Assignment 7 English

Time Management

Mary Williams

Columbia Southern

Time Management

Introduction

Time management remains a crucial component among people since its value increases as people age, since aging brings more commitments that require adequate scheduling to accomplish demanding tasks in daily life. Therefore, time management positive outcome results from achieving success since one plan and executes their duties based on a pre-established plan, which eventually results in accomplishing individual goals and objectives (Forsyth, 2016). Nonetheless, the challenge with time management is the relevance to people based on the age of a person, as evident from children lacking knowledge on the value of time, while adults recognize the significance of time in accomplishing their duties. Comprehensively, time management applies to situations and people differently depending on what should or must be accomplished such as activities, the use of planning and preparation, as well as expected success. For example, youths will be apprehensive of finishing course assignments, attending a lecture, and earning better grades while adults will be troubled about complementing the needs of their families alongside the development of careers. It makes time management as an aspect that applies to short-term and long-term practices, whereby short-term refers to the instantly planned and accomplished activities while long-term entails a widespread activity that requires longer duration. On the other hand, time management has resulted in the coining of controversy such as time is money, implying if time is managed soundly, one accomplishes their activities and gets rewarded by more achievements. Therefore, time management becomes beneficial when it is managed adequately, through sticking to and accomplishing the established business goals that were aimed at increasing business efficiency in the case of organizational time management (Forsyth, 2016). Nonetheless, time is money controversy has a limitation such as bias towards a similar business since poor management will leave the organization at a more vulnerable position such as bankruptcy, for managing money (time) inefficiently. Therefore, the controversy makes time management an essential process, such as capital management, in which the profitability of business results from improved management, unlike poor management. Time management remains an important element in daily practices by helping in accomplishing tasks while it rewards achievers and punishes losers. 

Literature Review

According to Bleich (2018), time management is a practice of controlling and planning how much time is spent on an activity. The narrative illustrates that time is money since control and planning are used when spending money. The benefit of good time management results in making people work smarter and not harder since people do more in less time. For instance, when time is stretched and there is higher pressure, success becomes certain (Bleich, 2018). Usually, the benefits of time management offer progress in any life practice, making it fundamental to get the time management cycle started at the earliest stage. Any failure to manage time at the earliest possible stage results in stress, poor work quality, missed deadlines and stalled outcomes. 

The controversy “time is money” can be understood from various perspectives. According to Farrell (2018), everybody has an equal time (24 hours a day), and outcomes such as success and failure depend on how once chooses to spend the time. Time management, hence, applies to capital management in which people having (for example, $1 million) will lead different lifestyles based on how they choose to spend the money is specific duration. 

Proper time management creates more time due to a higher accountability level leading to the allocation of spare time away from the demanding daily schedule (Farrell, 2017). Besides, by learning to take control of time, a person’s ability to focus improves. Eventually, the enhanced focus results in task competence since momentum is maintained all through processes. Besides, Forsyth (2016) illustrates that an essential benefit of effective time management is more life opportunities. Specifically, time management involves scheduling of tasks and free time can be fixed or created, intended towards use in other activities. For instance, instead of going home to wait for the next day as an employee, a person can use the remaining hours of the day to pursue a part-time rewarding activity. Similarly, time management creates the ability to realize goals. Goals are set at the beginning of any activity, but it only through efficient time management that goals are achieved by committing to each task as outlined. 

On the other hand, time management, just like money, would necessitate management skills. Creativity and practical skills are essential in the organizing and accomplishment of daily tasks. Organization skill is an essential time management ability that helps one maintain a clear picture of what, how, and when to complete activities. Organization element means maintaining a schedule, ability to establish resources for a task easily, and following up on the tasks (Corbett et al., 2017). Another essential skill is prioritization, which is crucial since the activities need an order of attainment. There are many ways to prioritize tasks such as activities listing them based on the most or less engaging, longer or shorter, and multiple or single tasks. Also, one needs planning skill, since it is a fundamental part of time management that results in efficiency in activities. Planning allows for outlining roles and how to achieve them while complying with the schedule.

However, poor time management, similar to poor capital management presents challenges. It results in poor workflow and quality since there is the incapability to plan forward and stick to the task objectives, an indication of incompetence. When there are important tasks to be accomplished, completing them as established in a to-do list is crucial. Failure to utilize planning and organizing results in backtracking of activities, hence efficiency is lowered and the productivity becomes poor (Forsyth, 2016). Also, ineffective time management leads to missed deadlines due to time-wasting. A relevant example is a student doing an assignment but still engages in a social media conversation. It becomes a waste of time and the learner spends more time on the assignment due to distraction. Besides, poor time management will result in uncertainty and contribute to higher stress and anxiety levels. Failing to accomplish tasks punctually severely shapes emotions and expectations. Hence, a person experiences lowered interests such as commitment and fail to rely on individual-self. 

Looking through time management perspectives, time management has both benefits and challenges depending on circumstances. Efficient time management enables one to achieve more in a shorter period, eventually resulting in free time, lowered stress, improved focus, more opportunities, and success. Poor time management leads to poor workflow, time-wasting, and higher stress levels. The authors succeed in illustrating that time management remains an important element in daily practices by helping in accomplishing tasks while it rewards achievers and punishes losers. It is a reflection of poor or better management of money that yields different results. Success for long-term or short-term activities requires suitable time management to assist in achieving tasks and objectives according to schedule. 

Body Paragraphs

Time has usefulness, value, and meaning in the life of any individual since no one can escape time. Time, therefore, plays a significant role in people’s lives since it determines the activities of an individual from morning to evening (Robinson, 2019). The value of time, which emanates from time management, is the great result that a person receives when activities are performed on time. For example, a student who finishes studying the course materials on time will succeed in the test, unlike a learner who has not covered any course unit (Won & Shirley, 2018). Also, a real-life success that illustrates the value of time is evident from the continuous scheduling of activities during the day from waking up, going to the workplace, attending meetings, working with colleagues, to accomplishing daily workplace tasks. The value of time is equally evident from working harder today with the anticipation of a better future. Therefore, time is a major component of improved decision-making ability.

Time results in improved decision-making ability due to the power of scheduling or list-making that focuses on time management. Particularly, the pressure for the time when making decisions results in a person jumping into conclusions without comprehensively considering available options (Robinson, 2019). With effective time management, a schedule is created to eliminate the pressure of meeting deadlines and poor decision making that usually results from a feeling of lacking adequate time. For instance, when working on a project like constructing a poultry shade, the shade is erected first before purchasing poultry and no the other way. Besides, when constructing the shade, the initial steps would be designing the structure, acquiring the construction materials, laying a foundation, putting the structure, and roofing. It follows a chronological order that can never be reversed since there will be no better outcome. Compliance within schedule diminishes chances of poor decision making which enhances the success of activities.

Effective use of time due to proper management enhances the level of success for tasks since there is higher accountability. Success and failure are dependent on the time assigned for a specific activity since limited time reduces efficiency while ample time increases competence. Ample time means that a task undergoes the right processes that ensure each milestone is completed adequately without forgetting important tasks elements (Won & Shirley, 2018). For example, a common task such as cooking will result in a sweet and well-cooked food if a recipe is applied sufficiently. Also, when two people are given a specific dish to prepare, the results are always different, meaning one person did not use ingredients at the appropriate time. Correct timing and applying the right ingredients have won restaurant consumers since their dishes are unmatched. Nonetheless, to achieve success from time, a person should know how to manage time.

Time management is based on knowing where one spends time, by analyzing where most of the time is devoted. Spending most time in a useful activity is beneficial unlike spending a similar amount of time in a wasteful task. Managing time, therefore, begins by setting priorities, planning, organizing and scheduling while avoiding procrastination, avoiding multi-tasking and managing time wasters (Robinson, 2019). For example, a person may choose to spend time working to build a company for a long time and become the CEO. Also, a person may choose to spend time gambling in casinos and lose or win, without a guaranteed future. Hence, depending on where one chooses to spend time, the management (bad or good) defines outcomes like success or failure.

References

Bleich, M. R. (2018). Tips and Trends to Start the New Year. The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 49(1), 7-9.

Corbett, B. A., Marla, V., Nanda, N., & Hilty, D. M. (2017). Managing your time. In Handbook of career development in academic psychiatry and behavioral sciences. American Psychiatric Pub, Washington, DC.

Farrell, M. (2017). Time management. Journal of Library Administration, 57(2), 215-222.

Forsyth, P. (2016). Successful time management. Kogan Page Publishers.

Robinson, J. (2019). The rhythm of everyday life: How Soviet and American citizens use time. Routledge.

Won, S., & Shirley, L. Y. (2018). Relations of perceived parental autonomy support and control with adolescents' academic time management and procrastination. Learning and Individual Differences, 61, 205-215.