Part one - Keys to Time Management

Time Management-something we all struggle with at different points in our life. This past week I had the opportunity to meet with a variety of parents and students who are thinking about enrolling (students) in my AP Literature course for next year. As many of you know, AP Literature is a college level course that is offered to high school students who want to get college credit. Within this course, there is LOTS of reading and writing. The point I kept making clear to all students and parents is that this course requires time management skills. If a student is going to succeed, the student must have good time management skills.

Time management is something I have really had to work on being that my life is non-stop. In addition to working full-time as a high school teacher, I am also a Life Purpose Coach and a Doctoral student; I have had to learn to prioritize my time.

So, what are some time management skills you can apply to your life? Read on!

1) Start with giving your calendar over to God

There is only so much you can handle before it becomes a mess. Believe me, I know. If you really want to prioritize your time management skills, start off by giving your calendar to God. Truly seek Him and ask Him to show you what your calendar should consist of. When you do this, I promise, He will show you.

2) Make God the Priority in Your Life

I don't know how He does this, but every time that I have made God the priority in my life and in turn, have spent time with Him on a daily basis, not only am I able to accomplish everything that I needed to accomplish, but my day goes by much more smoothly. It's like God showing me that when I place Him first, He in turn will indeed take care of my every need. Try this and watch how God will bless your day.

3) Prioritize your efforts

Make the distinction between things that are important and things that are urgent. Most of the time, doing the things that are important, rather than urgent, results in greater effectiveness. In other words, don't major in minor things.

4) Do less to get more

Economize your efforts. For example, when you're boiling a pot of water, let it come to a boil while you do something else, or you can "watch the pot."

5) Reduce excess sources of adrenaline

These are substances, activities, relationships, situations, or attitudes that result in your feeling "charged up". Too much adrenaline can distract you from the focus needed to complete a project, increase feelings of anxiety, and intensify the feeling that time is flying. Over time, excessive adrenaline can have negative health consequences as well.

6) Eliminate time and energy-taxing elements

These are situations, attitudes, or behaviors that you're putting up with in your personal or work life, which don't serve you or your larger purpose but consumer physical, mental, and/or emotional energy. Eliminating them results in an increase in available energy for people and projects, an overall feeling of calm, and more time to get things done.

If you are having trouble with time management, take some time this week to implement some of the "keys" listed above. Also, if you have any time management ideas that you have implemented within your life, please, share those with us! Looking forward to reading your comments and be on the lookout for Part Two of "Keys to Time Management".

* Some of these "Keys" to Time Management have been taken from The Coaching Starter Kit by Coachville.com, published by W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.