We have all wasted time procrastinating.  Sitting on the couch watching television and snacking can make time pass so easily.  Most of us do it till we feel guilty enough to get up and get back to work, but in the end we are just making life harder on ourselves.  If you manage your time from the start, you will have more time to do those things you want, when you want to.

When you think about it, time management is easy.  It is simply putting a set of principles, skills, and practices to use to help you use your time to accomplish a set of goals.  Easy right?  We all know that it isn’t that easy, but it is that important. Here is why:

  • Time cannot be stored or saved.  It passes once and only once.  For this reason it should be used wisely.
  • Not managing time leads to stress, unachieved goals, poor finances, poor health, and can upset your physical and mental state in other ways.
  • You can create pockets of free time by wisely managing yourself.  These pockets are yours and yours alone to use however you wish.  Don’t just wait for there to be a window to visit that special someone, or call that old friend, make the time.
  • It helps you prioritize and realize what is really important in your life.
  • Poor management means more work and more effort on your part.  This will leave you worn out and tired and will make what free time you do have less enjoyable.

You may not think this applies to you because of various reasons.  Maybe you are thinking, “well I’m just a student” or “I’m the boss so my employees take care of anything I miss.”  I assure you these tips are universal and helpful to everyone, whether you are a student, a stay at home parent, or a corporate employee or boss.  In fact, if you start building these skills young, it will carry throughout your life.  It goes something like this.

  • Students see benefits from time management when developing study habits. They learn to take time to play and time to work. Battling procrastination can be extremely difficult, and others will battle perfectionism.  Those who do manage their time well will see benefits like more free time, less stress, and better grades.
  • That student then goes on to get a job.  At work they are more efficient, they save time and money for the company by making better decisions.  They learn how to deal with interruptions from coworkers, and know how to prioritize projects.  This type of employee is typically noticed and promoted sooner than others.
  • That same employee starts a family.  They are now balancing work and life, an extremely difficult task.  However with proper time management they are able to get their work done and still make time to get home to the family.  No late nights for the employee who knows how to balance his or her time well.
  • These skills will be passed on to their children, who naturally struggle with understanding time.  This helps them with their homework in their early years and develops their self-discipline.