Illustrate to others that one does not have to limit oneself to a narrow domain ofinterests.Never give up regardless of the difficulty of a situation.I will constantly renew myself by focusing on the four dimensions of my life:ExerciseGreater tolerance for othersFind more time for readingControl my temperCovey’s complete system of time management is comprehensive and is supportedby both paper-and-pencil and software support materials.Saylor URL:Saylor.org741
If Covey’s comprehensive approach appears to be initially overwhelming, whereelse might a person begin to improve their time-management skills? An excellent—in fact a critical—takeoff point would be to ask the following question: “Where hasthe time gone?” How often have we asked ourselves or heard others pose thisquestion, and how often are we unable to answer it? Until one has a solid idea ofhow time is spent, it is impossible to manage time effectively. It is comparable tobeginning a journey to a location without knowing the exact starting point. Anexcellent way of knowing how time is spent is to use an activity log.An activity log involves writing down every task and activity a person is involvedwith during a day. It also requires noting when these activities occurred during theday and how long they lasted. It would be very useful to also comment on one’semotional state and energy level while performing these tasks and activities. Thelog should be maintained for a period of time—generally one or two weeks. At theend of this period, analyze how time was spent. This analysis should look for somecommon threads:How much time per day or week is spent on particular activities?When during the day did you feel the most productive?When during the day did you feel the least productive or have the most disruptionsto workflow?What activities were individuals who created these disruptions to workflow?What activities seem to provide little or no value?The goal of this analysis is to identify what task or activity should be eliminatedand when, if there is a pattern to productivity, a high-value challenging task shouldbe scheduled. The activity log should provide useful insights into how a personshould structure time flow.[9]As one author put it, “Find your rhythm and schedulearound.”[10]After identifying workflow patterns, then seriously begin planning for timemanagement. The first stage of this process involves identifying the required tasksto be performed across various time horizons, such as the upcoming year, month,Saylor URL:Saylor.org742
week, or day. Draw on Covey and others to include a broad spectrum of lifeactivities, not just work-oriented activities.[11]In addition to identifying these tasks, it is vital that a person prioritize these tasks.
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