The Role of Technology in Enhancing Time Management Skills
Technology has been increasingly used to enhance time management skills. Whether its a calendar, an alarm, or a planner - these tools can be helpful for those struggling with their workload.
This post will provide readers with some different ways in which technology can help manage time and identify important tasks that need to be completed. Additionally, it will cover how technology can assist in the process of delegating tasks to other members of your work team. Finally, this post will include tips on how to keep track of different reporting methods from each department while still achieving efficiency and maximizing available resources.
A good time management system will not only alert you of upcoming deadlines, but it will also provide you with specific time slots to focus on different tasks.
First off, this article from the Science Daily Journal discusses how a calendar can help those struggling with time management. This article discusses the importance of color coding and setting reminders. As a busy individual, you know that sometimes its easy to be distracted by things that are less important and forget about work that needs to be done. The same goes for family obligations, social engagements and community events - there are just so many things to take into account each day that it becomes exhausting trying to keep track of everything. Once you start using a good calendar, your worries will go down significantly.
One of the quickest and easiest ways to ensure that you are not forgetting to do something is to have a daily planner. I personally use my iPhone paired with a daily calendar app to help keep track of important dates - for example, when a major project is due or when family functions are occurring. Using this method provides me with valuable information regarding upcoming events and reminds me of those tasks that should be taken care of. With no organization, it is easy to forget about things that are important. If possible, try using a calendar app at home and one at work - they can really help your productivity.
Another way to help keep you organized is through a calendar alarm. One of my favorite tools for this purpose is an iPhone alarm app called DigiCal. This app not only allows me to set an alarm, but it also offers many other features such as email reminders and a phone call reminder. The best part about using this method is that once the appointment is scheduled the day before through my calendar -it does not matter what time I actually am at work when the alarm goes off; I will still be able to recall what needs to be done and will not forget about it! The next time you are working on something important, think about getting on your calendar (something that could be done prior to work).
Additionally, you should also use your calendar to record when important meetings are occurring. This should be the first place where you keep track of such information. When meeting with other team members, it is useful to record any appointments that may be important. This will allow you to see when an upcoming meeting is occurring; thus allowing you a way to make it easier for yourself to remember the time and location. Meeting notes can be helpful and extremely helpful if your work schedule has been changed at short notice or if something unexpected happens at work. It can help keep you organized and ensure that you do not forget about any important details.
You can also use the calendar and a personal to-do list (or even your office to-do list) to record any projects or tasks that need completing. This will allow you to keep track of everything that needs done, and it will ensure that you do not get behind on any important work. The last thing anyone wants is to be late with a deliverable because they were unprepared, so making sure you have everything ready as soon as possible is crucial.
It always helps me when I have an alarm set in my calendar the day before for things like "submit notes on project" or "send out email". That way I always have time to do the work before my alarm goes off, and I know that when it does go off, its more about knowing what items need to be done than feeling like I need to complete everything right then.
Your personal calendar is also a good place to keep track of your weekly goals. Each week, try writing out three things on your personal calendar that you want to accomplish - things like "Meet with client", "Submit proposal" or "Call client". Not only does this help manage your time and plan for upcoming work and meetings - it also allows you as the individual to see how well you are actually managing your time. It is easy to forget about your weekly goals, so making sure they are written down somewhere where you can see them everyday is a great way to keep yourself on task.
For some people, these tips may seem common sense. However, for those who are struggling with time management skills, these steps can be extremely helpful. Technology can help make it easier for individuals to manage their time and stay organized. Whether it is an easy external tool such as a calendar or a more complex program that helps you automate tasks - technology is there to make things run smoother.
You may also find that the task of delegating responsibilities out to other team members can be a challenging one. With all the stress that is involved in running a business - it is easy to lose sight of things that need to be done. Delegating responsibilities can help you get ahead and forget about things you should be doing. It can also be distracting and not productive if you are bogged down with too much work. It is difficult to prioritize when you have so many important tasks weighing on your shoulders, so giving control of certain tasks to other team members can help ease some of these worries.
In regards to delegating responsibilities, I have found two main ways that people tend to consider this: either giving tasks out or letting people take their own time for work. Personally, I think this depends on the person and what they would prefer. For example, if a client or important person is coming to the office and should not be kept waiting while you try to complete these tasks, then it may be easier to delegate them out. When delegating out responsibilities, it is important to make sure that everything is communicated clearly and that the person understands exactly what they are expected to accomplish. It can also help when you provide them with a specific timeframe of when they will need to have their tasks completed - this will give the team member some sense of security knowing that they can complete their task within a specific time frame.
Conclusion
Technology has helped many companies and employees to become more productive. It is useful in many different ways, but it is important to remember that using technology as a sole resource for productivity is not the most effective method. Using digital tools for tasks such as scheduling and sharing files can make your work easier, but it will not help as much when you are trying to manage your schedule, projects or tasks. The best way to manage your time and be productive is to make sure you are setting time aside for things like scheduling in advance or making use of those extra minutes during your lunch break.