TIME MANAGEMENT
What is Procrastination
“Procrastination is the avoidance of doing a task that needs to be accomplished. This avoidance can lead to feelings of guilt, inadequacy, depression, and self-doubt. Procrastination has a high potential for painful consequences. It interferes with professional and personal success." (Breininger & Bitticks, 2005, p.1)
Why Procrastinate...
80-95% of people do it!
Some are worried about colleagues' or supervisor's judgement. Others are afraid of imperfection or failure. Sometimes we feel overwhelmed with our tasks, other times we feel stuck and clueless on how to do the task. There are different reasons that vary from external and internal aspects.
What Can We Do Instead?
- Confront your fears of judgement by actively asking for feedback from colleagues you trust
- Break up tasks into smaller sub-tasks, so they feel less scary
- Select and prioritize your tasks
- Reframe failure as opportunity to learn
- Improve your time management skills
How to Effectively Manage Your Time
Step 1- Identify your 'time-eaters'
(Poor priorities, unnecessary meetings, social media)
Step 2- Get an over-view of your tasks
- SELECT
- Collect all tasks you currently have to accomplish in a list or as post-its
- Separate tasks from private and professional life
Step 3- Pass on what is not yours to do
- DELEGATE
- Pass on the tasks identified as not yours or better done by somebody else
- Be careful what you delegate to whom, and if it is justified
Step 4: Create a hierarchy of tasks
- PRIORITIZE
- Sort all the tasks you have collected by their priority:
- URGENCY: When is the deadline, or when does your colleague need your work to continue?
- IMPORTANCE: How important is this task to be accomplished?
- Sort your notes or post-its according to urgency/importance or for example according to calendar deadline
Step 5: Do it!
- Pick the task with the highest priority
- Give yourself a deadline, when you want to be finished
- Make sure to be undisturbed (silence phone, put on headphones etc.)
- Try to avoid unnecessary breaks that disrupt your focus
- Give yourself a reward afterwards
STING
How To Gain Control Of Your Free Time | Laura Vanderkam
"There is no such thing as I don't have time for this. The truth is: This is not my priority right now"
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