People Do

1. Pick your priorities
2. Go for efficiency
3. Integrate your activies
4. Actively manage time-wasters
5. Be an active learner
6. Lighten up

Chris Butte (the guest speaker at the conference) -- Time Management

1. Be organized
2. Plan ahead
3. Have a priority system
4. Don't take too much time on your played guys
5. Practice practical technology for your time management
6. Be flexible be available
7. Have a version 

Both of them mentioned “priorities.” I think this is the number one rule comes to time management. People should have a clear idea that what is the most important thing to them and what is the big rock at the moment. It’s like what Mr. Daum said in the article, “With most endeavors, you can either go deep or go wide.” 

I believe a lot of people are just like me have had experience of lost balance between our professional and personal life. We go crazy because we cannot decide if we should spend time with our co-workers or our loved ones on Friday night. We want to be a great team player but we don’t want our family members freak out either. So the article and the guest speaker told us this: Combine activities together. “Build your social life around people in your work environment. Find people in your company who share common interests and develop your career around the people and activities you love. ” For example, if the office decides to go out and have a drink on Friday night, but you don’t want your loved one stay at home alone. Why not ask him / her to join the office? It’s a great opportunity in a casual setting to let your partner know about the people you work with and vice versa. Maybe the end of the night you guys can leave a little bit earlier to still have some private time; however, the whole idea to hang out together makes everyone enjoys the time together. Most importantly, you become a good team player yet you don't disappoint your loved one on Friday night.

Last but not the least, there are always new tools and technologies to help you save time. Just remember this, don’t overload and enjoy the lifestyle you want. Live the life you desire. Don't let time manage you.