What is good time management?

We all get the same 24 hours and it is essential to find strategies to use them more effectively and efficiently, whether that be for work, learning or leisure time. There are many ways to learn how to have good time management and this CPD article will take you through some of the most essential, as well as how and why it can help improve your life to know the fundamentals of better time management.

What is good time management?

Does it often seem that other people seem to have enough time to do everything that they want to, whereas you are always rushing, yet never seem to finish anything? This is because some people know the value of good time management while others need extra support and a helping hand. But, what exactly is good time management?

Time management is the process of planning and controlling how much time to spend on specific activities. Good time management enables an individual to complete more in a shorter period, lowers stress, and can lead to career success. Your approach to time management should follow the age-old maxim, work smarter, not harder, to get more done in less time.

Why is it important to have good time management?

It is important to have good time management as then you are making the most of your time. Essentially, why waste time unnecessarily if it can be learned to be avoided? Everyone has busy lives and there are always other tasks or skills that demand our attention.

Having a deadline or worrying about getting something done, whether it be learning something new, undertaking a CPD course or just some general daily task can cause all sorts of levels of stress. Stress is terrible for your mental health and wellbeing and thus there is always value in finding new ways to minimise if not banish it from your life as much as possible.

Good quality time management lets you know for your own sake how much progress you have made, what is left and portion your workload in such a way as to keep abreast of everything without feeling overwhelmed or that you are lagging behind or may not finish in time. This can be particularly essential if you struggle with structure and focus, such as having Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD).

How can time management help with CPD and learning?

Time management can help with learning, by keeping individuals focused, organising their tasks into more manageable chunks and helping lower stress levels. If you have your time portioned, structured and organised then you can focus your attention and brainpower on learning and retaining what you have heard, for example, whether it be at a CPD Seminar or on a language course. You will also know how much time you will have to reinforce your learning with any follow up work you may wish to undertake.

Can you learn time management skills?

Time management is a skill, like any skill it can be taught, and it can be learned. This can be done through self-learning, with the internet as a fantastic learning tool. You could also undertake a formal course or module, many of which are offered at leaning institutes such as college and universities to enrolled students in order to support their studies. Also, there is a growing wealth of CPD learning available, which may take the form of seminars, online learning, lectures or training courses.

Good examples of effective time management techniques

There are a number of good examples effective time management techniques and tips that can been useful when looking to take control of your workload and personal or professional learning, which we have outlined below to help you get started with better time management.

• Set clear time goals

Set goals that are both achievable and measurable. You can do this by using the SMART method when setting these goals. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely. (Learn how to set smarter personal and professional goals).

• Prioritize Tasks

Prioritize tasks based on importance and urgency. You will find that some tasks are urgent and require immediate focus, whereas others can be set aside for the short term or possible even trimmed and removed from your list of things to complete, unless you have time to spare at the end.

• Set yourself defined time limits to complete tasks

Setting time constraints for completing tasks helps you be more focused and efficient. The amount of time you need to allot for each task can help you recognize potential problems before they arise. That way you can plan for dealing with them. This keeps stress and mistakes to a minimum.

• Take breaks between tasks

When doing multiple tasks without a break, it is harder to stay focused and motivated. Allow some downtime between tasks to clear your head and refresh yourself. Consider taking a walk, listening to music or getting a snack.

• Be Organised

Write down deadlines for projects, or for tasks that are part of completing the overall project. Set an end date for a course or subject to have been learned by or an article to be handed in. Think about which days and times might be best to dedicate to specific tasks. So you maybe retain information better in the mornings when you are more awake, or you maybe want to work on a group task at a time when you know the most people are available.

• Remove non-essential tasks and activities

Trim the fat. It is important to remove excess activities or tasks so you do not feel overwhelmed or waste time. Determine what is most significant and what is deserving of your time. Removing non-essential tasks and activities frees up more of your time to be spent on genuinely important things.

• Plan ahead

Make sure you start every day with a clear idea of what you need to do. Think about what needs to get done on that particular day, but what can be delegated to future days as well. Do this repeatedly to make it a habit you get into. At the end of the day, you could even write out a to-do list for the next workday. That way, you can hit the ground running the next morning.

Where to find CPD courses to improve time management

Recognising how important an issue time management is, there is an ever growing amount of time management focused CPD courses, training and learning options available online. Within the CPD Courses Catalogue, there are thousands of certified CPD courses and training to help professionals gain the necessary skills needed in their industry, including better time management.

You can also read our previous article ‘Give yourself time to learn about time management’ for some further useful tips. If you would like to find out more about a particular CPD course listed on our website, you can click on each course and there is an enquiry form that will be sent directly to the relevant CPD provider.

How to become a CPD accredited training provider?

We hope this article on the value of good time management was helpful. If you are considering becoming a CPD training provider, please contact our team to discuss in more detail. Alternatively, if you are looking to record your Continuing Professional Development, please go the myCPD Portal where you can manage, track and log your learning in one simple place.