Every schedule reflects a unique set of priorities and responsibilities. No two people have precisely the same idea of what constitutes perfect time management. The final determinant is simply whether your relationship with time is a happy one that enables you to meet your professional obligations, enjoy the company of those you love, and take good care of your health.

While there is no one-size-fits-all plan for managing time, there are basic principles that apply to a wide variety of circumstances.

Planning is the fundamental building block of time management, but it isn’t enough simply to create a great plan or schedule. You must be able to implement it. This means being accurate about the day-to-day realities of your work and other responsibilities; allowing for the usual interruptions, crises, and delays.

The best time management plans are holistic and encompass the whole of your life. Try to schedule blocks of time for family, friends, exercise, or special projects instead of just assigning them “whatever time is left” after the usual daily grind. Doing so will give you a chance to look closely at your present ratio of work to home and leisure time.

One of the smartest scheduling rules you can apply is to set due dates that are not just attainable but bearable. It’s a good idea to somewhat overestimate the time you think a job will take in order to (1) ensure on-time delivery even in the face of unforeseen delays and (2) surprise and delight your clients by delivering sooner than anticipated. By breaking a big task into manageable steps and setting a timetable for each step you can accomplish almost anything.

You don’t have to be a master list-maker to profit from using priority lists. Some people maintain several lists at once: a high-priority one of urgent or very important tasks; a medium-priority one of less urgent or moderately important tasks; and a low-priority list. Other people simply make one list of things to do tomorrow.

To get the most out of your time, try to do your hardest jobs when your attention and energy levels are highest and when you have fewer interruptions than usual. Likewise, try to schedule your routine, low-level tasks for times of the day when you find it hard to concentrate. The trick is to pinpoint your hours of peak performance and schedule your work accordingly.

Source: Monster.co.uk