After conducting my own research, I collected and summarized the information about day planning that seemed most applicable in my situation. Due to their application, I will successfully cope with the roles of mother, grandmother, employee, and student, and I will have enough time for each of them. After reading articles and watching videos on the topic of time management, I chose for myself some useful methods and techniques. They will allow me to have time to work, do household chores, study, and devote enough time to my daughter and grandchild.
General Rules of Time Management
Time management is a methodology, a set of rules, recommendations on how to organize a day, fully manage time. Following simple rules, I have significantly increased productivity and efficiency. As a result, I have learned how to allocate both working and personal time properly. Previously, my workspace was not organized, so it took me a lot of time to concentrate; I spent a lot of time searching for the necessary papers and stationery. Now I have my own personal workspace, which helps me a lot.
First of all, I began to try to maintain order in everything: in my affairs, my diary, my closet, my thoughts. I keep my computer and desktop in perfect order because scribbled paper and clutter distract me from my work. The inability to immediately find the necessary papers, notes increased the cost of completing the tasks. Garbage and unnecessary things that I do not need in the process of work distract me. The more excessive items are around me, the more time I will have to spend searching for something I need.
In addition, perfectionism used to interfere with me quite a lot: I could not move on to the next point of the plan until I had completed the previous one perfectly. As a result, I often focused on secondary tasks and tried to perfect unimportant things. Now I do not get obsessed with the perfect performance, I sensibly assess whether the result corresponds to the plan. Applying the Pareto principle was of great help in this situation; it states that a small proportion of the efforts made and the funds invested are responsible for a large proportion of the results.
Also, both at home and at work, I put real time to complete tasks. I’ve been watching myself for a week, timing exactly how many minutes or hours it took me to cope with this or that task. For example, it took me two hours to read the training material and complete tasks to improve my medical qualifications. Then I began to take this data into account in the preparation of my daily plans, laying 15-20% more time on every task than necessary.
Time Management During Working Hours
The main task for me was to learn how to do work quickly and efficiently. This way, I would not have to stay at work after the end of the working day to finish what I did not have time for. I make difficult calls in the morning, which helps me avoid worries during the day and postpone tasks. At the end of the working day, I comply a list of important tasks for the next day in order to make all the necessary calls.
I also start doing important effort-requiring things at the beginning of the day, there are usually a couple of items on the list. I used to put them off for later, I did not have time to make the necessary calls, and I had to make them at the expense of personal time. I also adhere to the principle of 50-10-50 in my work: I devote 50 minutes to work, then I rest for 10 minutes, for example, I go outside to get some fresh air and return to my duties (Nagovitsyn et al., 2017). By following this routine throughout the day, I remain productive and clear-minded.
Time Management at Home
In addition to planning household chores, I began to actively use the multitasking technique, and learned how to combine several processes. For example, I can iron clothes and play with my grandson at the same time. The exception is studying, which requires full concentration to assimilate the information better. However, now I am making good use of the time I spend on my way to work and have started listening to educational podcasts on medical topics. I have compiled a list of simple processes that I will be able to perform on the way to work, waiting in line at the store and at similar moments. During this period, I decided to pay attention to additional studies, professional development, or editing the diary. I use the time of forced downtime for self-education, reading, relaxation or other useful things.
I also make sure to find time for personal questions – once a week I go to the hairdresser or for a manicure and meet with friends. These little things lift the mood, and enable me to better cope with all the responsibilities at work and at home. This allows me to be charged with positivity and filled with energy, so after a quality rest I am more efficient and productive.
Health Care
Sometimes, due to poor health, I do not have enough energy for work, study and family. Therefore, in order to increase productivity, I have introduced such an important item as physical activity into my daily planning. Even 10 minutes of physical activity is enough to trigger the mechanisms of gamma-aminobutyric acid production in the body, the most important neurotransmitter (Nagovitsyn et al., 2017). The actions of this hormone reduce stress loads, which means it allows me to look at things from a different angle. I found the kind of physical activity that would be pleasant to me, and made it a mandatory part of every day, allocating only 15 minutes.
In addition, I strictly monitor my regime: I get up and go to bed at the same time. Previously, my regime was off, and I often felt languid, tired and irritated. In this state, I had no desire to work or study. Now I wake up refreshed and rested, as my brain manages to go through certain phases of sleep. In addition, an earlier rise allows me to find some time for myself while everyone is asleep and tune in for a good day. When planning a day, I do not force myself into the framework, but help myself to become freer for many useful activities. Planning helps me find time for family and self-development, and while everyday routine used to eat up my irrevocably valuable time. Using the principles of time management, I do more and get tired less.
Work Cited
Nagovitsyn, Roman, et al. “Planning of physical load of annual cycle of students’, practicing cyclic kinds of sports, training.” Physical Education of Students, vol. 21, no. 3, 2017, pp. 126-133.