Written By: Vivian BenjaminTime Management Throughout my career days as a nurse, I have learnt valuable skills such as problem-solving, communication, observation and time management skills. These skills are essential when you work as a nurse in a team. Nurses tend to have many tasks to complete in a set of time otherwise; we risk delaying treatments for patients. I have encountered many junior nurses who struggle to finish their assignments before the end of their shifts. As a result, not only does this affect the patient's care but also the nurses develop stress. This scenario not only affects the people working in a hospital but also every workplace. When you find yourselves with deadlines, projects to finish and families to take care of, it is a never-ending chore experienced by all humans in the world. Nevertheless, time management can have either a positive or negative impact on your life depending on how you choose to spend it. In this article, I'm going to share with you what stops you from managing time positively, how time management can influence your mental and physical health and top tips to help you manage your time. Barriers to Time Management So, why do people around the world have challenges in managing their time positively? I think it’s because we stop asking ourselves why. There is no point in having a 100-to-do list when we don’t prioritize or ask if this is the most important thing to do on that day. For instance, when I worked as a nurse at the start of my shift I was given a handover about patients and a to-do list. I will have to care for 15 to 20 patients, give them a proper wash, check their vital signs and blood glucose, take daily blood and give medications. At times, I will have patients who need 2 hourly or 1 hourly blood glucose monitoring. It seems like a daunting task but when you learn how to effectively time yourself for each task; it will be easier to achieve a goal. When you find your way to resolve the barrier, you can manage time successfully. There are many barriers you may find that hinder you from managing your time wisely. Let’s identify several challenges to manage time efficiently: 1. Lack of prioritization Acknowledging chores that are important or urgent is vital in managing your time positively. Having a to-do list sometimes complicates prioritizing tasks because you want to tick off everything on that list. 2. Time awareness Time is a crucial factor in everything that you do in your life. You have been given 24 hours a day hence; time yourself in every task. However, many people find it difficult to perform work in a specific amount of time. 3. Hesitation Hesitating to perform an assignment comes from a lack of motivation or interest. At times, doing the same job on an everyday basis may get boring so, you may lack motivation to accomplish a job. 4. Poor planning Planning ahead to perform a chore is crucial however; when interruptions or distractions happen your plan might go down the drain. On the other hand, never planning anything also is not a good way to perform a job. 5. Inability to delegate When you work with a team it is vital to learn to delegate your assignment to avoid burnout. Some people may feel uncomfortable delegating when they don’t trust their team members or they think that if they delegate other people may think they are not good at their job. These types of mindsets may result in poor performance. 6. Being a perfectionist No human in the world can be perfect in every way. We all have strengths and weaknesses. When you want to be perfect in every way you may end up working too hard and not be balanced. As a result, you may get anxiety and depression. 7. Unable to say “no” Some people tend to say “yes” to everything their boss wants them to do for fear of losing a job or not getting promoted. But in the end, you may be taken advantage of and may be disregarded. When you keep taking on other people’s work eventually you may not be able to manage your time wisely consequently; impacting the whole team and company's success. How Does Managing Time Impact the Mental and Physical Health? Let's dive a little deeper into how time management impacts several aspects in your daily life that directly influences your mental and physical well-being. Sleep Many people are finding it hard to sleep at night or to find time to rest. The world has become busy and fast as everything depends on speed. There are lots of chores to do and it’s never ending. I have met many clients who have trouble sleeping and end up taking sleeping aids. When you don’t manage your time properly you end up working late hours likewise; this impacts your mental and physical health negatively. Although lack of sleep is not associated with illnesses nonetheless; prolonged sleep deficiency can damage your brain, heart and gut health. However, a good quality of sleep is achievable when you manage your time wisely. It is crucial to have sufficient sleep as it increases productivity in work and life. When you get at least 7-9 hours of sleep daily that will positively impact your brain and skin health – ever heard of beauty sleep. Check out my article to sleep better. Diet Consuming highly processed food and the use of excessive salt and sugar intake have all contributed to millions of deaths yearly. Initially, non-communicable diseases have only been happening at a later stage in life, however; recently young adults are now contracting chronic diseases. Young people, particularly university students have developed unhealthy eating behaviours due to not managing time positively. So, why do people choose to order a takeaway or eat highly processed? The answer – they are unable to manage time wisely. When you manage your time properly you can allocate time for work, family and cooking healthy food. No matter how healthy a food is marketed and sold, it is still not as healthy as cooking a meal by yourself. Check out my article to eat healthily even when you are busy. Family time Spending good quality of time with your loved ones is the foundation of a stable, healthy and happy relationship. Humans are never born to be lonely. We need to spend time interacting with other humans to establish bonds and communities. Not spending time with your loved ones will initiate conflicts consequently; damaging a relationship. As a result, this may negatively impact your mental and physical well-being. Balance is essential in everything in life and that includes work, family and self-care. Finding time to spend with family will decrease the rising mental health disorders. Physical activity Exercise has always been known for its plenty of health benefits. Moreover, it has the power to create a good quality of life and improve mood. High-intensity exercise increases vasodilatation, therefore; improves blood circulation. Research shows that physical activities promote the skin’s capacity to preserve water and impede dry skin. So, when you can manage your time positively you will have sufficient time to exercise. You don’t need to go to the gym to achieve this as medium-intensity exercises can have the same effect as high-intensity exercises. Self-care & hobbies When was the last time you had a self-care moment? When was the last time you spent a nice day doing a hobby of your choice or perhaps choosing an activity to learn about something? If you positively manage your time you can spend extra time doing your hobbies or engage in self-care activities. Investing time in activities that bring joy nourishes your mental and physical health. Time is a unique gift given to you to nurture your well-being and lost time cannot be replaced. Career fulfilment You work hard by doing all the assignments your boss gives you. You may even take an extra workload to be able to get a high salary or promotion. However, when you are overworked you can make mistakes and end up losing your job. Is there any point in that? Managing your time efficiently at the workplace will give you career fulfilment because you can achieve work-life balance. Similarly, if you can finish your job accordingly you can come back home to spend time with family. As a result, your mental well-being can be protected to enhance productivity. 5 Strategies to Manage Time Positively Managing time positively will greatly impact your mental and physical well-being. Let’s explore several strategies that can aid you in managing time.
1. Prioritize task Identify which task is important then accomplish it accordingly. Delegate unimportant tasks or set it to do it later if it’s not urgent. 2. Learn to say “no” Politely decline any work that is not related to you. People might get anxious to get your help but you need to be firm for your wellbeing. 3. Delegate If you are working in a team learn to delegate your task. It is the responsibility of everyone in that team to share the workload. 4. Create a routine Establish a routine that works for you. Routine provides structure to your day and helps you allocate time efficiently. Make sure to include breaks and meal times to nourish your mind and body. 5. Time yourself Learn to time yourself in everything that you do in your life so, you don’t spend excessive time doing a job. In addition to that, always check the time for breaks and clock out. All in All Managing your time positively is a wonderful way to achieve work-life balance. Creating a balanced lifestyle is the most important factor in leading a holistic healthy life. However, be mindful of the ways you try to manage your time. Take on board all the methods you read about nevertheless; only stick to the strategies that works for you. Share in the comment section below if you find this article inspiring alternatively, if you have different insights please do share as well. When we share positive or negative feedbacks we all grow healthily. Remember it's the balance again. Reference 1. Aeon B et al (2021); Does Time Management Work? A Meta-Analysis; Plos One; 16(1): e0245066. 2. Gade L et al (2019); Work-Life Integration & Time Management Strategies; Journal of Public Health; 32(06): 442-449.
2 Comments
Philo
20/1/2024 07:24:00 am
I totally agree with the author with all the aspects related to the time management. Very well written, Vivian. All the youths and newly started working people should follow at least some tips written by the author. Thanks for sharing all the useful information about managing time in our busy lifestyle. Good article. God bless.
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Vivian Benjamin
20/1/2024 01:27:24 pm
Thank you for your comment, Philo. It's encouraging to see you like it and feel inspired. Hope you have a lovely day. Take care.
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