You have a growing family that constantly requires your care and attention, a sprawling home to look after, a demanding career and a thriving social life. With every passing day, you bear greater resemblance to the dexterous juggler.
Interestingly enough, the greatest challenge that 21{+s}{+t} Century life poses is that of time management. Boundaries that mark out the traditional roles and responsibilities between men and women are blurring. The economic arena is getting tougher and the need to excel in all spheres is becoming a crucial survival skill. Time management, therefore, has become an urgent priority like never before.
Think ahead
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Planning out the day’s details beforehand is an excellent time saver. For instance, lay out the clothes that you will need, the night before. Assemble meals in advance, so you won't have to eat on the run. Use spare time on weekends to chop vegetables and refrigerate them to later halve the preparation time for meals.
If you have an important meeting the next day, ensure that your cell phone is fully charged. Also make sure that all your papers, files and documents required for the presentation are up-to-date and neatly stacked in your briefcase. Keeping your attention focused on small details will ensure that you are relaxed and able to concentrate on the issues that truly matter.
Make to-do lists
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From jotting down shopping provisions to recording personal goals for the year, to-do lists are a handy tool for effective time management. Apart from the satisfaction you get when you cross out items that you've accomplished, a list also provides the luxury of viewing the whole picture. You will be able to understand exactly what is required of you and set about achieving it at a faster pace.
Half-hour blocks
Learn to divide your day into half-hour chunks and spread the chores evenly, so that they don’t appear intimidating. This, say management gurus, is the secret to getting things done faster.
"My boss asked me to re-work the entire filing system for the office. The request came out-of-the-blue and I felt a little overwhelmed, because I was sure it would take weeks," confesses Sudha Krishnan, 44, a secretary working with a leading multinational company in Bangalore. Instead of feeling crushed or defeated, Sudha decided to tackle the task in smaller chunks rather than to approach it all at once, a strategy that helped her successfully complete it in less than half the time. "A methodical approach actually helped me understand the job better," she says.
Create a fuller life
The key to effective time management is, to ensure that you have time for everything that matters in your life. Start with a fresh calendar every month. Schedule all the emotionally significant occasions like family get-togethers, parties with friends and even a lunch or dinner date with your kids.
Next, record the commitments that you are obligated to attend, such as company fund-raisers, out-of-town conferences and important meetings. Find time for leisure as well and pencil in a golf or bowling session or even time to watch the IPL if you're a hard core cricket fan.
Try and set aside time every month to discover a new activity, preferably something you've never attempted before. It doesn't have to be too adventurous or strenuous either - attend a stamp convention, a book lover's workshop, a calligraphy class or a music class. Follow the schedule for a month and see how enriching and fulfilling life turns out to be.