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Time Management Resources

Of all the resources available to people, time is perhaps the most discussed and the least understood. Of the 24 hours in each day, only a limited number is available for the pursuit of business. Thus, time is not the problem, but, rather, what we do with the limited supply we have. We never think of time as a resource and waste it without once thinking that this is one resource which once wasted will never come back.

The use of time or time management resource, therefore, becomes a personal management problem and proper use of it often spells the difference between accomplishment and failure. Thus it is all the more important to think of time as a scarce resource and invest it wisely. We must begin to manage our time and invest it judiciously. It could be the best investment we can make for ourselves and for our businesses.

This article on time management resource aims to tell you that time is a unique resource. It cannot be saved; it can only be spent. Now, it depends on you how you spent it. In the words of Peter Drucker, “Time is the scarcest resource and unless it is managed nothing else can be managed.”

The area of time management resource is gaining importance as good management of available time is beneficial in terms of both cost savings for projects and also the use of an organization’s second most valuable resource- its people. Properly managed time can bring satisfactory results to not just individuals but also the organization.

Although time is a valuable resource, many people may take a haphazard approach to managing it. They may use a piecemeal approach, trying a new time management technique or gimmick each week. This approach does not work- at least not very well. Changing time habits is a difficult process. A systematic, not a piecemeal, method is required. While the steps to better time management are simple on the surface, they are difficult in practice and require replacing bad time management habits with good ones. Making this change demands effort, patience, commitment and a willingness to change.

Some practical approaches to maximizing this valuable resource are:

Learn to say No

Perhaps the most effective technique for saving time is the ability to say no graciously. Unless you concentrate on tactfully but firmly saying no, you will find that you spend most of the time on other people’s priorities. You must remember that you can’t please everybody all the time; the way you spend your time is bound to make some people unhappy.

Procrastination

According to the theory of time management resource, procrastination is the biggest culprit behind wastage of this valuable resource. The two primary causes of procrastination are complexity and fear. Initially, the project seems complex because you don’t have all the answers, or overwhelming because you have no idea where to begin. Projects concerned with morale or communications fall into this category.

Fear can be the culprit when you are dealing with unpleasant chores such as explaining to your boss that something has gone wrong with a major project in your department, or facing up to a discipline problem. You will have difficulty getting started on any task unless you are convinced that you can finish it successfully, and self-confidence comes from having a plan.

Benjamin Franklin once said, “Time is money”. Certainly there is some truth in this statement. Time, like money, can be spent foolishly or invested wisely. Everybody gets equal time, the problem is how one uses or invests the time available. Time must be spent effectively, not just efficiently.