Time Management: Establishing a Routine

If you are a new manager, there may be days when you feel overwhelmed by all that is expected of you and the chaos you sometimes feel. You come to work and the day speeds by without organization or accomplishment. Well, if you feel that way, you
are not alone! A good majority of new (and sometimes even experienced) managers suffer from feeling overwhelmed and unable to keep up with the hectic pace of today's work environment. It may be time to establish a routine schedule for your day!

Think about your work day. Chances are you're expected to prepare for meetings, review yesterday's results, meet with your employees, and monitor the progress of the projects for which you are accountable. So, if those activities are pretty much a
'given' every day, why not create a scheduled time for each? Doing so will create a feeling of organization and order that may be missing today.

When you sit down to create a daily schedule for yourself, think about when you are most productive, and schedule your most thought-intensive activities during that period of the day. If you're a morning person, schedule your most difficult tasks during the early hours of the day. You will accomplish more when you are most alert and have a stronger propensity for concentration.

One important thing to note as you establish your daily routine:
There is NO "typical" day. You may come to work with all the best intentions, and five minutes after you arrive, your boss may call you into her office with a new project. Or one of your employees may have a personal issue and needs your advice. Be
aware that your day will not always run according to schedule, and, if possible, build in time to expect the unexpected.

Be careful about making an unrealistic schedule to work from dawn to dusk with no break. Try to establish a steady routine of 5-6 hours of work Monday-Friday, keeping in mind the time buffer for the unknown. There will be limits to your mental stamina!

By establishing a routine schedule for your day, you will find that not only will your work and your feelings of accomplishment improve, but so will your ability to find that ever elusive work/life balance. Work can sometimes be fairly intrusive on your home life. The more organization you can put toward your work, the more you will find you are able to give your brain a rest from the stress of the day while you are at home.

Try establishing a routine schedule; the key to successful time management is to look at how you spend your time and what you can realistically hope to do. Monitoring your time will enable you to set goals that deliver even more effective results.

                                                                         Lead with Confidence,
 

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