{"id":1513,"date":"2019-06-06T23:03:07","date_gmt":"2019-06-06T23:03:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.oconnorcpafirm.com\/blog\/?p=1513"},"modified":"2019-06-11T19:00:41","modified_gmt":"2019-06-11T19:00:41","slug":"sink-or-swim-take-the-time-to-manage-your-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.oconnorcpafirm.com\/blog\/2019\/06\/sink-or-swim-take-the-time-to-manage-your-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Sink or Swim – Take the Time to Manage your Time"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Spring has sprung and summer is on its way.  Who doesn\u2019t enjoy the warmer, lasting days?  With the longer days we tend to overextend ourselves with additional tasks, responsibilities, projects, and errands.  We all tend to take on too much and get overwhelmed. However, with practice of time management you will become more focused, have increased clarity and enjoy a sense of accomplishment. Although we all wish and want for time management to be developed out of desire to be a super-hero, for many of us, it becomes a matter of survival. We find ourselves sinking before we even have a chance to swim. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are a few \u2018life rafts\u2019 that can be helpful in better managing your time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Planning–Set Goals <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Goal setting is crucial to any good time management strategy. To make sure you\u2019re engaging in activities that support your individual and\/or business goals, both short- and long-term, you need to define those goals in terms that are clear and attainable. After all, if your goal is to just \u201cto grow your business,\u201d you might find yourself overwhelmed and not know where to begin.  To counteract this paralysis, many companies find that the SMART goals methodology helps keep them on task and on track. Standing for \u201cSmart, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound,\u201d SMART goals provide clear, step-by-step tasks to help you get where you need to go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Prioritize<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Once you\u2019ve set your goals and determined the individual tasks you need to complete to achieve them, it\u2019s time to prioritize by creating to-do lists. Of course, you want to make sure you\u2019re getting things done, but they should be the right things.  Write down your three or four \u201cimportant and urgent\u201d tasks that must be addressed today.  As you complete each one, check it off your list\u2014creating a sense of accomplishment and motivation to keep moving down the list.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n