Are you a time-management disaster?

     Why is it that time management is so difficult for so many of us to master? Is it just that we have more piled on us each time we get life under control? Or are electronic devices to blame?

     Do you think time-management skills can be taught. I do. I often wonder why they don't it in middle school, especially when I see my kids struggling to balance tons of homework, time-stealing technology, a social life and youth sports. I love this quote from Donna Goldberg, a study-skills consultant and author of The Organized Student, in a recent article: "We teach every child to tell time. We don't teach any child how to manage time."

    Goldberg believes time-management is as important to teach as reading and math. She blames the Internet for society's lack of time management ability, because it's so captivating. "It just goes around eating your time," she says. I know so many people who are spending considerable amount of work hours on Facebook. Sure, it's fun. But can you say time-drain?

      If you are like me, you believe multitasking helps us manage our time. Goldberg says it drains our ability to get things done because its not focused time. Here's what the experts suggest for students and adults: Create a commitment/reward formula -- 45 minutes of focused time equals a 10-15 minute break.

      I'm willing to give the formula a try. I'm willing to get my kids to give it a try. Do you think time-management is a learned skill? Do you think it's critical to learn it as a child?

Comments

[Marcia Robinson]

Where can I sign up for those time management classes?

Reminds me of a phrase my mom used to say all the time, "the hurrieder I go, the behinder I get."

I try to do 30 to 45 minute tasks and it seems to work well.

Marcie

[Facebook Addict]

I've never been good with time management. I remember having parent-teacher conferences about it in school. And I never broke the habit of doing things at the last minute in college.

And at work I'm always distracted by checking personal e-mail, non-work-related blogs or refreshing my Facebook page. I'm not sure I can re-teach myself new time management habits at this point.

[Michael Erwin - Time Management Coach]

I agree that time management should be taught at school. I notice that my kids are expected to be organized, but they don't get any training on how to achieve it. I also see that time management training needs to be updated in it's philosophy. No longer can we complete everything we think we should do - there is simply too much information, possibilities, choices and methods of communication. I believe time management is now about choosing what to do, what NOT to do and feeling OK with those choices.

[Fabiola Santiago]

At times I feel like i should be on drugs...yeah drugs but ADD drugs. Its very hard for me to stay focus on one task, specially with all the interruptions my job throws at me...what shoul i do??? HELP!

[Jordan]

I completely agree with Donna - the Internet ruined any chance of time management - it's just too fun to search the Internet.

I also heard a few years ago that multitasking is NOT a good thing (why do so many people see this as a good trait), and I must admit that consciously avoiding multitasking helps me get work done at a higher quality and productivity. If I find the need to multitask, I simply write down the projects I am thinking of (so I don't forget them) and then get right back to work on the project at hand.

Some days are better than others - but tricks from people like Donna really work!