OTC Counselor Offers
Time Management Tips

Have you ever asked yourself the following questions:  Where is my time going?  Am I using my time as efficiently as I could be?   I don’t know what to do first?  If you have asked yourself any of those questions then you may need help with time management.   The rewards of efficient time management are great; less stress and less anxiety.  So what can you do to get a handle on your time?

1) Be Organized
Use appointment calendars for everything.  Make a “to-do” list for the week and check off what you have completed.  Keep your work area clutter free and get rid of distractions.

2) Plan Ahead
Plan ahead when at all possible.  If you know something is due block it out on your calendar. Plan time for leisure and recreation activities.  Sometimes this gets left out, but can be extremely important to prevent burnout.  Set goals and plan on how to reach these goals. Set time for your family.

3) Prioritize Tasks
Determine what your top priorities are.  Use a system that works best for you in identifying what your top priorities are.  An A-B-C system on your “to-do” list with A being the highest priorities is one system that works.

4) Avoid Procrastination
Whenever you are given a task, assign a date to it and start planning on what you need to do
to be prepared.  To keep stress at a minimum, start early to finish a task.

5) Be Flexible
Unexpected things always tend to happen.  Be flexible enough to rearrange your schedule if necessary.  Ask for help when needed.

6) Beware of Trivial Time Wasters
Sometimes when we want to put off an unsavory task we will resort to tackling a chore that seems important but isn’t, relatively speaking.  Be mindful of this tactic and try to avoid it.

--by Brian Russell

Contact: Barry Turner
Executive Director for Public Relations
Phone: (912) 688-6958
Email: bturner@ogeecheetech.edu